Abstract: The present invention relates a retrieving technology by using an index obtained at a specific time point and a rule obtained at a specific time point. The present invention provides a storage system includes: a first logical unit for storing an index; a second logical unit for storing a rule that defines how to output search results; a third logical unit for storing a snapshot of the index created based on a predetermined time; and a fourth logical unit for storing a snapshot of the rule created based on a predetermined time; a search engine server is configured to: search the index stored in the third logical unit with a keyword included in a search request for an index record; and output storage location information of a data object included in the extracted index record in an order according to the rule stored in the fourth logical unit.

Abstract: A method and a system for implementing the method are disclosed relating to archival storage of information in large numbers of disk units. The reliability of the stored information is checked periodically using data verification operations whose results are saved. These results establish the veracity of the data and enable compliance with various regulatory requirements. The techniques described enable the use of low cost disk drive technology, yet provide high assurance of data veracity. In a typical system, management information storage is provided in which data entries are associated with each of the disk drives to provide information with respect to the condition of the data on that drive and its last verification. The data verification operations are performed on the data during time periods when I/O accesses are not required.

Abstract: Upon receiving a primary/secondary switching command from a secondary host system, a secondary storage control device interrogates a primary storage control device as to whether or not yet to be transferred data that has not been remote copied from the primary storage control device to the secondary storage control device is present. In the event that yet to be transferred data is present, the secondary storage control device receives yet to be transferred data from the primary storage control device and updates a secondary volume. The primary storage control device then manages positions of updates to the primary volume due to host accesses to the primary volume occurring at the time of the secondary storage control device receiving the primary/secondary switching command onwards using a differential bitmap table.

Abstract: A data management method in a storage device system having a control device connected to a computer, and a storage device connected to the control device. The control device saves data stored in an area corresponding to a write request, and then writes the data to the area specified in the write request in accordance with the write request, if a file corresponding to the write request is a file meeting the conditions included in the request. Alternatively, the control device writes the data to the area corresponding to the write request in accordance with the write request, if a file corresponding to the write request is not a file meeting the conditions.

Abstract: In a storage controller which stores data provided from a host system, creates a snapshot, which is a data image of a production volume at a given point in time, at regular or irregular intervals, and holds difference data of the snapshot in a pool volume, multiple pool volumes are configured and a different pool volume is assigned to each copy pair including a group of production volumes or a single production volume that does not belong to any group of volumes so that difference data of each copy pair can be saved in its associated pool volume.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage controller and storage media for reading data from or writing data to the storage media in response to block-level and file-level 110 requests. The storage controller includes suitable interfaces for receiving the read/write requests and effecting the reading of data to or the writing of data to the storage media.

Abstract: A method for handling a remote copy request in a distributed storage includes providing a plurality of primary volumes within a primary storage system that is coupled to a primary host via a first network, the primary storage system being coupled to a secondary storage system via a second network. A first request is selected from a plurality of requests placed in a queue based on priority information associated with the requests. A first path group is selected from one or more path groups that could be used to transmit the request. The first request is transmitted to the secondary storage system using the first path group, the secondary storage system including a plurality of secondary volumes that are paired to the plurality of primary volumes.

Abstract: The present invention provides fair use of resources between users by reducing capacity necessary for storage of snapshot differential data. In a storage device system, differences between only those files meeting predetermined conditions are managed as snapshots. Furthermore, upper limits are set for capacity of pools used for each condition, and when the total volume of differential data stored under a certain condition reaches the pool capacity, further snapshots are not created under that condition.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage controller and storage media for reading data from or writing data to the storage media in response to block-level and file-level I10 requests. The storage controller includes suitable interfaces for receiving the read/write requests and effecting the reading of data to or the writing of data to the storage media.

Abstract: A method for handling a remote copy request in a distributed storage includes providing a plurality of primary volumes within a primary storage system that is coupled to a primary host via a first network, the primary storage system being coupled to a secondary storage system via a second network. A first request is selected from a plurality of requests placed in a queue based on priority information associated with the requests. A first path group is selected from one or more path groups that could be used to transmit the request. The first request is transmitted to the secondary storage system using the first path group, the secondary storage system including a plurality of secondary volumes that are paired to the plurality of primary volumes.

Abstract: A storage system comprising: a storage resource including one or more first storage devices; a first logical volume formed according to storage space of the storage resource; a member for accommodating a removable second storage device selected by a user; and a backup unit, the backup unit executing the following (a) and (b) processings: (a) backup of data stored in the first logical volume to a second logical volume formed according to storage space of the removable second storage device mounted in the member and paired with the first logical volume; and (b) storing, in said storage resource, of backup generation information elements pertaining to what generation of the backup the current backup of the first logical volume is.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a first platform storage system including a first network interface to communicate with a host computer, a first storage unit to provide storage volumes, a first storage controller to control the first storage unit, and a first memory to store a first control program to process an input/output (I/O) request received by the first platform storage system. A second platform storage system includes a second network to communicate with the host computer, a second storage unit to provide storage volumes, a second storage controller to control the second storage unit, and a second memory to store a second control program to process an I/O request received by the second platform storage system. An external storage system is coupled to the first and second platform storage systems, the external storage system including a third storage unit to provide storage volumes and a third storage controller to control the third storage unit.

