Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a system and code for backing up information on a storage system, for example, a disk system, connected to a storage area network. The host or server system off loads the task of backing up its data to the storage system that stores the data. In an exemplary embodiment a server sends an E-copy command to a disk system. Next, the disk system finds an available back-up device, for examples a tape or DLT library, and then backs-up the information indicated in the E-copy command to the back-up device. A user interface is provided so that one or more path groups, comprising at least a target port and an initiator port, on a disk system may be designated.

Abstract: A storage control system is provided where a first host system connected to a first storage controller can issue a control command to a second storage controller connected another host system. The first storage controller is connected to the second storage controller and the command is issued without providing the command to the other host system. The first storage controller has a virtual volume, a memory unit for storing information necessary for mapping the virtual volume to a logical device in the second storage controller, and attribute information for the logical device. The host system identifies the virtual volume as the logical device in the second storage controller and issues a control command to this logical device via the virtual volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides a storage control system that can prevent capacity in a cache memory from being overloaded even when the access performance of a controller in a storage controller to an external storage device in an external storage controller is permanently or temporarily poor. In the storage control system, a first storage controller is connected to a storage device in a second storage controller and the first storage controller is configured to be able to write/read data to/from the storage device in the second storage controller in response to a request from a host device connected to the first storage controller.

Abstract: A first storage control system comprises a CHN connected to a LAN CN. The CHN comprises a NAS processor and I/O processor. The I/O processor judges whether all or a portion of block level data is to be stored in either a first storage control system or a second storage control system, on the basis of an I/O allocation control data which indicates which of either the first storage control system or the second storage control system the block level data is to be stored in. On the basis of the result of this judgment, the I/O processor transfers the block level data from the NAS processor, to at least one of the DKA and the CHF connected to the second storage control system.

Abstract: Provided is a storage system having one or more logical devices mapped to a virtual device provided in a mapping destination storage system, and a storage controller for controlling the reading and writing of data from and to the logical devices. Upon receiving a reserve command from the mapping destination storage system, the storage controller restricts the access from an initiator other than the mapping destination storage system to a logical device to which access restriction is designated with the reserve command.

Abstract: Provided is a storage system having a first storage controller and a second storage controller. An actual device of the second storage controller is mapped to a virtual device of the first storage controller. The first storage controller has a port for transmitting control cylinder information to be written in a control information area of the actual device. As the format data to be transmitted from the first storage controller to the second storage controller, it will suffice so as long as control cylinder information is transmitted, and high speed formatting can be performed since it is not necessary to transmit 0 data.

Abstract: When an active data copy process relative to a logical storage device is performed without involving a computer, an access permission/rejection of the computer to the logical storage device is checked by referring to a correspondence between WWN of the computer and a logical storage device identifier LUN to thereby determine whether an access to a copy source logical storage device and a copy destination logical storage device is permitted or not. It is therefore possible to prevent an outflow of illegal data from a storage subsystem to be caused by an active copy instruction command.

Abstract: Under a hetero-environment in which different sorts of disk-systems are mixed with each other, a data guaranteeing operation can be carried out. When a cache controller of a local disk system receives a data writing request from a host computer, the cache controller stores data into a local disk provided in a disk device group. The data received from the host computer is also transmitted to a remote disk system and is stored in a remote disk. The data stored in the remote disk is immediately read, and the data written in the remote disk is compared with the data written in the local disk. As a result, since a data guarantee operation on the remote side is processed by the local disk system instead of the remote disk system, a data guaranteeing operation when a remote copying operation is performed can be carried out even in the storage system under a hetero-environment.

Abstract: A first storage control system comprises a CHN connected to a LAN CN. The CHN comprises a NAS processor and I/O processor. The I/O processor judges whether all or a portion of block level data is to be stored in either a first storage control system or a second storage control system, on the basis of an I/O allocation control data which indicates which of either the first storage control system or the second storage control system the block level data is to be stored in. On the basis of the result of this judgment, the I/O processor transfers the block level data from the NAS processor, to at least one of the DKA and the CHF connected to the second storage control system.

Abstract: A plurality of key information items with a fixed constitution are stored in a shared memory of a first storage control system. Each key information item corresponds with each of the types of a second storage control system and includes, in a predetermined location in the key information, an information element that indicates the location of a particular information item among the plurality of information items in the control system information. A microprocessor in a Fibre Channel Adapter of the first storage control system determines whether to form a logical path with the second storage control system on the basis of the key information and the control system information that is received from the second storage control system.

Abstract: A first storage controller has a multilayer memory hierarchy constructed by LDEV (logical device) connected from LUN, and VDEV (virtual device) connected to the lower order of the LDEV. At least one of the VDEVs is constructed by mapping the memory resources arranged in external storage controllers. The functions of a stripe, RAID, etc. can be added in the mapping. Various kinds of functions (remote copy, variable volume function, etc.) applicable to the normal internal volume can be also used in a virtual internal volume by using the external memory resource as the virtual internal memory resource so that the degree of freedom of utilization is raised.

