Abstract: A method includes a configuration definition creation step of writing configuration information on a primary site into a storage subsystem; a data transfer step of copying the configuration information, which is written into a storage device, to a storage subsystem in a secondary site over a network; a data reception step of receiving the transferred configuration information and storing it in the storage subsystem in the secondary site; and a configuration definition step of reading the stored configuration information and settings up a server in the secondary site.

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 (IDs) respectively allocated thereto as SCSI IDs=1, 2 and 3, which are supported by a disk controller. When the host computer has acquired the control, 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 device that are 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 storage system 1 including multiple slots for loading a block I/O interface controller, a file I/O interface controller, and any other kinds of interface controllers that are combined freely. The storage system 1 includes a management table that manages fail-over-enabled devices by grouping those devices in accordance with the interface type and the domain to which each device belongs; an information table that directs a fail-over procedure; and fail-over controlling means that takes over the processing of a failed interface controller belonging to a fail-over-enabled group. The fail-over system offers several modalities for monitoring failures, selecting takeover controllers and restoring functionality. Storage system 1 solves conventional problems by providing a system that can mount a plurality of file systems, and that resists multiple failures detected in a fail-over server.

Abstract: A technique capable of constructing a disaster recovery system reduced in performance degradation of a primary system is provided. The technique includes a step of conducting synchronous writing of log information into a secondary storage subsystem in a secondary system when a write request received from a host computer is a write request of log information, a step of temporarily storing a write request and conducting asynchronous writing into the secondary storage subsystem when the received write request is a write request of database data or status information, a step of modifying log information, data in a database area, and status information in the secondary storage subsystem according to contents of a write request received from a primary storage subsystem, and a step of recovering the database area according to contents of log information in a location indicated by the status information.

Abstract: In a computer system having a computer, a storage system having storage units being coupled to the computer and for storing user data used by the computer, and a backup device being coupled to the computer and the storage system, a backup method is presented for obtaining a backup of the data stored in the storage unit to the backup device. The storage system holds the user data dually in a first and a second storage units. In backing up the user data, a split instruction for releasing the duplex state of the first and the second storage units is sent from the computer to the storage unit. In response to the split instruction, the storage system interrupts the reflection of the update of the user data to the first storage unit onto the second storage unit. Then, a copy instruction for copying the user data held in the second storage unit to the backup device is sent from the computer to the storage system.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus having a common storage accessible by a host includes: an NIC group connected with a plurality of communication paths connected to the host; an I/O processing unit for executing I/O processing of the common storage in response to an I/O request of the host; a storing unit for holding log information for each data transfer performed from/to the host; and a communication path selection unit for selecting, as a data transfer path, a communication path having actually indicated good I/O processing performance among communication paths used in the past data transfer approximate in a communication condition by referring to the log information held by the storing unit.

Abstract: In a cluster-structured disk subsystem, when creating a volume for an online backup separately from a volume for a normal I/O, it is desirable to be able to achieve such a creation for any volume under subsystem. Further, with an increase in the capacity of the subsystem, it becomes more difficult for a user to determine where to place a volume to which data is to be copied. Thus, a cluster-structured storage system is provided in which it is possible to reference/renew snapshot control information in shared memory of other clusters and achieve a snapshot between clusters via an inter-cluster connecting mechanism. In this system, control is performed inside/outside the cluster, and a control is performed inside/outside the cluster, and a volume to which data is to be copied is suggested to the user.

Abstract: A storage system for providing a preferable data access performance by performing controls considering database management system (DBMS) execution information or database process priorities, by acquiring static configurational information of a DBMS by means of a DBMS information acquisition and communication program, a DBMS information communication section, and a host information setting program; acquiring DBMS execution information by means of a query plan acquisition program, the DBMS information communication section, and a process performance management program; acquiring information on priorities of database processes given by the process performance management program; and storing them in disk I/O management information with process priorities, DBMS execution information, and DBMS data information, in which cache control section in a storage system control program controls a data cache by referring to the above information.

Abstract: In a cluster-structured disk subsystem, when creating a volume for an online backup separately from a volume for a normal I/O, it is desirable to be able to achieve such a creation for any volume under subsystem. Further, with an increase in the capacity of the subsystem, it becomes more difficult for a user to determine where to place a volume to which data is to be copied. Thus, a cluster-structured storage system is provided in which it is possible to reference/renew snapshot control information in shared memory of other clusters and achieve a snapshot between clusters via an inter-cluster connecting mechanism. In this system, control is performed inside/outside the cluster, and a control is performed inside/outside the cluster, and a volume to which data is to be copied is suggested to the user.

