Abstract: An MDS (metadata server) in a distributed storage system includes data servers (DSs) storing file contents and one or more MDSs performing metadata operations in response to metadata requests of different types, the MDS including a controller having a processor and a memory, the MDS storing file system metadata. The controller is configured to: classify the metadata operations into different categories, which include a normal category and one or more special categories different from the normal category, the normal category having a primary stage which does not involve communication between the MDS and a component external to the MDS; for each special category, partition each metadata operation into a plurality of stages at least one of which involves communication between the MDS and a component external to the MDS; and dynamically assign resources to each of the partitioned stage based on monitored workloads of the different types of metadata requests.

Abstract: A storage apparatus coupled to a host device comprises a virtual volume which is a virtual logical volume configured of multiple virtual areas and a pool configured of multiple actual area groups of different performances. A controller manages pool status information which is the information showing which actual area is allocated to which virtual area and access load related to the virtual areas. A management system of the storage apparatus, with reference to the pool status information at multiple points of time from past to present and an access load threshold which is equal to or larger than 1, estimates the used capacity of each actual area group at points of time in the future, calculates the installed/removed amount of each actual area group which is the difference between the estimated used capacity and the current storage capacity, and performs the processing based on the calculated result.

Abstract: An embodiment of this invention is an information storage system comprising a plurality of storage systems connected to be able to communicate. Each of the plurality of storage systems includes default storage system identification information which is the same to the plurality of storage systems, common volume identification information for uniquely identifying volumes provided by the plurality of storage systems to a host computer among the plurality of storage systems, and a controller configured to return the default storage system identification information to the host computer in response to a request from the host computer and to process a read or write request to a volume accompanying the common volume identification information from the host computer.

Abstract: A storage tiered that satisfies desired performance is configured by recognizing the type and capacity of storage media of a storage apparatus, which are held by a user, and using the storage media.

Abstract: A driving circuit includes first through N-th selective operation driving portions selectively producing first through N-th selective operation driving signals, a selection circuit selectively driving the first through the N-th selective operation driving portions in response to an input signal and a control signal, and a supplying arrangement combining the first through the N-th selective operation driving signals to supply a combined driving signal to a solid-stage image pickup device. An n-th selective operation driving portion includes (M×2(n-1)) P-channel FETs connected in parallel with each other and (M×2(n-1)) N-channel FETs connected in parallel with each other. The (M×2(n-1)) P-channel FETs have drains connected to drains of the (M×2(n-1)) N-channel FETs.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention is directed to a plurality of MDSs (metadata servers) in a distributed storage system which includes data servers storing file contents, each MDS having a processor and a memory and storing file system metadata. Directories of a file system namespace are distributed to the MDSs through referral directories referring to real directories using hash value of inode number of each of the referral directories. During a process to create a directory in the file system namespace, a first MDS dynamically creates a referral directory in the first MDS, and creates a real directory in a second MDS, the referral directory in the first MDS referring to the real directory in the second MDS by maintaining location information of the real directory in the second MDS, the real directory in the second MDS containing the file system metadata for the directory in the file system namespace.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention is a multi-client storage system comprising a management computer including a processor and a memory, for allocating resources of a plurality of storage apparatus to a plurality of clients, the management computer comprising: a receiving unit for receiving conditions for a client to which a new resource is to be allocated; a determining unit for determining whether the new resource is securable under the received conditions without changing resources allocated to existing clients and conditions for the volumes for each of the existing clients; and an allocation unit for securing, when it is determined that the new resource is securable under the received conditions, the new resource under the received conditions for the client in the plurality of storage apparatus and allocating the new resource to the client.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to allocate a volume to an appropriate tier in a pool in accordance with the performance of the volume. Multiple tiers 1K are created in a pool 1B. A pool volume that matches the performance required by a tier is allocated to each tier. An information acquisition part 1D acquires information related to respective storage apparatuses 1, 2, and information related to the performance of each volume. A tier control part 1E allocates a pool volume to any tier of the respective tiers, based on the performance information.

Abstract: A storage cluster including a first storage apparatus and a second storage apparatus is defined. Communication between the first storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus uses a first network and an access request from a host computer uses a second network. Each of the first and second storage apparatuses defines internal LUs by using storage devices included in that storage apparatus. The first storage apparatus defines other internal LUs by using internal LUs of the second storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus defines other internal LUs by using internal LUs of the first storage apparatus.

Abstract: In a storage system 1, a storage apparatus A having a first pool 1430 including segments as unit storage areas and a storage apparatus B having a second pool 1430 having the same configuration are communicably connected to each other. In the storage system, an external volume identifier is associated with a logical volume 1420 included in the first pool 1430, the external volume identifier being used by a controller 1500 in the storage apparatus B to identify and manage the logical volume 1420 as an external volume 1425 that is a virtual volume in the storage apparatus B. Moreover, a volume identifier 5110 of the logical volume 1420 included in the first pool 1430 is rewritten into the external volume identifier in order to enable the storage apparatus B to utilize the logical volume 1420 created from the first pool 1430.

