Abstract: The present invention provides techniques, including a method and system, for relocating data between storage systems. In one embodiment of the present invention a host collects usage information from a plurality of storage systems, and determines the relocation destination LU for data stored in the LU to be relocated. The host alters an LU logical position name table that determines matching between the logical position names of data and LUs. It also carries out data relocation between storage subsystems by shifting data stored in an origin LU to be relocated to a destination LU. In another embodiment relocation of files is provided.

Abstract: When receiving a write request from a processor, a control unit checks the condition of existence (or the presence/absence) in a cache for information necessary for generation of an updated value of a parity record, receives write data and reports the completion of the write request to the processor. In asynchronism with the write request from the processor, the control unit performs a load process for that information among the information necessary for generation of the updated value of the parity record which may be prepared in asynchronism with the write request from the processor and a write after process for the updated value of the parity record.

Abstract: In a storage system, a logical volume is divided into a plurality of small areas called logical storage devices and only such an area designated by a user is made an object of remote copying or migratory copying. Also, there is provided a unit for forming a logical volume from any logical storage device of any RAID group. Thereby, the reduction of the deterioration in performance at the time of remote copying, the reduction of a storage area to be assigned to a secondary site as a copy destination, the shortening of a time required for migratory copying and the assignment of any area of a logical volume on any RAID group are enabled.

Abstract: In a storage apparatus system including a plurality of remote copy ports for executing remote copy processing, loads due to the remote copy processing are dispersed among the plurality of remote copy ports. To this end, information indicative of load states of the plurality of remote copy ports in the storage apparatus system is stored in a common memory of the storage apparatus system and the storage apparatus system causes a remote copy port having a lighter load to execute the remote copy processing with reference to the information. Further, even with regard to the remote copy processing being executed, the storage apparatus system changes the remote copy port for executing the remote copy processing in accordance with the load states of the remote copy ports.

Abstract: A method of managing a generation of backup data in a storage system is carried out by a storage control device. The backup data is data generated in each of a plurality of pairs originating from one volume. The method includes: receiving, from a host computer, a split request for stopping synchronization between a primary volume and a secondary volume in one of the pairs, and version information about the split; performing a split process in which a backup between the primary volume and the secondary volume of the pair is performed in response to the split request and the synchronization of the pair is stopped; and storing, for each pair, version information of the split process in a predetermined storage section.

Abstract: When receiving a write request from a processor, a control unit checks the condition of existence (or the presence/absence) in a cache for information necessary for generation of an updated value of a parity record, receives write data and reports the completion of the write request to the processor. In asynchronism with the write request from the processor, the control unit performs a load process for that information among the information necessary for generation of the updated value of the parity record which may be prepared in asynchronism with the write request from the processor and a write after process for the updated value of the parity record.

Abstract: A volume provider unit in a computer system detects a logical block address of a read or write I/O accessing a logical volume of a storage device from a host. According to the logical block address fetched, a storage domain of the logical volume is dynamically expanded. Moreover, the storage domain of the logical volume is reduced or expanded according to an instruction of a logical volume capacity reduction or expansion from a host commander part to a volume server.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information processing system for migrating data from a migration source storage subsystem in which a storage area has been housed from a host to a migration target storage subsystem. Configuration information is read out of the migration source storage subsystem, and on the basis of the information, the storage subsystem of the data migration target will be configured and a storage area will be provided. I/O connection between a network node and the migration source storage subsystem will be cut and change an IP address of the storage subsystem of the migration source. And, the storage subsystem of the migration source is caused to refuse an I/O request from any other than the storage subsystem of the migration target.

Abstract: According to the present invention, techniques for controlling copying of logical volumes within a computer storage system are provided. A representative embodiment includes a plurality of storage devices controlled by a control unit, one or more processors, and a buffer memory for temporarily storing data read from the storage devices within the control unit. The storage devices can be addressed as logical volumes.

Abstract: In a storage system, a logical volume is divided into a plurality of small areas called logical storage devices and only such an area designated by a user is made an object of remote copying or migratory copying. Also, there is provided a unit for forming a logical volume from any logical storage device of any RAID group. Thereby, the reduction of the deterioration in performance at the time of remote copying, the reduction of a storage area to be assigned to a secondary site as a copy destination, the shortening of a time required for migratory copying and the assignment of any area of a logical volume on any RAID group are enabled.

Abstract: When a logical volume in a first storage box is transferred to a second storage box, information of an access object such as a network communication protocol possessed by a host which communicates with the first storage box is changed to change a network route for accessing the transferred logical volume. Logical volume transfer is notified from the first storage box to the host by using an ICMP Redirection Error message or the ARP protocol.

