Abstract: A computer system comprises a computer sub-system. The computer sub-system includes a physical resource, on which both a virtual server as a virtual server apparatus and a virtual storage as a virtual storage apparatus are based. That is, a part of the physical resource is assigned to the virtual server, and another part of the physical resource is assigned to the virtual storage. Any part of the physical resource may be assigned to either of the virtual server and the virtual storage.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a computer sub-system. The computer sub-system includes a physical resource, on which both a virtual server as a virtual server apparatus and a virtual storage as a virtual storage apparatus are based. That is, a part of the physical resource is assigned to the virtual server, and another part of the physical resource is assigned to the virtual storage. Any part of the physical resource may be assigned to either of the virtual server and the virtual storage.

Abstract: The storage system includes a first controller adapted to transfer/receive data to/from a host computer and to receive/transfer data from/to first type drive units via a first type interface of the first controller; a second controller adapted to transfer/receive data to/from the host computer and/or another host computer and to receive/transfer data from/to the first type drive units via a first type interface of the second controller, the first type drive units each having a converter and a first type drive, the converter converting between a first type protocol and a second type protocol, the first type drive having a second type interface and storing data converted to the second type protocol by the converter; and an expansion housing including the first type drive units. Each of the first type drive units are coupled to both the first and second controllers.

Abstract: A disk array apparatus capable of reducing a disk drive fault rate where a time-out failure has occurred. The disk array apparatus includes a plurality of disk drives, and a control unit for performing data input/output processing of the disk drives in response to a data input/output request from a host system. The control unit includes: a memory for storing control information for specifying a failure of at least one of the disk drives, and failure information of the faulty disk drive, a circuit for specifying, from the failure information, the disk drive in which a time-out failure has occurred, and issuing an instruction to retry a control command to the disk drive, and a circuit for outputting a control signal to the faulty disk drive in order to hard reset the disk drive if the disk drive does not recover from the failure.

Abstract: Times at which requests for a data read or data write from/to a logical volume are received are stored in memory as access times of a RAID group making up the logical volume. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the access time, a number of the hard disk drives according to the redundancy of the RAID group are set to a power saving mode. Assume there are first hard disk drives and second hard disk drives having shorter lifes and the RAID group exceeds a predetermined time after the access time. When the RAID group consists of only the first drives, a number of the first drives according to the redundancy of the RAID group are set to a power saving mode and when it consists of only the second drives, an arbitrary number of second drives are set to a power saving mode.

Abstract: Spare disk drives are provided to a chassis for storing storage devices, and, when any one of the storage devices configuring RAID fails, the storage controller copies data of the failed storage device to a spare storage device, and recognizes an additional storage device inserted into the spare disk drive as the spare storage device. Thereafter, when the foregoing storage device fails, the storage controller reproduces data of the failed storage device, copies this data to an additional storage device inserted into the spare disk drive, and recognizes the additional storage device inserted into the spare disk drive as a spare storage device. Subsequently, when the foregoing storage device fails, the storage controller reproduces data of the failed storage device and copies this data to an additional storage device inserted into the spare disk drive. RAID 6 is maintained thereby.

Abstract: To enable reduction of the data capacity while inhibiting degradation of read performance. If any of a plurality of host systems issues a request to write duplicate data as objective data which is identical to already stored data, a processor for a disk controller controls a data transfer control unit so that part of the duplicate data will be kept in accordance with a specific rule instead of entirely eliminating writing of the duplicate data.

Abstract: A disk array apparatus capable of reducing a disk drive fault rate where a time-out failure has occurred. The disk array apparatus includes a plurality of disk drives, and a control unit for performing data input/output processing of the disk drives in response to a data input/output request from a host system. The control unit includes: a memory for storing control information for specifying a failure of at least one of the disk drives, and failure information of the faulty disk drive, a circuit for specifying, from the failure information, the disk drive in which a time-out failure has occurred, and issuing an instruction to retry a control command to the disk drive, and a circuit for outputting a control signal to the faulty disk drive in order to hard reset the disk drive if the disk drive does not recover from the failure.

Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises at least one housing A in which a storage device and a controller are provided, at least one housing B in which a storage device and a peripheral device are provided, and a transmission path for connecting the storage device and the controller of the housing A, and the storage device of the housing B to enable communication therebetween. The storage apparatus is capable of controlling operation of the storage device of the housing B according to an operating state of the storage device of the housing A through communication via the transmission path; and controlling operation of the peripheral device according to an operating state of the storage device of the housing B.

Abstract: A disk array apparatus capable of reducing a disk drive fault rate where a time-out failure has occurred. The disk array apparatus includes a plurality of disk drives, and a control unit for performing data input/output processing of the disk drives in response to a data input/output request from a host system. The control unit includes: a memory for storing control information for specifying a failure of at least one of the disk drives, and failure information of the faulty disk drive, a circuit for specifying, from the failure information, the disk drive in which a time-out failure has occurred, and issuing an instruction to retry a control command to the disk drive, and a circuit for outputting a control signal to the faulty disk drive in order to hard reset the disk drive if the disk drive does not recover from the failure.

