Abstract: A database update method for a computer system having a host computer and a storage sub-system where a database is maintained is disclosed. The storage sub-system includes first and second storage units containing duplicated data. The host computer accesses the first storage unit for data reading and the second storage unit for data writing. If incomplete processing to read is in process when an access request for data writing occurs, the host computer commands the stop of volume duplication of the first and second storage units and issues a write request. In response to this command, data is stored into only the second storage unit. Upon the completion of both read and write processing, the host computer commands the restart of volume duplication of the first and second control units to reflect the data stored into the second storage unit in the first storage unit.

Abstract: The source storage 1220 and source path 1230 constituting backup source information of all of the backup data in a computer system 1000, the destination storage 1240 and destination path 1250 constituting backup destination information and information regarding the backup time-point 1260 are held on an administration console 1010; a backup manager 1020 that runs on the administration console 1010 designates backup between the NAS's and gives instructions for restoration from the backed-up data by using these items of information.

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: The present invention, in a computer system where multiple computers share multiple external storage devices, is to control the external storage devices of different control methods in a unified manner. A storage managing program, which manages the storage areas in the unified manner, includes a device control library providing control programs to control the various external storage devices, and a device information database identifying the external-storage-device controlling programs, and manages the multiple external storage devices of different control methods: Also, when a host computer releases an unnecessary storage area, a LU that no host computers use is deleted in the external storage device, and managed as an unused area can be created a new LU.

Abstract: A storage has NAS and SAN functions and a high degree of freedom to configure a system to reduce the management and operation cost. The storage includes a plurality of interface slots in which a plurality of interface controllers can be installed, a block I/O interface controller which has SAN functions and which can be installed in the slot, a file I/O interface controller which has NAS functions and which can be installed in the slots, a storage capacity pool including a plurality of disk devices accessible from the interface controllers, and a storage capacity pool controller to control the storage capacity pool.

Abstract: In a storage system, a server apparatus and a storage apparatus are provided, while the server apparatus is connected via a LAN to one, or plural sets of computers so as to accept an access request of file data issued from the computers, whereas the storage apparatus is connected via a wide area network to the server apparatus so as to store thereinto the file data. A communication between the computers and the server apparatus is carried out by employing a network file protocol, whereas a communication between the server apparatus and the storage apparatus is performed by employing a block device protocol. The server apparatus and the storage apparatus are connected via the respective security protecting apparatus to the wide area network.

Abstract: A storage system comprises a primary storage system comprising a primary storage apparatus and a primary control apparatus for controlling the primary storage apparatus; and a secondary storage system comprising a secondary storage apparatus and a secondary control apparatus for controlling the secondary storage apparatus. The primary storage apparatus and the secondary storage apparatus are connected to each other via a communication line. The primary storage system sends, to the primary storage apparatus, a data-transfer instruction instructing the primary storage apparatus to transfer predetermined data stored in the primary storage apparatus to the secondary storage system. The primary storage apparatus receives the data-transfer instruction, reads out the predetermined data from the primary storage apparatus, and sends the data via the communication line to the secondary storage apparatus of the secondary storage system.

Abstract: A storage system 1 including multiple slots for loading a block I/O interface controller, a file I/O interface controller, and any other kinds of interface controllers that are combined freely. The storage system 1 includes a management table that manages fail-over-enabled devices by grouping those devices in accordance with the interface type and the domain to which each device belongs; an information table that directs a fail-over procedure; and fail-over controlling means that takes over the processing of a failed interface controller belonging to a fail-over-enabled group. The fail-over system offers several modalities for monitoring failures, selecting takeover controllers and restoring functionality. Storage system 1 solves conventional problems by providing a system that can mount a plurality of file systems, and that resists multiple failures detected in a fail-over server.

Abstract: A storage apparatus in a computer system, which includes a computer usage-status information reporting unit. When a computer makes an I/O request to the storage apparatus, the computer and a device for which I/O has been requested by the computer are identified, and the amount of data that has been transferred when I/O operations are performed, a cache hit ratio, and a processing time are measured. Then, the above information obtained and the above values measured are stored in the computer usage-status information in the storage apparatus. By using the computer usage-status information reporting unit, the stored computer usage-status information is referenced from the outside of the storage apparatus.

