Abstract: A storage apparatus and method of controlling same which, while preventing depletion of a storage area due to the generation of garbage, also prevent a drop in response performance from the perspective of the host, are proposed.

Abstract: Generating a snapshot of a volume storing a snapshot and Suppressing response time. When receiving from a host computer write data to be written into a target slot in a target volume among multiple volumes, a processor adds to management information a fact that data in the target slot in the target volume has not been finalized, writes the write data into a target cache area in a memory, and transmits a response to the host computer. Before referring to the target data in the target slot of the target volume, the processor determines whether or not the target data has been finalized on the basis of the management information. When the target data is determined as not having been finalized, the processor performs a finalization process for finalizing the target data and refers the target data.

Abstract: A storage apparatus and method of controlling same which, while preventing depletion of a storage area due to the generation of garbage, also prevent a drop in response performance from the perspective of the host, are proposed.

Abstract: Generating a snapshot of a volume storing a snapshot and Suppressing response time. When receiving from a host computer write data to be written into a target slot in a target volume among multiple volumes, a processor adds to management information a fact that data in the target slot in the target volume has not been finalized, writes the write data into a target cache area in a memory, and transmits a response to the host computer. Before referring to the target data in the target slot of the target volume, the processor determines whether or not the target data has been finalized on the basis of the management information. When the target data is determined as not having been finalized, the processor performs a finalization process for finalizing the target data and refers the target data.

Abstract: The access from a host computer to a storage system is continued before and after data migration in the storage system. A first controller allocates a first logical storage area to a specific virtual storage area, stores first association information indicating the specific virtual storage area and the first logical storage area, and sends the first association information to the host computer. The first controller and the second controller perform data migration from the first logical storage area to a second logical storage area. The first controller releases the first logical storage area from the specific virtual storage area and reflects the release in the first association information. The second controller allocates the second logical storage area to the specific virtual storage area, stores second association information indicating the specific virtual storage area and the second logical storage area, and sends the second association information to the host computer.

Abstract: The access from a host computer to a storage system is continued before and after data migration in the storage system. A first controller allocates a first logical storage area to a specific virtual storage area, stores first association information indicating the specific virtual storage area and the first logical storage area, and sends the first association information to the host computer. The first controller and the second controller perform data migration from the first logical storage area to a second logical storage area. The first controller releases the first logical storage area from the specific virtual storage area and reflects the release in the first association information. The second controller allocates the second logical storage area to the specific virtual storage area, stores second association information indicating the specific virtual storage area and the second logical storage area, and sends the second association information to the host computer.

Abstract: The present invention provides the function of dynamically switching the allocation of snapshot data in a pool according to the use status of the pool. More specifically, the present invention provides the function of dynamically switching a storage mode to be applied to the pool from a storage mode in which the snapshot data is aggregated in a specific pool volume to a storage mode in which the snapshot data is distributed to plural pool volumes, or from the storage mode in which the snapshot data is distributed to the plural pool volumes to the storage mode in which the snapshot data is aggregated in the specific pool volume, according to the use status of the pool.

Abstract: The present invention provides the function of dynamically switching the allocation of snapshot data in a pool according to the use status of the pool. More specifically, the present invention provides the function of dynamically switching a storage mode to be applied to the pool from a storage mode in which the snapshot data is aggregated in a specific pool volume to a storage mode in which the snapshot data is distributed to plural pool volumes, or from the storage mode in which the snapshot data is distributed to the plural pool volumes to the storage mode in which the snapshot data is aggregated in the specific pool volume, according to the use status of the pool.

Abstract: A storage apparatus includes a microprocessor package configured to access a logical volume and a local memory in the microprocessor package. An input/output (I/O) request range of one I/O request, including a start position address and an end position address of the logical volume which is a target of the one I/O request, is stored in the local memory. A counter value indicating a number of I/O requests to and from the logical volume associated with the one I/O request is acquired and stored in the local memory. If the counter value associated with the one I/O request is greater than the counter value associated with another I/O request, the I/O request ranges of the one I/O request and the other I/O request are compared. If there is no overlap between the I/O request ranges, the one I/O request is executed; otherwise, the one I/O request is placed on standby.

