Abstract: A storage control apparatus that stores backup target in a predetermined storage area of a storage apparatus includes a determination unit for determining whether or not the backup target data has been modified, and a backup processing unit for performing the backup processing for the backup target data when the determination unit determines that the backup target data has been modified.

Abstract: A disk array device having a plurality of hard disk units has a large-capacity memory mounted on a controller module which controls the whole device. The large-capacity memory has a system area managed by an OS and a cache area serving as a cache memory, and in addition, it has a table area which stores management/control information of the device and whose area size is changeable at an arbitrary instance. Therefore, it is possible to change the table area according to the state of the device in an active state without ON/OFF of a power source, so that an area not in use in the table area can be released for use as the cache memory. This makes it possible to appropriately varying the sizes of the table area and the cache area in an active state while the device is in operation, thereby realizing effective use of the large-capacity memory.

Abstract: A disk array device has: a CM separating part that, when abnormality occurs in a CM, separates the CM in which the abnormality has occurred from a storage system after write of CM operation information data to a hard disk is completed; and communication path reconfiguring parts that reconfigure communication paths between the CM in which the abnormality has occurred and DAs. When abnormality occurs in the CM, the communication paths between the CM and the DAs are reconfigured, and after the CM operation information data of the CM is written to the hard disk, the CM is separated. Therefore, the write processing is not interrupted halfway, so that the useful operation information data regarding the cause of the problem occurrence can be written to the hard disk having a sufficient storage area.

Abstract: A code conversion apparatus, a disk drive, a code buffer, and an encryption buffer are included in a storage. The code buffer stores therein first encrypted data present in the disk drive, and the encryption buffer stores therein first unencrypted data present in the disk drive. An encrypting unit encrypts the first unencrypted data present in the encryption buffer to predetermined encrypted data, and a decrypting unit decrypts the first encrypted data present in the code buffer to second unencrypted data. Moreover, a re-encrypting unit decrypts the first encrypted data present in the code buffer to third unencrypted data and encrypts the third unencrypted data to second encrypted data different from the first encrypted data.

Abstract: A code conversion apparatus, a disk drive, a code buffer, and an encryption buffer are included in a storage. The code buffer stores therein first encrypted data present in the disk drive, and the encryption buffer stores therein first unencrypted data present in the disk drive. An encrypting unit encrypts the first unencrypted data present in the encryption buffer to predetermined encrypted data, and a decrypting unit decrypts the first encrypted data present in the code buffer to second unencrypted data. Moreover, a re-encrypting unit decrypts the first encrypted data present in the code buffer to third unencrypted data and encrypts the third unencrypted data to second encrypted data different from the first encrypted data.

Abstract: A storage system has a controller and a plurality of storage devices connected to a pair of loops, the controller diagnoses storage devices and performs automatic high-speed restoration of the loops. A storage system has a controller, a plurality of storage devices, and switch circuits having a plurality of switches to connect each of the plurality of storage devices to loops. When a loop anomaly is detected, a restoration instruction is issued to a switch circuit, the plurality of switches are operated in parallel, storage devices are diagnosed, and according to the diagnosis results, a storage device judged to be anomalous are bypassed from the loop by operating the switches. When a loop anomaly is detected, diagnosis of the disk drives connected to the loop can be performed in parallel, so that the time until automatic restoration of the loop can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A disk array apparatus has a plurality of the same type of disk array units. Each of the disk array units has a plurality of storage areas in each of which firmware for allowing the disk array unit to operate is stored. When the disk array apparatus recognizes that a first disk array unit has been disposed therein, it compares a version number of firmware stored in each storage area included in the first disk array unit with a version number of firmware stored in each storage area included in a second disk array unit that currently operates in the disk array apparatus. If these version numbers are the same, the disk array apparatus makes a storage area in which firmware executed by the first disk array unit is stored conform to a storage area in which firmware executed by the second disk array unit is stored.

Abstract: A management module for a storage apparatus includes a device attribute managing part to manage attribute information and security function of at least two storage parts of different kinds and/or with different performances that are virtually used as a single virtual storage apparatus, and to provide at least a portion of the attribute information with respect to a host unit. The attribute information includes storage region information indicating a storage region occupied by each storage part in the virtual storage apparatus, and performance information of each storage part, in correspondence with each other.

Abstract: A disk array device has: a CM separating part that, when abnormality occurs in a CM, separates the CM in which the abnormality has occurred from a storage system after write of CM operation information data to a hard disk is completed; and communication path reconfiguring parts that reconfigure communication paths between the CM in which the abnormality has occurred and DAs. When abnormality occurs in the CM, the communication paths between the CM and the DAs are reconfigured, and after the CM operation information data of the CM is written to the hard disk, the CM is separated. Therefore, the write processing is not interrupted halfway, so that the useful operation information data regarding the cause of the problem occurrence can be written to the hard disk having a sufficient storage area.

Abstract: A disk array device having a plurality of hard disk units has a large-capacity memory mounted on a controller module which controls the whole device. The large-capacity memory has a system area managed by an OS and a cache area serving as a cache memory, and in addition, it has a table area which stores management/control information of the device and whose area size is changeable at an arbitrary instance. Therefore, it is possible to change the table area according to the state of the device in an active state without ON/OFF of a power source, so that an area not in use in the table area can be released for use as the cache memory. This makes it possible to appropriately varying the sizes of the table area and the cache area in an active state while the device is in operation, thereby realizing effective use of the large-capacity memory.