Abstract: A data storage management method and apparatus provide for moving of one or more files from a first storage system (e.g., a storage client site) to a second storage system (e.g., a storage server site). A file is copied to the second storage system and is deleted from the first storage system, thus recovering storage space in the first storage system. A logical reference is provided in the first storage system so as to allow access requests to be made to the file from the first storage system, even though it has been deleted. The logical reference also allows for the file to be reproduced in the first storage system at an appropriate time.

Abstract: A data migration system is provided for migrating data between an existing file server apparatus and a new file server apparatus in a computer system that includes a plurality of host computers and a plurality of file server apparatuses that are mutually connected to one another. The data migration system on the new file server apparatus copies file attributes unique to the network attached storage (NFS) and file attributes unique to the common internet file system (CIFS) from the existing file server apparatus, and stores the file attributes without changing the file attributes in the new file server apparatus. Then actual data is moved from the existing file server to the new file server.

Abstract: The invention provides both interfaces of SAN and NAS, prevents data miss even when a trouble occurs and makes it possible that an arbitrary number of NAS interfaces access the same file system with high performance. A storage system includes multiple interfaces for external connection, multiple disks accessed from multiple interfaces, and a shared memory accessed from multiple interfaces. The multiple interfaces are block interfaces executing disk block I/O request, and file interfaces of file servers executing file I/O request. A file system in the file servers is constructed in a part of the disks, and a log storage area holding change log of the file system, and a management file server information storage area holding information of managing file server performing exclusive access control of file system and management of log storage area are formed in the shared memory.

Abstract: A management display method according to each type of interfaces and devices is provided in an environment where host computers are interconnected with storage apparatuses through plural types of interfaces. The management host computer includes a display apparatus and allows a user to select a physical view for displaying a physical topology between each host and storage subsystems or a logical view for displaying a connecting relation between the devices of the storage subsystem and each host computer. The management host computer operates to collect the information of the Fibre channel interface and the Ethernet interface and the information about an access limitation of each device, included in each host computer and storage subsystem and then to display the connecting relation according to the display method (view) selected by the user, based on the collected information.

Abstract: A storage system having a plurality of disk controllers for accepting computer access through a SAN, and a plurality of file servers for accepting computer access through a LAN. The disk controllers and file servers are connected through a connection unit to a plurality of disk drive units in a disk pool. A disk pool management unit manages the relationships between the disk controllers and file servers and the disk drive units used by the respective disk controllers and file servers, and sends information identifying the usable disk drive units to the respective disk controllers and file servers. The disk controllers and file servers use the disk drive units based on the received usable disk information.

Abstract: A storage system having a plurality of disk controllers for accepting computer access through a SAN, and a plurality of file servers for accepting computer access through a LAN. The disk controllers and file servers are connected through a connection unit to a plurality of disk drive units in a disk pool. A disk pool management unit manages the relationships between the disk controllers and file servers and the disk drive units used by the respective disk controllers and file servers, and sends information identifying the usable disk drive units to the respective disk controllers and file servers. The disk controllers and file servers use the disk drive units based on the received usable disk information.

Abstract: An object of remote copy can be specified in units of a file or a directory more detailed than in units of a volume. If a host computer issues a write request of a file to NASa, NASa references a source NAS of remote copy and a source directory of remote copy at each entry on a copy file table and determines whether the file to be written is an object of remote copy; if it is determined to be an object of remote copy, the file to be written is remotely copied to a target directory of remote copy of a target NAS thereof.

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: A standard physical medium 1320 as loaded into library unit 1080 even in the absence of any load request from a host computer 1020 is regarded as a spare physical medium 1330 for use when the standard physical medium 1320 is under malfunction, and such medium is put in a spare media storage space 1340 while eliminating issuance of any notice to the host computer 1020. Whereby, in a computer system with redundancy configuration, it becomes possible to prevent the host computer from making use of any spare physical media.

Abstract: In a storage area network (SAN), when a host accesses a storage system, the host is certified to restrict any unauthorized access. The storage system includes an access setting section and a certifying section to restrict accesses from respective hosts. When a host accesses data on a disk, the host issues an inquiry to a file server program of a host to receive information of a physical location of a file containing the data on the disk. The host accesses the disk according to the information. Simultaneously, the file server program allows, by a disk management program, the access to the area specified by the access request from the host.

Abstract: A first host computer writes data as an object of transfer and its location information to a storage subsystem. A second host computer reads out the data as an object of transfer which has been written to said storage subsystem on the basis of the location information thus written thereto. As a result, the data transfer between the host computers can be carried out employing the storage subsystem.