Abstract: Under a hetero-environment in which different sorts of disk-systems are mixed with each other, a data guaranteeing operation can be carried out. When a cache controller of a local disk system receives a data writing request from a host computer the cache controller stores data into a local disk provided in a disk device group. The data received from the host computer is also transmitted to a remote disk system, and is stored in a remote disk. The data stored in the remote disk is immediately read and the data written in the remote disk is compared with the data written in the local disk. As a result, since a data guarantee operation on the remote side is processed by the local disk system instead of the remote disk system, a data guaranteeing operation when a remote copying operation is performed can be carried out even in the storage system under a hetero-environment.

Abstract: Techniques for realizing efficient setting and utilization of configuration including storage volumes in a storage system having an initiator and a target, with a low cost configuration not requiring additional equipment such as a LAN and a server without limitations due to a low-transfer rate network are provided. The storage system has, e.g., an IS serving as an initiator, a TS serving as a target, and a frame relay device R for relaying the communication between the devices. The R has a DB for retaining the configuration information including the configuration of storage volumes in plural devices connected via plural ports, and an exclusive control unit for performing an exclusive control process of the configuration information in the DB upon setting for utilizing the storage volumes among the plural devices. According to update of the configuration of each device, the R updates the configuration information in the DB.

Abstract: A plurality of key information items with a fixed constitution are stored in a shared memory of a first storage control system. Each key information item corresponds with each of the types of a second storage control system and includes, in a predetermined location in the key information, an information element that indicates the location of a particular information item among the plurality of information items in the control system information. A microprocessor in a Fibre Channel Adapter of the first storage control system determines whether to form a logical path with the second storage control system on the basis of the key information and the control system information that is received from the second storage control system.

Abstract: A plurality of key information items with a fixed constitution are stored in a shared memory of a first storage control system. Each key information item corresponds with each of the types of a second storage control system and includes, in a predetermined location in the key information, an information element that indicates the location of a particular information item among the plurality of information items in the control system information. A microprocessor in a Fibre Channel Adapter of the first storage control system determines whether to form a logical path with the second storage control system on the basis of the key information and the control system information that is received from the second storage control system.

Abstract: A first storage control system comprises a CHN connected to a LAN CN. The CHN comprises a NAS processor and I/O processor. The I/O processor judges whether all or a portion of block level data is to be stored in either a first storage control system or a second storage control system, on the basis of an I/O allocation control data which indicates which of either the first storage control system or the second storage control system the block level data is to be stored in. On the basis of the result of this judgment, the I/O processor transfers the block level data from the NAS processor, to at least one of the DKA and the CHF connected to the second storage control system.

Abstract: Memory resources are effectively utilized by visually setting an external memory resource as an internal memory resource. A first storage controller has a multilayer memory hierarchy constructed by LDEV (logical device) connected from LUN, and VDEV (virtual device) connected to the lower order of the LDEV. At least one of the VDEVs is constructed by mapping the memory resources arranged in external storage controllers. The functions of a stripe, RAID, etc. can be added in the mapping. Various kinds of functions (remote copy, variable volume function, etc.) applicable to the normal internal volume can be also used in a virtual internal volume by using the external memory resource as the virtual internal memory resource so that the degree of freedom of utilization is raised.

Abstract: Under a hetero-environment in which different sorts of disk-systems are mixed with each other, a data guaranteeing operation can be carried out. When a cache controller of a local disk system receives a data writing request from a host computer the cache controller stores data into a local disk provided in a disk device group. The data received from the host computer is also transmitted to a remote disk system, and is stored in a remote disk. The data stored in the remote disk is immediately read and the data written in the remote disk is compared with the data written in the local disk. As a result, since a data guarantee operation on the remote side is processed by the local disk system instead of the remote disk system, a data guaranteeing operation when a remote copying operation is performed can be carried out even in the storage system under a hetero-environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a system and code for backing up information on a storage system, for example, a disk system, connected to a storage area network. The host or server system off loads the task of backing up its data to the storage system that stores the data. In an exemplary embodiment a server sends an E-Copy command to a disk system. Next, the disk system finds an available back-device, for example a tape or DLT library, and then backups the information indicated in the E-Copy command to the back-up device. A user interface is provided so that one or more path groups, comprising at least a target port and an initiator port, on a disk system may be designated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a system and code for backing up information on a storage system, for example, a disk system, connected to a storage area network. The host or server system off loads the task of backing up its data to the storage system that stores the data. In an exemplary embodiment a server sends an E-copy command to a disk system. Next, the disk system finds an available back-up device, for example, a tape or DLT library, and then backs-up the information indicated in the E-copy command to the back-up device. A user interface is provided so that one or more path groups, comprising at least a target port and an initiator port, on a disk system may be designated.