Abstract: The present invention is able to improve the processing performance of a storage system by respectively virtualizing the external volumes and enabling the shared use of such external volumes by a plurality of available virtualization storage devices. By virtualizing and incorporating the external volume of an external storage device, a first virtualization storage device is able to provide the volume to a host as though it is an internal volume. When the load of the first virtualization storage device increases, a second virtualization storage device 2 is newly introduced, and connected to the storage system. When a transfer direction is issued from a management terminal, the external volume relating to the selected logical volume is transferred from the first virtualization storage device to the second virtualization storage device.

Abstract: A first storage device control device stores, when a first data write/read request is received, correspondences between first logical units and second logical units referenced when determining whether or not storage regions identified by first logical units set in the request are storage regions of the first logical device control device or storage regions of a second storage device control device, the second storage device control device transmits all or some of identification information (logical unit information) of the second logical units to a management computer, the first storage device control device transmits all or some of the correspondences (mapping information) to the management computer, and the management computer references the received logical unit information and the mapping information to generate information representing whether or not the second logical units are corresponded to the first logical units.

Abstract: A DBMS performs a checkpoint process for maintaining consistency of data. A snapshot acquisition control program detects the checkpoint process externally to the DBMS and creates a snapshot in an external storage according to the timing of the checkpoint. Correspondence between checkpoints and snapshots is maintained in a CP-SH correspondence management table to make it possible to restore in a short time data at the time of an arbitrary checkpoint.

Abstract: A computer system including: a computer having a display to display information of a plurality of backup times, and an inputting device by which a user selects a backup time of the plurality of backup times; and, a storage system coupled to the computer and having an interface controller receiving data from the computer, a cache memory temporarily storing data and a disk controller managing data for at least one volume related to a plurality of disk drives; wherein the computer system causes the computer to make a snapshot corresponding to the selected backup time accessible with an address to which the computer can access.

Abstract: There are provided a mainframe 1 constituting a host device and a disk array system 2 having logical volumes (LDEV) 30 connected with the mainframe 1. The mainframe 1 is provided with an input/output device configuration definition information storage section 14 that stores the address of an LDEV 30a. By referring to the input/output device configuration definition information storage section 14, a command is then issued giving an instruction to perform back-up of the LDEV 30a specifying the address of the LDEV 30a. The disk array system 2 receives the back-up command, specifies the generation to which the LDEV 30a is to be backed up and backs up to an LDEV 30b to 30d corresponding to the specified generation.

Abstract: A DBMS performs a checkpoint process for maintaining consistency of data. A snapshot acquisition control program detects the checkpoint process externally to the DBMS and creates a snapshot in an external storage according to the timing of the checkpoint. Correspondence between checkpoints and snapshots is maintained in a CP-SH correspondence management table to make it possible to restore in a short time data at the time of an arbitrary checkpoint.

Abstract: In a structure where first and second storage devices structure a mirrored pair, at a first time, an updating process to the second storage device is stopped, and management using first and second update-management tables is started. At a second time on or after the first time, management of the first update-management table is started from a non-updated state, and data of the second storage device, stored in the data blocks indicated by the second update-management table as being updated, is copied to a backup medium. At a third time after the second time, data of the first storage device, stored in the data blocks indicated by the second update-management table as being updated, is copied to data blocks of the second storage device corresponding to the data blocks of the first storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method A method for controlling a storage system including a host computer; a first storage controller connected communicably to the host computer, for receiving a data frame transmitted from the host computer and executing data input to and data output from a first storage device in response to a data input/output request described in the data frame; and a second storage controller connected communicably to the first storage controller, comprising relaying by the first storage controller, upon receipt of the data frame transmitted from the host computer, the data frame to the second storage controller in response to information described in the data frame.

Abstract: There are provided a mainframe 1 constituting a host device and a disk array system 2 having logical volumes (LDEV) 30 connected with the mainframe 1. The mainframe 1 is provided with an input/output device configuration definition information storage section 14 that stores the address of an LDEV 30a. By referring to the input/output device configuration definition information storage section 14, a command is then issued giving an instruction to perform back-up of the LDEV 30a specifying the address of the LDEV 30a. The disk array system 2 receives the back-up command, specifies the generation to which the LDEV 30a is to be backed up and backs up to an LDEV 30b to 30d corresponding to the specified generation.

Abstract: A first storage device control device stores, when a first data write/read request is received, correspondences between first logical units and second logical units referenced when determining whether or not storage regions identified by first logical units set in the request are storage regions of the first logical device control device or storage regions of a second storage device control device, the second storage device control device transmits all or some of identification information (logical unit information) of the second logical units to a management computer, the first storage device control device transmits all or some of the correspondences (mapping information) to the management computer, and the management computer references the received logical unit information and the mapping information to generate information representing whether or not the second logical units are corresponded to the first logical units.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method A method for controlling a storage system including a host computer; a first storage controller connected communicably to the host computer, for receiving a data frame transmitted from the host computer and executing data input to and data output from a first storage device in response to a data input/output request described in the data frame; and a second storage controller connected communicably to the first storage controller, comprising relaying by the first storage controller, upon receipt of the data frame transmitted from the host computer, the data frame to the second storage controller in response to information described in the data frame.

Abstract: A DBMS performs a checkpoint process for maintaining consistency of data. A snapshot acquisition control program detects the checkpoint process externally to the DBMS and creates a snapshot in an external storage according to the timing of the checkpoint. Correspondence between checkpoints and snapshots is maintained in a CP-SH correspondence management table to make it possible to restore in a short time data at the time of an arbitrary checkpoint.

Abstract: In a structure where first and second storage devices structure a mirrored pair, at a first time, an updating process to the second storage device is stopped, and management using first and second update-management tables is started. At a second time on or after the first time, management of the first update-management table is started from a non-updated state, and data of the second storage device, stored in the data blocks indicated by the second update-management table as being updated, is copied to a backup medium. At a third time after the second time, data of the first storage device, stored in the data blocks indicated by the second update-management table as being updated, is copied to data blocks of the second storage device corresponding to the data blocks of the first storage device.