Abstract: A computing system and encryption/decryption method realizes assurance of security and improvement of throughput in a remote system. For this purpose, encrypted data is written to a storage system, it is determined whether data in the storage system is ciphertext or plaintext, and encrypted data is read, decrypted and re-written in storage asyncronously with writing encrypted data to storage.

Abstract: In a computer system that includes a first computer, a second computer, a first storage apparatus storing data in a fixed-length block format used by the second computer, and a backup apparatus connected to the first computer and storing data in a variable-length block format, the present invention provides a backup method for backing up data stored in the first storage apparatus to the backup apparatus. The first computer sends the second computer a request to read data in the fixed-length block format. In response to this request, the second computer reads the fixed-length block format data from the first storage apparatus and transfers this data to the first computer. The first computer converts the transferred fixed-length block format data into variable-length block format data. The converted variable-length block format data is stored in the backup apparatus.

Abstract: In the present invention, a management server manages, as virtual data areas, the physical data areas that storage devices have. Moreover, the management server includes a unit. Based on an access request received from each server, the unit issues, to the corresponding storage devices, an instruction of reading out the data onto caches from disks. Also, each storage device, which has received the instruction, includes each unit for reading out the data onto each cache in accordance with the instruction.

Abstract: In order to construct an integrated storage system by reinforcing collaboration of components or functions of a storage system in which a storage area network (SAN) is used, in a computer system having multiple client computers, multiple various servers, multiple various storages which keep data, and a local area network (LAN) which connects the computers and the servers, a storage area network (SAN) which lies between the servers and storages forms a switched circuit network which is capable of connecting any server and any storage through fiber channel FC switches. The computer system further includes a terminal which is equipped with operation and management software which performs storage management including management of logical volumes in the various storages, data arrangement, error monitoring, management of setting up the FC switches, and backup for data in the storages.

Abstract: A disaster recovery system and a method therefor, having: a function for receiving write requests from a host computer to write log information indicating the contents of a database process executed for a database buffer on a main site, database data updated on the database buffer and status information indicating the position of log information used for disaster recovery; a function for transferring the received write request for log information to a recovery site by a synchronous remote copy process; and a function for transferring the received write request for database data to the recovery site by an asynchronous remote copy process. While remote copy can be executed at a long distance without data loss, the deterioration of the performance of a database process on a main site can be suppressed.

Abstract: A storage apparatus acquires static constituent information of a database management system (DBMS) through a network by using a DBMS information acquisition/communication program, DBMS information communication portion, and host information setting program, and stores them as DBMS data information in its memory. The physical storage position managing/optimizing execution portion within a control program of the storage apparatus makes data allocation and cache control that consider the characteristics of the data base management system by using DBMS data information, thereby improving the data access performance of the storage apparatus.

Abstract: A storage system for providing a preferable data access performance by performing controls considering database management system (DBMS) execution information or database process priorities, by acquiring static configurational information of a DBMS by means of a DBMS information acquisition and communication program, a DBMS information communication section, and a host information setting program; acquiring DBMS execution information by means of a query plan acquisition program, the DBMS information communication section, and a process performance management program; acquiring information on priorities of database processes given by the process performance management program; and storing them in disk I/O management information with process priorities, DBMS execution information, and DBMS data information, in which cache control section in a storage system control program controls a data cache by referring to the above information.

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 host computer requests a storage device to perform a data transfer operation using information about the data transfer source/destination regions as a parameter. The storage device internally transfers data from a source disk device to a destination disk device. When the transfer of the data is completed, the storage device notifies the host computer that the operation has been completed. The host computer receives the notification and updates the storage location of the data to the destination region.

Abstract: An administrator is required to prepare in advance LU as a pool area when a user storage area is set to a storage. LU configuration is generally cumbersome and it is not easy for a general user to configure it. A pool manager 1 and a storage 1 setting utility in a management console 1 communicate with a program in a storage 1. The storage 1 sets a pool area having a designated capacity. In response to a volume forming request from the management console 1, the storage 1 sets a designated volume by setting the designated volume as a used capacity of the set pool area. When a volume is formed, a policy is designated to select a storage area having a corresponding attribute from the pool area.

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 storage sub-systems, a plurality of second interface nodes connected to the storage sub-systems, a switch connecting to a first interface node and a plurality of second interface nodes to perform frame transfer therebetween 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 switch.