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: The present invention causes an asynchronous remote copy to work together with storage clustering technology. A host computer program for controlling the asynchronous remote copy carries out an asynchronous remote copy pair operation by asynchronously working together with a switchover instruction of a storage clustering control program that performs a host write-destination volume switchover in a storage clustering environment.

Abstract: In a copy control method, during a process for the acquisition of a data copy at a designated time, a recovery period of time can still be reduced when an input/output request is issued for copy source data at the designated time. For a system that includes a first storage device in which data are stored, a second storage device that obtains a data copy, and a host computer that writes data to the first storage device, the second storage device obtains blank input/output requests that are issued at predetermined time intervals if the host computer does not generate an input/output request for the first storage device, and the second storage device determines that a time closest to a predetermined data copy acquisition time, which is a target time for the acquisition of a data copy, is a copy execution time for the acquisition of a data copy.

Abstract: This invention relates to data backup and data recovery in a computer system. An outputting unit updates data stored in a first area based on an update request of data from the host computer, a creating unit stores update data for the update request in a second area, a marker processing unit creates a marker containing information of the range, in which the data is stored, and information indicating whether or not the data is allowed to be stored in a third area based on a request of creating the marker from the host computer to store the created marker in the second area, and a reflecting unit refers to the marker, obtains the update data corresponding to the data storing range, which is stored prior to the marker, and reflects the obtained update data to the third area.

Abstract: In a system for storing data as a backup purpose to a separate storage apparatus, data of a copy source is matched with data of a copy destination in a predetermined time. A host computer attaches an identifier to a write request and then transmits the resulting write request to another storage apparatus for every segment of business. The host computer calculates an amount of data which can be copied (backup) within a given time for every identifier, and then, issues a backup instruction to the storage apparatus.

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 sets a storage area of a first disk drive as a first volume, and misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of the first volume. A second storage system sets a storage area of a second disk drive as a second volume, and misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of the second volume. The first storage system copies data of the first volume in the second volume. The second storage system copies data of the second volume in the first volume. A management computer determines whether there is a match between the data of the first volume and the data of the second volume. When it is determined that there is not match, the host computer accesses only one of the first volume and the second volume that stores the latest data.

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 plurality of second groups respectively including one or more second volumes are configured in correspondence with each of the first groups of a remote copy source in a remote copy destination, journals are acquired from the first storage apparatus periodically and in the order the journals were created for each of the configured second groups, and the acquired journals are reflected in the corresponding second volume in the corresponding second group. In addition, the latest time stamp of each of the second groups containing the journals retained in the second volume in an unreflected state is compared, the time difference of the latest and oldest time stamps is detected, and prescribed control processing is executed for acquiring the journals regarding the second group with the oldest time stamp in preference to the journals regarding other second groups when the time difference exceeds a preset threshold value.

Abstract: The computer system includes a computer, a first storage system configured to be communicable with the computer, and a second storage system configured to be communicable with the first storage system. The second storage system identifies the first storage system that is capable of communicating with the second storage system, detects fault occurring in the second storage system, and transmits fault information to the identified first storage system, the fault information being related to the detected fault. And the first storage system notifies the computer of the transmitted fault information.

Abstract: In a copy control method, during a process for the acquisition of a data copy at a designated time, a recovery period of time can still be reduced when an input/output request is issued for copy source data at the designated time. For a system that includes a first storage device in which data are stored, a second storage device that obtains a data copy, and a host computer that writes data to the first storage device, the second storage device obtains blank input/output requests that are issued at predetermined time intervals if the host computer does not generate an input/output request for the first storage device, and the second storage device determines that a time closest to a predetermined data copy acquisition time, which is a target time for the acquisition of a data copy, is a copy execution time for the acquisition of a data copy.

Abstract: Related plural logical volumes can be used after switching over from the host computer therein. A switching command, which a host computer sends, makes a storage device search for a switching target volume, from the volume tables, that is identical to identification information of the switching target volume received among switching target candidate volumes that form a volume pair relation with the switching source volume. The storage device memorizes an intra-host ID of the switching target volume and an intra-storage ID of the switching target volume in a switching table with a correspondence there between. The storage device acquires the intra-storage ID of the switching target volume in reference to the switching table in the case of receiving an access request, such that the intra-host ID of the switching source volume is used as a key, and executes switching to access to the switching target volume.

