Abstract: A computer system having a plurality of host computers and a storage system is provided which allows any one host computer to perform a global copy operation on any arbitrary or all storage areas in the storage system. To this end, storage areas provided by the disk devices are grouped into groups by allocating group numbers to a plurality of specified storage areas. The copy operation can be performed by specifying desired groups. Each of the groups is made up of sub-groups and the sub-groups are defined for each computer to assure a consistency of copy order of the sub-groups.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data storage system used in a computer environment where there are plural host computers and plural storage array controllers. When a remote copy is made while assuring the order of writing across plural storage array controllers, one of the host computers gains copy information about all the storage array controllers associated with the remote copy as a representative. The representative one of the storage array controllers collects and stores copy statuses which are individually managed by the storage array controllers for which a remote copy is made. The host computer gains the copy statuses from the representative controller using an instruction to gain the copy statuses.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data storage system used in a computer environment where there are plural host computers and plural storage array controllers. When a remote copy is made while assuring the order of writing across plural storage array controllers, one of the host computers gains copy information about all the storage array controllers associated with the remote copy as a representative. The representative one of the storage array controllers collects and stores copy statuses which are individually managed by the storage array controllers for which a remote copy is made. The host computer gains the copy statuses from the representative controller using an instruction to gain the copy statuses.

Abstract: Arrangements for transfer and replication of data. A host computer retains a transfer volume management information including HDD identifiers corresponding to a plurality of primary volumes and identifiers of at least one of transfer volumes, wherein, from a plurality of volumes in a first storage device, the host computer extracts a reserve volume as an additional transfer volume, if a capacity usage of the at least one of the transfer volumes reaches or goes above a predetermined level, wherein the host computer transmits an allocation request about the additional transfer volume, wherein, after receiving the allocation request, the first storage device implements the reserve volume as the additional transfer volume corresponding to the at least one of transfer volumes for transfer of write data to the second storage device.

Abstract: A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data storage system used in a computer environment where there are plural host computers and plural storage array controllers. When a remote copy is made while assuring the order of writing across plural storage array controllers, one of the host computers gains copy information about all the storage array controllers associated with the remote copy as a representative. The representative one of the storage array controllers collects and stores copy statuses which are individually managed by the storage array controllers for which a remote copy is made. The host computer gains the copy statuses from the representative controller using an instruction to gain the copy statuses.

Abstract: Arrangements for transfer and replication of data. A host computer retains a transfer volume management information including HDD identifiers corresponding to a plurality of primary volumes and identifiers of at least one of transfer volumes, wherein, from a plurality of volumes in a first storage device, the host computer extracts a reserve volume as an additional transfer volume, if a capacity usage of the at least one of the transfer volumes reaches or goes above a predetermined level, wherein the host computer transmits an allocation request about the additional transfer volume, wherein, after receiving the allocation request, the first storage device implements the reserve volume as the additional transfer volume corresponding to the at least one of transfer volumes for transfer of write data to the second storage device.

Abstract: A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data storage system used in a computer environment where there are plural host computers and plural storage array controllers. When a remote copy is made while assuring the order of writing across plural storage array controllers, one of the host computers gains copy information about all the storage array controllers associated with the remote copy as a representative. The representative one of the storage array controllers collects and stores copy statuses which are individually managed by the storage array controllers for which a remote copy is made. The host computer gains the copy statuses from the representative controller using an instruction to gain the copy statuses.

Abstract: Transfer of data and replication of data among several storage devices are executed without imposing a load on the computer connected to the storage system. For example, a first host computer monitors usage rates of transfer groups TG11, TG12 and physical path usage rate on a storage device interconnect physical path 50, and when either a usage rate or physical path usage rate goes above a predetermined value, issues to the first storage device 20 an instruction to allocate a reserved volume R11, R12. The first host adaptor 21 receiving the reserved volume R11, R12 allocation request allocates reserved volume R11 to transfer group TG1, whereby a virtual transfer volume is formed by transfer volume T11 and the reserved volume R11 allocated thereto. Capacity of the virtual transfer volume is increased by the equivalent of the reserved volume R11 capacity, so that additional transfer frames may be stored.

Abstract: A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed.

Abstract: A computer system wherein, when a state of the primary host computer is in an active state, a data sent from the primary host computer to the first storage system is copied through a first copy route which includes a route from the first storage system to the second storage system and a route from the second storage system to the third storage system, wherein, if a failure occurs in the primary host computer and a state of the second host computer is to be in an active state, a data sent from the secondary host computer to the second storage system is copied through a second copy route which includes a route from the second storage system to the first storage system and a route from the first storage system to the third storage system.

Abstract: A computer system having a plurality of host computers and a storage system is provided which allows any one host computer to perform a global copy operation on any arbitrary or all storage areas in the storage system. To this end, storage areas provided by the disk devices are grouped into groups by allocating group numbers to a plurality of specified storage areas. The copy operation can be performed by specifying desired groups. Each of the groups is made up of sub-groups and the sub-groups are defined for each computer to assure a consistency of copy order of the sub-groups.

Abstract: A first storage system misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of a volume and provides the host computer with a first volume. A second storage system misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of a second volume as being identical to those misrepresented by the first storage system and provides the host computer with a second volume. A management computer acquires, upon detection of a failure in an access, a status of copying, a status of the first storage system, and a status of the second storage system and controls an access from the host computer with reference to the plurality of acquired statuses. Accordingly, even when a fault occurs in one of the two storage systems, a network that connects the two storage systems, or the like, the host computer can access to latest data.

Abstract: In a computer system, to enable a second computer to take over control of copying of data within the computer system, from a first computer that normally controls copying of data. The second computer selects from a plurality of storage systems a storage system to be accessed in order to acquire sub system pair information, and acquires sub system pair information from the selected storage system. Based on the acquired sub system pair information, the second computer generates system pair information that includes copy pair information relating to a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems. The second computer initially selects a storage system directly linked to the second computer, and subsequently sequentially selects a storage system based on the acquired sub system pair information.

Abstract: A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed.

Abstract: A computer system wherein, when a state of the primary host computer is in an active state, a data sent from the primary host computer to the first storage system is copied through a first copy route which includes a route from the first storage system to the second storage system and a route from the second storage system to the third storage system, wherein, if a failure occurs in the primary host computer and a state of the second host computer is to be in an active state, a data sent from the secondary host computer to the second storage system is copied through a second copy route which includes a route from the second storage system to the first storage system and a route from the first storage system to the third storage system.

Abstract: A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed.

Abstract: A storage network system that can be kept running despite a failure in a host computer is provided. A computer system includes: first, second and third storage systems which store data and are connected to one another; a primary host computer connected to the first storage system; a secondary host computer connected to the second storage system; and a management portion which manages data transfer between the storage systems, in which the management portion sets the storage systems such that, while the primary host computer is in operation, data stored in the first storage system is transferred to the second storage system and data stored in the second storage system is transferred to the third storage system, and wherein the management portion sets the storage systems such that, while the secondary host computer is in operation, data stored in the second storage system is transferred to the first storage system and data stored in the first storage system is transferred to the third storage system.

Abstract: A computer system having a plurality of host computers and a storage system is provided which allows any one host computer to perform a global copy operation on any arbitrary or all storage areas in the storage system. To this end, storage areas provided by the disk devices are grouped into groups by allocating group numbers to a plurality of specified storage areas. The copy operation can be performed by specifying desired groups. Each of the groups is made up of sub-groups and the sub-groups are defined for each computer to assure a consistency of copy order of the sub-groups.