Abstract: To efficiently manage data including control information. A storage apparatus connected to a host requesting data writing includes one or a plurality of storage devices and a controller for allocating a storage area in page units to an area of a virtual volume to write the data in response to a request from the host to write the data wherein if the data regarding which the host makes the write request includes control information and data excluding the control information is specified data, the controller releases the allocation of the page allocated to the area for writing the relevant data.

Abstract: To efficiently manage data including control information. A storage apparatus connected to a host requesting data writing includes one or a plurality of storage devices and a controller for allocating a storage area in page units to an area of a virtual volume to write the data in response to a request from the host to write the data wherein if the data regarding which the host makes the write request includes control information and data excluding the control information is specified data, the controller releases the allocation of the page allocated to the area for writing the relevant data.

Abstract: The storage control apparatus arranges, in microprocessor packages, management information relating to logical volumes managed by the microprocessor packages. In a predetermined case, each of the management information is rearranged in appropriate places. The management information can be moved, taking into account the difference in the technical properties between a mainframe and an open system host.

Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises a disk device and a disk adapter for controlling the disk device. The disk adapter controls the disk device and forms a data volume and a pool volume, creates a data block for parity data, compresses write data and the created parity data, and stores a number of compressed data blocks equal to or less than a predetermined number and stores compressed parity data that are within a predetermined size in storage areas in an actual volume, and stores the remaining compressed data blocks of a number greater than the predetermined number and compressed parity data that exceed the predetermined size in storage areas in the pool volume corresponding to a virtual volume.

Abstract: Improving response time performance by executing exclusive extent processing of a plurality of I/O requests is proposed.

Abstract: Proposed is technology for shortening the time required for analyzing and processing commands issued from multiple hosts and speeding up the processing. When a controller receives a command including random IO processing and the reception of commands is complete, it determines whether the valid extents prescribed in seek parameters attached to an LOC command overlap, and executes extent exclusive wait processing which causes access to the logical volume to enter a wait state or access processing to the logical volume based on the determination result. If the reception of commands is incomplete, the controller determines whether the access ranges (extents) designated in a DX command overlap, and executes extent exclusive wait processing or access processing to the logical volume based on the determination result.

Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises a disk device and a disk adapter for controlling the disk device. The disk adapter controls the disk device and forms a data volume and a pool volume, creates a data block for parity data, compresses write data and the created parity data, and stores a number of compressed data blocks equal to or less than a predetermined number and stores compressed parity data that are within a predetermined size in storage areas in an actual volume, and stores the remaining compressed data blocks of a number greater than the predetermined number and compressed parity data that exceed the predetermined size in storage areas in the pool volume corresponding to a virtual volume.

Abstract: The storage control device of the present invention uses a plurality of queues to manage cache segments which are in use, so as to retain cache segments which contain large amounts of data for long periods of time. One of the queues manages segments in which large amounts of valid data are stored. Another queue manages segments in which small amounts of valid data are stored. If the number of unused segments becomes insufficient, then a segment which is positioned at the LRU end of the other queue is released, and is shifted to a free queue. Due to the use of this other queue, it is possible to retain segments in which comparatively large amounts of data are stored for comparatively long periods of time.

Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises a disk device and a disk controller for controlling the disk device. The disk controller provides a data volume including an actual volume and virtual volume with a volume capacity virtualization function. The virtual volume is associated with a pool volume for storing the actual data and the actual data is stored in the pool volume. In response to a write command from a host computer, the disk controller compresses write data under RAID 5 control and stores the compressed data in a storage area in the actual volume. If the entire compressed data cannot be stored in that storage area, the disk controller stores the remaining portion of the compressed data in the virtual volume.

Abstract: The storage control apparatus arranges, in microprocessor packages, management information relating to logical volumes managed by the microprocessor packages. In a predetermined case, each of the management information is rearranged in appropriate places.

Abstract: Provided is a storage system enabling the addition of a storage apparatus without going offline. When a first storage apparatus receives from a host system a command for writing first data in any one of the primary volumes in a primary volume group, it writes the first data in the relevant primary volume and sends to a second storage apparatus a first command for writing the first data in a secondary volume specified using first mapping information. When the second storage apparatus receives from the host system a command for writing second data in any one of the secondary volume groups in a secondary volume group, it writes the second data in the relevant secondary volume and sends to the first storage apparatus a second command for writing the second data in a primary volume specified using second mapping information.