Abstract: Problem To recover data of a virtual volume to which an external volume was assigned even if an unusual status occurs in the first storage apparatus. Solution The controller of the storage apparatus, to the respective pages of the pool corresponding to the virtual volumes, assigns the internal pool volumes configured of storage devices of the storage apparatus or the external pool volumes configured of storage devices of the storage apparatus, and the management server stores the configuration information indicating the correspondence relationship between the external pool volumes assigned to the respective pages of the pool and the virtual volumes, in the case of a total functional shutdown of the storage apparatus, creates a virtual volume and a pool in the storage apparatus, associates the virtual volume with the external pool volume in accordance with the stored configuration information, provides the virtual volume to the host computer and instructs path switching.

Abstract: In a storage system 1, a storage apparatus A having a first pool 1430 including segments as unit storage areas and a storage apparatus B having a second pool 1430 having the same configuration are communicably connected to each other. In the storage system, an external volume identifier is associated with a logical volume 1420 included in the first pool 1430, the external volume identifier being used by a controller 1500 in the storage apparatus B to identify and manage the logical volume 1420 as an external volume 1425 that is a virtual volume in the storage apparatus B. Moreover, a volume identifier 5110 of the logical volume 1420 included in the first pool 1430 is rewritten into the external volume identifier in order to enable the storage apparatus B to utilize the logical volume 1420 created from the first pool 1430.

Abstract: Multiple types of storage devices which have different performance are appropriately allocated to multiple virtual volumes in accordance with the performance requirements of the respective virtual volumes. In cases where, among virtual volumes 82 for which response times have been specified, there is a [virtual volume] that has a shortage of pages to which SSDs 70 should be allocated and that does not satisfy the performance requirement when its Tier boundary value ? is adjusted to Tier boundary value ?? and, if unallocated pages as the pages to which SSDs 70 should be allocated do not exist, Tier boundary value ? or Tier boundary value ? of another virtual volume is adjusted to Tier boundary value ?? or the Tier boundary value ??, and pages to which SSDs 70 are allocated are secured in the virtual volume 82 for which the Tier boundary value has been adjusted.

Abstract: The configuration of volumes provided by a plurality of storage apparatuses with an external connection function is optimized. By associating a virtual volume provided to the host computer with a real volume of another storage apparatus other than their own, the plurality of storage apparatuses manage the real volume of the other storage apparatus as their own real volume, and a management computer comprises a detection unit which detects a correspondence relationship between the virtual volume of one storage apparatus among the plurality of storage apparatuses and the real volume of the one storage apparatus or of the other storage apparatus; and a modification unit which, if the real volume is added to any of the plurality of the storage apparatuses, modifies the correspondence relationship between the virtual volume and the real volume associated with the virtual volume, according to the correspondence relationship detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: Even if no port of the attribute communicable with communication ports which the other storage control apparatuses comprise exists among the communication ports which the storage control apparatus comprises, connecting the respective storage control apparatuses as communicable. Among communication ports, the migration source communication port and the migration destination communication port are selected. The path connected to the migration source communication port is migrated to the migration destination communication port, and the migration source communication port is made a free communication port. The attribute of the free communication port is changed to a specified attribute, and the communication port of the other storage control apparatus is connected to the communication port.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention is a multi-client storage system comprising a management computer including a processor and a memory, for allocating resources of a plurality of storage apparatus to a plurality of clients, the management computer comprising: a receiving unit for receiving conditions for a client to which a new resource is to be allocated; a determining unit for determining whether the new resource is securable under the received conditions without changing resources allocated to existing clients and conditions for the volumes for each of the existing clients; and an allocation unit for securing, when it is determined that the new resource is securable under the received conditions, the new resource under the received conditions for the client in the plurality of storage apparatus and allocating the new resource to the client.

Abstract: A storage tiered that satisfies desired performance is configured by recognizing the type and capacity of storage media of a storage apparatus, which are held by a user, and using the storage media.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to allocate a volume to an appropriate tier in a pool in accordance with the performance of the volume. Multiple tiers 1K are created in a pool 1B. A pool volume that matches the performance required by a tier is allocated to each tier. An information acquisition part 1D acquires information related to respective storage apparatuses 1, 2, and information related to the performance of each volume. A tier control part 1E allocates a pool volume to any tier of the respective tiers, based on the performance information.

Abstract: An embodiment of this invention is an information storage system comprising a plurality of storage systems connected to be able to communicate. Each of the plurality of storage systems includes default storage system identification information which is the same to the plurality of storage systems, common volume identification information for uniquely identifying volumes provided by the plurality of storage systems to a host computer among the plurality of storage systems, and a controller configured to return the default storage system identification information to the host computer in response to a request from the host computer and to process a read or write request to a volume accompanying the common volume identification information from the host computer.

Abstract: Even if no port of the attribute communicable with communication ports which the other storage control apparatuses comprise exists among the communication ports which the storage control apparatus comprises, connecting the respective storage control apparatuses as communicable. Among communication ports, the migration source communication port and the migration destination communication port are selected. The path connected to the migration source communication port is migrated to the migration destination communication port, and the migration source communication port is made a free communication port. The attribute of the free communication port is changed to a specified attribute, and the communication port of the other storage control apparatus is connected to the communication port.