Abstract: In each of the information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a network, there is arranged a quality of service (QOS) table to which functions and performance thereof are registered. When an information processing apparatus is additionally linked with the network, a QOS table thereof is automatically registered to a local directory of the network such that an agent converts the contents of the QOS table into service information to be supplied via a user interface to the user. Thanks to the operation, information of functions and performance of each information processing apparatus connected to the network is converted into service information for the user. Consequently, the user can much more directly receive necessary services.

Abstract: A disk storage system containing a storage device having a record medium for holding the data, a plurality of storage sub-systems having a controller for controlling the storage device, a first interface node coupled to a computer using the data stored in the plurality of storage sub-systems, a plurality of second interface nodes connected to any or one of the storage sub-systems, a switching means connecting to a first interface node and a plurality of second interface nodes to perform frame transfer between a first interface node and a plurality of second interface nodes based on node address information added to the frame. The first interface node has a configuration table to store structural information for the memory storage system and in response to the frame sent from the computer, analyzes the applicable frame, converts information relating to the transfer destination of that frame based on structural information held in the configuration table, and transfers that frame to the switching means.

Abstract: A disk storage system containing a storage device having a record medium for holding the data, a plurality of storage sub-systems having a controller for controlling the storage device, a first interface node coupled to a computer using the data stored in the plurality of storage sub-systems, a plurality of second interface nodes connected to any or one of the storage sub-systems, a switching means connecting to a first interface node and a plurality of second interface nodes to perform frame transfer between a first interface node and a plurality of second interface nodes based on node address information added to the frame. The first interface node has a configuration table to store structural information for the memory storage system and in response to the frame sent from the computer, analyzes the applicable frame, converts information relating to the transfer destination of that frame based on structural information held in the configuration table, and transfers that frame to the switching means.

Abstract: In each of the information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a network, there is arranged a quality of service (QOS) table to which functions and performance thereof are registered. When an information processing apparatus is additionally linked with the network, a QOS table thereof is automatically registered to a local directory of the network such that an agent converts the contents of the QOS table into service information to be supplied via a user interface to the user. Thanks to the operation, information of functions and performance of each information processing apparatus connected to the network is converted into service information for the user. Consequently, the user can much more directly receive necessary services.

Abstract: A magnetic disc apparatus is a parallel recording type magnetic storage apparatus employing a dedicated servo system, wherein one of a plurality of data recording surfaces is used as a servo surface, the remaining even surfaces are used as ordinary recording surfaces, and the remaining one recording surface is used as a data recording surface which serves as a spare track or a spare sector when a defective track or a defective sector occurs. Since a microprocessor recognizes a defective track or a defective sector before writing data, if a defective track or a defective sector is produced, a normal track or sector is coupled with a spare track or a spare sector when a defective track or a defective sector is produced, and thereafter data is written into the magnetic storage apparatus.

Abstract: A changer device according to the present invention includes: a plurality of storage media; a magazine for holding the plurality of storage media; a plurality of drives for reading and writing data to storage media, each of these drive reading and writing data to a storage medium selected from the plurality of storage media; and a media transporting device transporting the selected storage medium to the drive as well as transporting the moved storage medium to the magazine. When a request to write data is issued, the data and parity data are stored in a striped manner on the plurality of storage media at the plurality of drives. If data cannot be read or written to a storage medium at one of the drives, the media transporting device transports an operational storage medium to this drive. Then, using the storage media at the drives, the data on the failed storage medium is reconstructed. This reconstructed data is stored on the operational storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques, including a method and system, for transferring data between computer systems, for example, a mainframe and a Personal Computer (PC), having storage systems of different formats, efficiently. One embodiment provides a method for transferring data from a first system, having a first processor and a first memory, using a first format to a second system, having a second processor and a second memory, using a second format. The method includes a first system receiving data of a first format from a first disk unit; processing the data of the first format into transformed data, where the transformed data is the data transformed into the second format; storing the transformed data in the first memory; and sending the transformed data from the first memory to the second system responsive to a request from the second system.

Abstract: A host computer is connected with a magnetic disk storage device by a SCSI bus. In the magnetic disk storage device, a plurality of partitions are set in a disk drive unit and have device identifiers (ID's) respectively allocated thereto as SCSI ID's=1, 2 and 3, which are supported by a disk controller. When the host computer has acquired the control of the SCSI bus through an arbitration and has selected, for example, the partition with the device identifier SCSI ID=1, the disk controller permits the host computer to access the partition in response to the selection. Since the partitions are different in attributes, properties etc., they seem to be magnetic disk storage devices that at separate from one another when viewed from the host computer. Thus, the single magnetic disk storage device can be managed as a plurality of storage devices of different nature.

Abstract: A data processing method of recording data on a recording medium mounted on an information recording apparatus. The data processing method includes the steps of dividing, in a disk controller, parallel data constituted by p bits transferred from a high-rank device into data each having q bits, where p and q are numbers; transferring the data each having q bits from the disk controller to an encoder as parallel data constituted by q bits; encoding, in the encoder, the data each having q bits to generate recording signals corresponding to data to be recorded; and recording the recording signals on the recording medium, thereby recording the data to be recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a plurality of ECC units operating selectively and independently. A medium access unit reads data from a recording medium in a read mode, and writes data from a host device to the recording medium in a write mode. The data read out from the recording medium contains a reproduction data and a medium reproduction check symbol added to the reproduction data, and data written contains a recording data and a medium recording check symbol added to the recording data. The reproduction data or the recording data is stored in a buffer. In a read mode, the reproduction data from the medium access unit is transferred to the host device through the buffer and in the write mode, the recording data from the host device is transferred to the medium access unit through the buffer.