Abstract: In an information processing system including a central processor for generating commands to process storage data stored and for executing a sequence processing and a storage subsystem including a plurality of storage media for transferring data between the plural storage media according to commands from the central processor, a data recovery method recovers data to a predetermined state upon occurrence of a failure in a sequence of processing executed by the central processor. Before execution of a sequence of processing, the central processor issues to the storage subsystem a saving request to save in the plural storage media a copy of data stored in either one of the storage media used in the sequence of processing. In response to the saving request, the storage subsystem saves a copy of data of the storage media.

Abstract: A storage subsystem that has detected the necessity of the data relocation determines whether the data relocation is possible or not from one storage unit to another within the particular storage subsystem. A virtualization device is notified in the case where the data relocation in the particular subsystem is impossible. The manager of the virtualization device gives an inquiry to the storage subsystems as to whether any one of them can become a relocation destination or not. A storage subsystem determines, based on the related information, whether the data relocation requested is possible or not within the particular storage subsystem. In the case where such a relocation is possible, the copying process is carried out for data relocation from one storage subsystem to another in compliance with an instruction from the virtualization device.

Abstract: In a cluster-structured disk subsystem, when creating a volume for an online backup separately from a volume for normal I/O, such creation is desired to be achieved for any volume under the subsystem. Further, with the increase in capacity of the subsystem, it becomes more difficult for a user to determine where to place a volume to which data is copied. The present invention makes it possible to reference/renew snapshot control information in shared memory of other clusters and achieves a snapshot between clusters via an inter-cluster connecting mechanism. Control is performed inside/outside the cluster, and a volume to which data is copied is suggested to the user.

Abstract: A method for controlling a storage system including a host computer, and a first and a second storage control apparatuses each receiving a data input/output request from the host computer and executing a data input/output process for a storage device in response to the request, comprises connecting a first communication path between the host computer and the first apparatus; connecting a second communication path between the first apparatus and the second apparatus; receiving by the first apparatus a first data input/output request from the host computer through the first path; when the first apparatus has judged that the first request is not for the first apparatus, transmitting by the first apparatus a second data input/output request corresponding to the first request, to the second apparatus through the second path; and by the second apparatus, receiving the second request and executing a data input/output process corresponding to the second request received.

Abstract: In the computer system where the plurality of host computers and the plurality of storage apparatuses are interconnected, in order to carry out the data migration between the storage apparatuses transparently to the host computers, the back end server provides the virtual disk to the host computers. From the host computers, at first, the virtual disk looks the same as the old storage subsystem. When migrating the data from the old storage subsystem to the new storage subsystem, at first, the back end server instructs the data migration unit to execute the data migration processing. Subsequently, the back end server switches the setting of the virtual disk, thereby causing the virtual disk to correspond to the new storage subsystem.

Abstract: According to the present invention, techniques for controlling copying of logical volumes within a computer storage system are provided. A representative embodiment includes a plurality of storage devices controlled by a control unit, one or more processors, and a buffer memory for temporarily storing data read from the storage devices within the control unit. The storage devices can be addressed as logical volumes.

Abstract: A clustered storage system includes a plurality of nodes and a management server that consolidates physical position information concerning data in each of the nodes. The management server includes a process to relate the information to the configuration of the clustered storage system and the configuration of each node and present such relations. Each node has a process to obtain the size and load of resources that are used in processing. The management server has a process to collect and tally such resource usage status from each node, and a process to relate the resource usage status, the data information and configuration information to each other and present the relations in a hierarchy. The clustered storage system has a process to move logical volumes among nodes in a manner transparent to the host computer.

Abstract: The following steps are performed in a storage system: when volumes configuring each volume pair are used by separate applications, storing, for each pair in a memory, an address where updating of data has been made in the volumes as updated-location-managing information; in case a destination-of-restoring copy volume configuring one pair is to be restored to have the contents of a source-for-restoring copy volume belonging to another pair, obtaining, from the memory, pieces of the updated-location-managing information for each of the pairs; generating differential information by merging the pieces of updated-location-managing information obtained, the differential information indicative of a difference in the pieces of updated-location-managing information between the copy volumes; and reproducing the destination-of-restoring copy volume to have the contents of the source-for-restoring copy volume, by copying data designated by the differential information from the source-for-restoring copy volume to the des

Abstract: When receiving a write request from a processor, a control unit checks the condition of existence (or the presence/absence) in a cache for information necessary for generation of an updated value of a parity record, receives write data and reports the completion of the write request to the processor. In asynchronism with the write request from the processor, the control unit performs a load process for that information among the information necessary for generation of the updated value of the parity record which may be prepared in asynchronism with the write request from the processor and a write after process for the updated value of the parity record.