Abstract: An information access control method is presented by which access to certain specified information on an information system is restricted by means of the authentication of external recording media. The information access control method that accesses information data on an information system by using an external recording medium includes the steps of, wherein system user information is recorded onto the external recording medium, and the corresponding user information is also registered in advance on the information system, comparing the system user information sent by the connection request with the registered system user information, when the system user information is sent to the information system as a connection request from the external recording medium, and allowing the external recording medium access to the information data on the system within the limits specified by the aforementioned system user information, if the results of the comparison match.

Abstract: A vendor ID is written to a system area of a write-once optical disk. When the write-once optical disk is loaded onto a write-once disk drive, a control CPU reads the vendor ID. The vendor ID is written into the header of software received through an interface unit. When the software is input to an SD circuit, the control CPU reads the vendor ID. The control CPU compares the vendor ID in the system area of the write-once optical disk with the vendor ID of the header of the software and checks whether or not the two IDs are identical. If the two IDs correspond to each other, the control CPU writes the software to the write-once optical disk.

Abstract: A method of managing files of an interchangeable storage medium having a RAM area defining an independent RAM section and a ROM area defining an independent ROM section, each section having a file management area for storing file management data and a file area for storing files. The method includes reading file management information out of a file management area of the ROM section in response to a request for establishing a section in which the RAM area and the ROM area are mixed, converting the file management information of the ROM section to file management information of the mixed RAM-ROM section, writing the file management information of the mixed RAM-ROM section in a file management area of the mixed section, and managing ROM files and RAM files as files of the mixed section.

Abstract: In a method for preventing unauthorized use of a recording medium having a user accessible area and a user inaccessible area, first information is read from the user inaccessible area of the recording medium. The first information is compared with second information concerning a true recording medium (lawfully produced copy). It is then concluded that the recording medium is the true recording medium when the first information corresponds to the second information.

Abstract: A recording medium has a medium ID information storing area in a user data area for identification of the recording medium on which software/data is recorded. An original medium ID information storing area, which is regarded as a defect area, is also included in the user data area for storing original medium ID information, wherein the original medium ID information is compared with the medium ID information to judge unauthorized use of the software/data. Further, an alternate area adjacent the user data area is provided for storing data which do not agree with the medium ID information. A method of preventing unauthorized use in a system for reading software/data from a recording medium includes reading medium ID information of the recording medium from which the software is read. Then data from a ROM or a RAM area on the recording medium indicated by a predetermined address is read.

Abstract: A CD-ROM stores encrypted software. When a user desires to decrypt and install this software, an approval preparatory key is generated by an installer. This approval preparatory key is generated based on time data. When the user informs a center of this approval preparatory key, the center calculates a difference between this approval preparatory key and a decrypting key and vends this calculated result to a user in the form of an approval key. When the user inputs this approval key to an installer, the installer generates a decrypting key by adding the approval preparatory key to the approval key. The installer decrypts the software by this decrypting key and installs the encrypted software into a personal computer system.

Abstract: When recording a large volume of data such as video data, audio data, or the like, it is desirable to delete menus for unnecessary files and thereby enable quick and efficient access to data. An optical recording medium having a data recording medium which is divided into at least a readable/writable first region and a second region used exclusively for data reading. The first region has recorded therein a title management information table in which filenames of software titles are registered in the second region, and a loader for executing or reproducing these software titles, wherein the loader and the software title correspond to each other. The second region has recorded therein at least two types of software titles.

Abstract: A removable storage medium relates to a removable storage medium embodying an external storage medium for computer equipment. The removable storage medium can be inserted in an external storage apparatus connected to a computer equipment unit, and stores predetermined programs. The removable storage medium includes a correspondence table for specifying a correspondence relation between a physical drive configuration of the computer equipment unit connected to the external storage apparatus and a logical drive configuration of the stored programs. A recording device is provided for recording information on the correspondence table.

Abstract: An optical disk is divided into a plurality of sections at least one of which (a first section) is made a section (formatted in MS-DOS, for example) having a format different from the logical format of a CD-ROM. Publication data is optically recorded in at least one section (a second section) of the sections other than the first section in accordance with the CD-ROM logical format. A CD-ROM utilization tool that utilizes publication data in the CD-ROM logical format and a CD-ROM emulator for converting a request for access to the CD-ROM logical section issued by the CD-ROM utilization tool to a request for access to the optical disk are recorded in the first section.

Abstract: Common-use data (FATs, a directory, files, etc.) is recorded in a first area of an interchangeable recording medium, and logical format information of a plurality of types for managing the common-use data recorded in the first area is recorded in the second area. When the interchangeable recording medium is loaded, a computer reads logical format information conforming to its own machine type from the second area and subsequently accesses the common-use data in the first area based upon the logical format information read. Further, a corresponding relationship between computers and storage locations of the logical format information is recorded in a third area of the interchangeable recording medium. Each computer recognizes the location, at which its own logical format information has been stored, by referring to the corresponding relationship and reads the logical format information from this location.