Abstract: A NAS system including a NAS controller which processes file level input/output requests and controls the NAS system, and a storage apparatus having a controller which controls a storage device upon which plural volumes for storing data are represented. In the invention when at least a portion of data of a file stored on a volume is updated, the updated data is stored to an unused area of the volume, information is stored on the volume indicating that the updated data corresponding to original data stored in an original area is stored in the unused area so that subsequent accesses to the original of the updated data is directed to the updated data stored in the unused area, and the original of the updated data is retained in the original area, thereby implementing long term data archiving of the original of the updated data.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program for implementing a storage management system for limiting management operation of a storage network element by determining whether the storage network element is related to a host computer and determining whether the management operation is restricted based on the host computer and the time at which the management operation is to be conducted. The invention is set forth in a system including a network, a plurality of storage network elements connected to the network, and the storage management system, connected to the network, for controlling storage management operation of the storage network elements in response to operation requests from users of the storage management system. Each of the storage network elements is related to at least one of a plurality of host computers and information of these relations is used to determine whether a management operation can be conducted on the storage network element.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a first platform storage system including a first network interface to communicate with a host computer, a first storage unit to provide storage volumes, a first storage controller to control the first storage unit, and a first memory to store a first control program to process an input/output (I/O) request received by the first platform storage system. A second platform storage system includes a second network to communicate with the host computer, a second storage unit to provide storage volumes, a second storage controller to control the second storage unit, and a second memory to store a second control program to process an I/O request received by the second platform storage system. An external storage system is coupled to the first and second platform storage systems, the external storage system including a third storage unit to provide storage volumes and a third storage controller to control the third storage unit.

Abstract: A first storage apparatus includes an identification unit that identifies one or more requests for changing data storage area logical configuration information from among one or more requests sent from the host system a first changing unit that changes a data storage area logical configuration information for the first storage apparatus based on each of the one or more requests for changing data storage area logical configuration information identified by the identification unit and a transmission unit that sends each of the one or more requests for changing data storage area logical configuration information to the second storage apparatus; and a second storage apparatus includes a second change unit that changes data storage area logical configuration information for the second storage apparatus to be the same as that for the first storage apparatus based on each of the one or more requests for changing data storage area logical configuration information sent from the transmission unit.

Abstract: Upon receiving a primary/secondary switching command from a secondary host system, a secondary storage control device interrogates a primary storage control device as to whether or not yet to be transferred data that has not been remote copied from the primary storage control device to the secondary storage control device is present. In the event that yet to be transferred data is present, the secondary storage control device receives yet to be transferred data from the primary storage control device and updates a secondary volume. The primary storage control device then manages positions of updates to the primary volume due to host accesses to the primary volume occurring at the time of the secondary storage control device receiving the primary/secondary switching command onwards using a differential bitmap table.

Abstract: A system for optimizing data access is provided. The system includes a cluster file system server, a number of cluster file system clients, and a storage system. The storage system includes disk drives organized as paired master disk drive and one or more mirrored disk drives having copies of the data stored on the master disk drive. When a file is needed, the server determines which pair has the needed file, and then determines which disk drive within the pair should be accessed. The determination is made to balance the access load within the pair, and can select to retrieve the file from the drive which is least frequently accessed. The identification of the disk drive to be accessed is then forwarded to the client thereby allowing the client to access the appropriate disk drive to retrieve the file.

Abstract: A method of collecting information about data and data handling processes from different types of applications in the context of a storage system is described. The retrieved information is presented to the user to illustrate the relationships among the data, for example, in the form of a data view illustrating the relationship among files, a storage view, illustrating the physical location at which the stored data is located, or a path view illustrating a particular path through the topology of the overall computing system and storage system. Also described are techniques for assuring the accuracy of backed up files.

Abstract: Upon receiving a primary/secondary switching command from a secondary host system, a secondary storage control device interrogates a primary storage control device as to whether or not yet to be transferred data that has not been remote copied from the primary storage control device to the secondary storage control device is present. In the event that yet to be transferred data is present, the secondary storage control device receives yet to be transferred data from the primary storage control device and updates a secondary volume. The primary storage control device then manages positions of updates to the primary volume due to host accesses to the primary volume occurring at the time of the secondary storage control device receiving the primary/secondary switching command onwards using a differential bitmap table.