Abstract: The disk array system includes a first controller adapted to transfer/receive data to/from a host computer and to receive/transfer data from/to first type disk drive units via a first type interface of the first controller; a second controller adapted to transfer/receive data to/from the host computer and/or another host computer and to receive/transfer data from/to the first type disk drive units via a first type interface of the second controller, the first type disk drive units each having a converter and a first type disk drive, the converter converting between a first type protocol and a second type protocol, the first type disk drive having a second type interface and storing data converted to the second type protocol by the converter; and an expansion housing including the first type disk drive units. Each of the first type disk drive units are coupled to both the first and second controllers.

Abstract: A disk array system having first and second housings and a controller for controlling the first and second housings. Fiber channel hard disk drives are received in the first housing, and serial ATA hard disk drives are received in the second housing. When reading data stored in a serial ATA hard disk drive in the second housing, the controller reads a plurality of pieces of data including the data to be read and parity data for the plurality of pieces of data from all the hard disk drives of an RAID group to which the hard disk drive storing the data to be read belongs. Thus, the controller examines whether the plurality of pieces of data including the data to be read are written in the hard disk drives with erroneous contents or not.

Abstract: Proposed is a storage apparatus capable of alleviating the burden of maintenance work when a failure occurs in a part configuring the storage apparatus. This storage apparatus includes multiple disk drives and spare disk drives, and multiple controllers. When a failure occurs, this storage apparatus determines the operability status of the storage apparatus based on failure information. When operation can be continued, the storage apparatus continues to operate without performing any maintenance such as part replacement, and if operation cannot be continued, data is migrated to another storage apparatus.

Abstract: In a first and second storage system, first and second switching apparatuses are interposed between a first and second controller and a storage device. At least one of the first and second switching apparatuses comprises a shared memory. The constitution is such that the first and second controllers communicate with one another via this shared memory.

Abstract: A storage controller of the present invention reduces maintenance work by the user by irreplaceably mounting the respective component parts inside an enclosure. A plurality of disk drives, which comprise a spare drive, and repair slots are arranged in close proximity in a matrix on the front side inside the enclosure. A backboard is disposed rearward of the respective disk drives. A plurality of control boards are arranged rearward of the backboard by being stacked one atop the other. A plurality of disk drives and a plurality of batteries respectively stacked one atop the other are arranged on the one side of the respective control boards. A plurality of power devices stacked one atop the other are arranged on the other side of the respective control boards. A plurality of cooling fans are arranged in the center part of the enclosure. The respective parts are affixed to the enclosure so as to be irreplaceable under normal circumstances.

Abstract: A disk array apparatus capable of reducing a disk drive fault rate where a time-out failure has occurred. The disk array apparatus includes a plurality of disk drives, and a control unit for performing data input/output processing of the disk drives in response to a data input/output request from a host system. The control unit includes: a memory for storing control information for specifying a failure of at least one of the disk drives, and failure information of the faulty disk drive, a circuit for specifying, from the failure information, the disk drive in which a time-out failure has occurred, and issuing an instruction to retry a control command to the disk drive, and a circuit for outputting a control signal to the faulty disk drive in order to hard reset the disk drive if the disk drive does not recover from the failure.

Abstract: A disk array apparatus capable of reducing a disk drive fault rate where a time-out failure has occurred. The disk array apparatus includes a plurality of disk drives, and a control unit for performing data input/output processing of the disk drives in response to a data input/output request from a host system. The control unit includes: a memory for storing control information for specifying a failure of at least one of the disk drives, and failure information of the faulty disk drive, a circuit for specifying, from the failure information, the disk drive in which a time-out failure has occurred, and issuing an instruction to retry a control command to the disk drive, and a circuit for outputting a control signal to the faulty disk drive in order to hard reset the disk drive if the disk drive does not recover from the failure.

Abstract: The storage system according to the present invention allows the number of host connections to be increased by connecting a plurality of storage control devices so that commands and data can be directly exchanged between each storage control device. The first storage control device has a plurality of controllers, and the second storage control device also has a plurality of controllers. Within each storage control device, controllers are connected by inter-controller communication paths. Also, between storage control devices, controllers belonging to different storage control devices are connected by inter-device communication paths. If the subject of processing of a command received by one storage control device is under the control of another storage control device, the command is transferred from the one storage control device to the other storage control device via the inter-device communication path.

Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises at least one housing A in which a storage device and a controller are provided, at least one housing B in which a storage device and a peripheral device are provided, and a transmission path for connecting the storage device and the controller of the housing A, and the storage device of the housing B to enable communication therebetween. The storage apparatus is capable of controlling operation of the storage device of the housing B according to an operating state of the storage device of the housing A through communication via the transmission path; and controlling operation of the peripheral device according to an operating state of the storage device of the housing B.

Abstract: In a substrate structure of a primary disk array apparatus of a disk array system, the primary disk array apparatus contains in one housing at least a plurality of disk drives and a controller substrate with a controller section for controlling the disk drives, and a resource management section that is mounted on the controller substrate of the primary disk array apparatus for managing resources within the housing.