Abstract: A disc storage apparatus includes at least one disc having at least one recording surface, a disc control unit for receiving a first number of write data, and outputting, through a plurality of lines, a second number of write data selected from the first number of write data, where the first number of write data and the second number of write data are each at least two write data, an encoder circuit coupled to the disc control unit through the plurality of lines for receiving the second number of write data from the disc control unit through the plurality of lines, encoding the second number of write data in parallel to produce coded data, and outputting the coded data for recording on the at least one recording surface, and a microprocessor for designating the second number of write data to be selected from the first number of write data, outputted by the disc control unit through the plurality of lines, and received by the encoder circuit from the disc control unit through the plurality of lines.

Abstract: A host computer is connected with a magnetic disk storage device by a SCSI bus. In the magnetic disk storage device, a plurality of partitions are set in a disk drive unit and have device identifiers (ID's) respectively allocated thereto as SCSI ID's=1, 2 and 3, which are supported by a disk controller. When the host computer has acquired the control of the SCSI bus through an arbitration and has selected, for example, the partition with the device identifier SCSI ID=1, the disk controller permits the host computer to access the partition in response to the selection. Since the partitions are different in attributes, properties etc., they seem to be magnetic disk storage devices that at separate from one another when viewed from the host computer. Thus, the single magnetic disk storage device can be managed as a plurality of storage devices of different nature.

Abstract: In each of the information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a network, there is arranged a quality of service (QOS) table to which functions and performance thereof are registered. When an information processing apparatus is additionally linked with the network, a QOS table thereof is automatically registered to a local directory of the network such that an agent converts the contents of the QOS table into service information to be supplied via a user interface to the user. Thanks to the operation, information of functions and performance of each information processing apparatus connected to the network is converted into service information for the user. Consequently, the user can much more directly receive necessary services.

Abstract: In a computer system having a host system including a plurality of disk devices, a CPU, a main memory and a disk control circuit for controlling the disk devices, a host CPU executes a program unit to generate intermediate data for parity generation and holds it in a data holding unit to asynchronously conduct a data write process and a parity write process. A unit for generating parity and a unit for transferring data operate without the intervention of the CPU in accordance with a command issued by the program unit executed by the host CPU.

Abstract: In a disk array system, data read out and data written anew are temporarily held as former data in a former data holding portion. When a write operation has occurred, a CPU searches the holding portion for write data, it generates update data from the new and former write data items, and it holds the generated update data in an update data holding portion. In addition, the CPU stores the storage address of redundant data associated with the held update data, as log data in a log data holding portion. Further, the CPU operates asynchronously with the write operation to read out the redundant data of the address of the holding portion, to calculate new redundant data from the read redundant data and the held update data, and to write the new redundant data into the address of the log data. On this occasion, a parity area and a data area are separated so as to heighten read/write processing speeds and a parity generation processing speed.

Abstract: The recording and reproducing apparatus comprises an Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) controller, an optical disc device, a magnetic disc device, a disc controller which controls the optical disc device and the magnetic disc device, connectors which connects directly the optical disc device and the magnetic disc device, and a selector which selects one of the optical disc device and the magnetic disc device. A Copy or Verify command is carried out within the apparatus without an SCSI bus, and data are transferred through the connector. Therefore occupation of the SCSI bus and overhead of the SCSI protocol are eliminated, and the apparatus is miniaturized by common use of the SCSI controller and the disc controller.

Abstract: A host computer is connected with a magnetic disk storage device by a SCSI bus. In the magnetic disk storage device, a plurality of partitions are set in a disk drive unit and have device identifiers (ID's) respectively allocated thereto as SCSI ID's=1, 2 and 3, which are supported by a disk controller. When the host computer has acquired the control of the SCSI bus through an arbitration and has selected, for example, the partition with the device identifier SCSI ID=1, the disk controller permits the host computer to access the partition in response to the selection. Since the partitions are different in attributes, properties etc., they seem to be magnetic disk storage devices that at separate from one another when viewed from the host computer. Thus, the single magnetic disk storage device can be managed as a plurality of storage devices of different nature.

Abstract: A computer system which includes a host machine having a memory and a CPU with an interrupt handling feature, an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data and an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between the host machine and the auxiliary memory unit. The CPU of the host machine generates a plurality of commands for designating access to the auxiliary unit, in response to at least one command, groups a plurality of the commands for designating access to the auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and supplies the input/output unit with the commands independently of one another. The input/output unit executes access to the auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group supplied independently of one another by the CPU, and notifies the CPU by a single interruption that execution of the commands of the one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to the one group have been terminated.

Abstract: In each of the information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a network, there is arranged a quality of service (QOS) table to which functions and performance thereof are registered. When an information processing apparatus is additionally linked with the network, a QOS table thereof is automatically registered to a local directory of the network such that an agent converts the contents of the QOS table into service information to be supplied via a user interface to the user. Thanks to the operation, information of functions and performance of each information processing apparatus connected to the network is converted into service information for the user. Consequently, the user can much more directly receive necessary services.

Abstract: In a disk array system, data read out and data written anew are temporarily held as former data in a former data holding portion. When a write operation has occurred, a CPU searches the holding portion for write data, it generates update data from the new and former write data items, and it holds the generated update data in an update data holding portion. In addition, the CPU stores the storage address of redundant data associated with the held update data, as log data in a log data holding portion. Further, the CPU operates asynchronously with the write operation to read out the redundant data of the address of the holding portion, to calculate new redundant data from the read redundant data and the held update data, and to write the new redundant data into the address of the log data. On this occasion, a parity area and a data area are separated so as to heighten read/write processing speeds and a parity generation processing speed.