Abstract: In a system for storing data as a backup purpose to a separate storage apparatus, data of a copy source is matched with data of a copy destination in a predetermined time. A host computer attaches an identifier to a write request and then transmits the resulting write request to another storage apparatus for every segment of business. The host computer calculates an amount of data which can be copied (backup) within a given time for every identifier, and then, issues a backup instruction to the storage apparatus.

Abstract: A first storage system sets a storage area of a first disk drive as a first volume, and misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of the first volume. A second storage system sets a storage area of a second disk drive as a second volume, and misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of the second volume. The first storage system copies data of the first volume in the second volume. The second storage system copies data of the second volume in the first volume. A management computer determines whether there is a match between the data of the first volume and the data of the second volume. When it is determined that there is not match, the host computer accesses only one of the first volume and the second volume that stores the latest data.

Abstract: An operation site has copy management information including state information that is used when executing a remote copy. The copy management information is stored in a storage device included in each of all storage device subsystems in this computer system. The copy management information is updated every time a remote copy is executed. When the operation site fails, by use of a copy management program in another operatable site, and with reference to the copy management information stored in the storage device of the storage device subsystem in each site, the copy is executed from a point to which the copy processing has progressed before the failure. As a result, when the production site in which an application is operated suffers from a disaster, it is possible to quickly recover data at the time of the disaster by executing a disaster recovery management program from another site in which no failure occurs, and then by restarting the remote copy.

Abstract: This invention relates to data backup and data recovery in a computer system. An outputting unit updates data stored in a first area based on an update request of data from the host computer, a creating unit stores update data for the update request in a second area, a marker processing unit creates a marker containing information of the range, in which the data is stored, and information indicating whether or not the data is allowed to be stored in a third area based on a request of creating the marker from the host computer to store the created marker in the second area, and a reflecting unit refers to the marker, obtains the update data corresponding to the data storing range, which is stored prior to the marker, and reflects the obtained update data to the third area.

Abstract: A computer system includes a host computer, a disk control device controlling operation of a storage sub-system, and a management server managing configuration of the storage sub-system. The host computer registers the result of grouping of a plurality or volumes in the storage sub-system according to a use purpose in a volume management table including a volume identifier, a physical address, and a group identifier allocated in the disk control unit. During access to the volume via the host, the disk control unit obtains the physical address belonging to a storage belonging to a group identical to the group input via the host, notifies information described on the volume list of the storage allocated at the physical address to the management server, and causes the server to display the information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means such that the related plural logical volume can be used after switching over from the host computer therein. A switching command which a host computer sends makes a storage device search the switching target volume, from the volume tables, that is identical to identification information of the switching target volume receipt among switching target candidate volumes that form the volume pair relation with the switching source volume, memorize the intra-host ID of the switching target volume and the intra-storage ID of the switching target volume after being searched in a switching table with corresponding there between, acquire the intra-storage ID of the switching target volume in reference to the switching table in case of receiving access request such that the intra-host ID of the switching source volume is a key and execute switching to access to the switching target volume.

Abstract: A storage system is disclosed comprising a management computer and multiple storage subsystems with multiple volumes accessible to a host computer. The host computer sends volume configuration information to the management computer. Each storage subsystem retrieves information from the volume directory corresponding to a requested volume and sends it to the management computer. The management computer comprises a volume information table holding the volume configuration information obtained from the host computer, information on storage subsystems, and use-related ID group IDs; a unit which identifies the volumes belonging to a specified group ID, locates the storage subsystems these volumes belong to, and obtains information on the desired volumes from their corresponding volume directories; and a display device which displays information on the usage of the volumes that is obtained from storage subsystems.

Abstract: In A computer system, the processing load for the computer to acquire fault information from the storage system is reduced. The computer system includes a computer, a first storage system configured to be communicable with the computer, and a second storage system configured to be communicable with the first storage system. The second storage system identifies the first storage system that is capable of communicating with the second storage system, detects fault occurring in the second storage system, and transmits fault information to the identified first storage system, the fault information being related to the detected fault. And the first storage system notifies the computer of the transmitted fault information.