Abstract: A storage subsystem and a storage controller adapted to take advantage of high data transfer rates of fibre channels while offering enhanced reliability and availability and capable of connecting with a plurality of host computers having multiple different interfaces. A loop is provided to serve as a common loop channel having fibre channel interfaces. Host interface controllers (HIFC) connected to host computers having different interfaces permit conversion between the fibre channel interface and a different interface as needed. Control processors, shared by the host interface controllers, each reference FCAL (fibre channel arbitrated loop) management information to capture a frame having an address of the processor in question from among the frames passing through the loop. I/O processing is then carried out by the controller in accordance with a range of logical unit numbers (LUN) set in the captured frame.

Abstract: A method for verifying data in a storage system is disclosed. A host computer transmits area management data to a storage controller. The area management data specifies a range of a storage area in a storage device to be used by an application program having a mechanism for verifying data suitability. Upon receipt of an input/output request transmitted from the host computer, the storage controller performs verification, which is usually performed by the application program, of the data that is to be processed according to the data input/output request and to be input/output to/from the storage area, which is specified in accordance with the received area management data.

Abstract: For each of a plurality of storage devices, there is stored a response time required from when an input/output request sent from a host processor is received until when a processing result of the request is sent to the host processor. One or a plurality of response-time upper limit values assigned respectively to one or a plurality of files to be stored in the storage device are stored and managed. The upper limit value of the file to be stored and each of the response times of the storage devices are compared, and according to the comparison result, a storage device for storing the file is selected. Through such a structure, an operational form of a storage control device may be optimized.

Abstract: A network storage system has a structure for notifying the data storage system of a fault in the file server, the storage system having means for sending fault notification data to an external maintenance center. The file server can detect a fault and transmit data regarding the fault to the storage control unit while specifying a predetermined logic unit of the storage control unit, and the storage control unit has a faulty part management table, a function for storing the fault-related data transmitted from the file server unit separately from the data exchanged with the computers, a function for detecting a fault other than the fault in the file server unit and for storing that data in the faulty part management table, and a function for transmitting all or part of the faulty part management table to an external unit.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage controller connected to higher-level devices and a plurality of storages connected to the storage controller for storing data from the higher-level devices. The storage controller includes a channel controller for establishing interface for the higher-level devices, the channel controller including trace information representing details of the interface, and storages for storing the trace information from the channel controller in a format which can be accessed by the higher-level devices. In this configuration, when the channel controller receives a trace information fetching indication from one of the higher-level devices, the channel controller transfers trace information to a cache memory and the storages or to the cache memory or the storages.

Abstract: An accounting system includes a plurality of host computers, an accounting server connected to the plurality of host computers, a storage control device connected to the plurality of host computers and the accounting server and having a plurality of channel ports for performing data input/output operation, storage devices connected to the storage control device for storing data inputted/outputted to/from the plurality of host computers, an accounting data generating unit for generating accounting data containing at least one of number of times of access and a data transfer quantity for every accounting subject control unit, and a transfer unit for informing the accounting server of the accounting data generated by the accounting data generating unit, executing the accounting process for the plurality of accounting subject control units.

Abstract: In response to requests for I/O processing sent from a computer, I/O which should be processed at a priority is enabled to be processed without being affected by other processing, by classifying I/O into those to be processed at a priority and those not to be processed at a priority. The storage control apparatus comprises an I/O processing controller with a memory that is common for the whole controller. The storage control apparatus manages information for dividing and controlling a plurality of I/O processes as priority and non-priority in that memory and operates while suppressing non-priority I/O processing on the basis of information in the memory.

Abstract: A storage control enables data on various storage media to be shared among host computers having various different host computer input/output interfaces. A control processor checks a host computer interface management table when write is requested by a host computer (HCP). The control processor writes write data in a cache slot of the cache memory without converting the format if the data format of the HCP is in an FBA format and it converts the format into the FBA format and writes it when the data format of HCP is in a CKD format. The processor checks a table when read is requested by HCP. If the data format of HCP is FBA, the processor transfers the read data read from the cache slot without converting it and if it is CKD, the processor converts the format into the FBA format and transfers the format converted data. The control processors, retrieve write data in the cache memory and writes it in a drive.

Abstract: A storage system connected to host processors through data transfer paths includes at least one storage unit for moving a head for reading/writing the data relatively to a storage medium to read/write the data from/to the storage medium, and a controller for controlling the data transfer between the host processors and the storage units. The controller obtains and stores, every data transfer path, the information relating to the delay time which occurs when transferring the data through the data transfer path of interest. When an I/O request is issued from the host processor, in accordance with the measured information of the delay time in the data transfer paths, a request for positioning the head near the position on the storage medium in which the data is stored which is to be read/written is issued.