Abstract: This invention enables resources included in a storage system to be effectively used. In a storage system 1 including a host computer 3, a first storage apparatus 10 that receives a data I/O request from the host computer 3, the second storage apparatus 10, and including a function of external attachment processing for managing the entity of a first logical volume of the first storage apparatus 10 in a second logical volume of the second storage apparatus 10, when a problem occurs in performance of the first storage apparatus 10, the external attachment processing is released, while external attachment release processing is performed in which path for accessing from the host computer 3 the second logical volume is switched to allow direct access from the host computer 3 to the second logical volume. When the problem in performance of the first storage apparatus 10 is solved, path switching is performed again to resume the external attachment processing.

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: 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: Provided is a computer system capable of reliably eliminating duplicated data regardless of the size of the data write unit from the host computer to the storage subsystem or the management unit size in the elimination of duplicated data. This computer system executes the relocation of duplicated data to the storage resource so that the writing of duplicated data is started from the start location of the management unit based on the detection of data redundancy and recognition of the management unit size in the elimination of duplicated data.

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: A pool is replicated in the unit of volume providing the pool, and when a physical device is blocked, any volume blocked in the pool is changed to the replicated volume so that the pool and a virtual volume can be recovered. With such a configuration, when any pool or virtual volume is blocked due to blockage of any volume providing the thin provisioning function, volume recovery can be swiftly performed without changing the virtual volume used by a host computer, and consumption of storage resources needed therefor can be suppressed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of managing a computer system including a plurality of storage systems and a plurality of management appliances for managing the plurality of storage systems. A first management appliance and a second management appliance hold an identifier of a first storage system and management data obtained from the first storage system. The method includes the steps of: selecting a third management appliance from the plurality of management appliances when a failure occurs in the first management appliance; transmitting the identifier held in the second management appliance from the second management appliance to the selected third management appliance; and holding the identifier transmitted from the second management appliance in the selected third management appliance. Thus, it is possible to prevent, after failing-over due to an abnormality of a maintenance/management appliance, a single point of failure from occurring to reduce reliability of the maintenance/management appliance.

Abstract: Summary 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: 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: A journal volume is created in a different power control unit of a normal mode, and the power saving mode is maintained by storing differential data in the journal until the corresponding power control unit is returned to a normal mode. A replication pair in a pair status in the power control unit is confirmed, set as a target to be switched to the power saving mode if it is of a constant value or less, and a management server is notified if there is an operation for creating a volume.

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: A data storing system including: a first, second and third storage systems providing first, second and third logical volumes; wherein the first logical volume and the second logical volume forms a first replication pair which indicates the first logical volume is a replication source and the second logical volume is a replication destination, and the second logical volume and the third logical volume forms a second copy pair which indicates the second logical volume is the replication source and the third logical volume is the replication destination. The replication pairs may adopt differing possible pair statuses, which may affect consistency between such pairs.

Abstract: Provided is a method of managing a computer system including a plurality of storage systems and a plurality of management appliances for managing the plurality of storage systems. A first management appliance and a second management appliance hold an identifier of a first storage system and management data obtained from the first storage system. The method includes the steps of selecting a third management appliance from the plurality of management appliances when a failure occurs in the first management appliance; transmitting the identifier held in the second management appliance from the second management appliance to the selected third management appliance; and holding the identifier transmitted from the second management appliance in the selected third management appliance. Thus, it is possible to prevent, after failing-over due to an abnormality of a maintenance/management appliance, a single point of failure from occurring to reduce reliability of the maintenance/management appliance.

Abstract: Provided is a method of managing a computer system including a plurality of storage systems and a plurality of management appliances for managing the plurality of storage systems. A first management appliance and a second management appliance hold an identifier of a first storage system and management data obtained from the first storage system. The method includes the steps of: selecting a third management appliance from the plurality of management appliances when a failure occurs in the first management appliance; transmitting the identifier held in the second management appliance from the second management appliance to the selected third management appliance; and holding the identifier transmitted from the second management appliance in the selected third management appliance. Thus, it is possible to prevent, after failing-over due to an abnormality of a maintenance/management appliance, a single point of failure from occurring to reduce reliability of the maintenance/management appliance.

Abstract: A data storing system including: a first, second and third storage systems providing first, second and third logical volumes; wherein the first logical volume and the second logical volume forms a first replication pair which indicates the first logical volume is a replication source and the second logical volume is a replication destination, and the second logical volume and the third logical volume forms a second copy pair which indicates the second logical volume is the replication source and the third logical volume is the replication destination. The replication pairs may adopt differing possible pair statuses, which may affect consistency between such pairs.

Abstract: A pool is replicated in the unit of volume providing the pool, and when a physical device is blocked, any volume blocked in the pool is changed to the replicated volume so that the pool and a virtual volume can be recovered. With such a configuration, when any pool or virtual volume is blocked due to blockage of any volume providing the thin provisioning function, volume recovery can be swiftly performed without changing the virtual volume used by a host computer, and consumption of storage resources needed therefor can be suppressed.

Abstract: In order to manage and operate Pool created in storage system A and a virtual volume using Pool in storage system B, it is required to copy the virtual volume of storage system A into a virtual volume of storage system B and new storage regions for copy of virtual volume into storage system B are needed. Storage system B acquires configuration information of Pool and a virtual volume of storage system A and inputs a logical volume included in Pool of storage system A to storage system B based on the acquired configuration information. Storage system B transforms the acquired configuration information for use in storage system B and creates Pool and a virtual volume from the input logical volume based on the transformed configuration information.

Abstract: In a storage system in which a pair is configured by a remote copy, when a fault occurs in the pair, data to be lost is determined. Provided is a management computer connected to a storage system, in which the storage system includes: a primary logical volume in which data is stored and an secondary logical volume in which a replication of the data stored in the primary logical volume is stored; the primary logical volume and the secondary logical volume form a pair; the management computer comprises a data management module for managing data stored in the primary and secondary logical volumes; and the data management module obtains an event regarding the pair, determines whether the event is caused by a fault occurring in the pair, determines data made to be inconsistent by the fault in the case where the event is caused by the fault, and outputs information on the inconsistent data.

Abstract: A journal volume is created in a different power control unit of a normal mode, and the power saving mode is maintained by storing differential data in the journal until the corresponding power control unit is returned to a normal mode. A replication pair in a pair status in the power control unit is confirmed, set as a target to be switched to the power saving mode if it is of a constant value or less, and a management server is notified if there is an operation for creating a volume.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the required volume capacity and journal control resources by sharing the journal volumes of an asynchronous copy function and a CDP function. In a configuration where an asynchronous copy function and a CDP function share a journal volume, when the journal volume is updated, only the journal data provided to both a volume at remote locations and a base volume is set to be a target for deletion or overwriting.