Abstract: The present invention achieves data relocation in accordance with a user's policies, in an environment where a plurality of storage devices coexist. The volumes belonging to storage devices A-D are managed virtually integrally. A host recognizes a plurality of storage devices A-D as a single virtual storage device. The user is able to group arbitrarily each volume belonging to the storage system, as a plurality of storage layers 1-3. For example, storage layer 1 can be defined as a high-reliability layer, storage layer 2, as a low-cost layer, and storage layer 3, as an archive layer. Each storage layer is constituted by a group of volumes corresponding to respective policies (high reliability, low cost, archiving). The user designates volumes V1 and V2 to be moved, in group units, and indicates a storage layer forming a movement destination, whereby the data is relocated.

Abstract: Each time data is migrated, a management system stores information denoting a migration history related to the migration of the data, in history management information. The management system receives an input of an administrator-desired attribute condition combination for a migration-destination storage device, identifies all device attribute combinations conforming to this attribute condition combination, and calculates multiple migration trends based on each device attribute combination and the history management information. The management system identifies, from among the multiple migration trends, a migration trend to which a specified migration-source storage device belongs, and displays information denoting at least this identified migration trend.

Abstract: In a storage network including at least a computer system, at least an external storage and at least a network system for communication of input/output data between the computer system and the external storage, a method of collecting the performance data on the network system and the software operated on the network system, in which the range or degree of data collection is automatically adjusted as required based on the performance data collected.

Abstract: To provide a user of a virtual volume with a performance commensurate with a fee. A management apparatus 4 stores fee information by tier 4H for managing, for each of a plurality of storage tiers, a fee required for using storage regions of the storage tiers. The management apparatus 4 stores a predetermined fee plan information item 4F of a plurality of prepared fee plan information items, the predetermined fee plan information item being associated with a host computer. An arrangement controller 4A of the management apparatus 4 associates logical storage regions with the storage regions of the plurality of storage tiers on the basis of the predetermined fee plan information item 4F, the fee information by tier 4H, and a frequency of access 4G by the host computer to the logical storage regions.

Abstract: The present invention achieves data relocation in accordance with a user's policies, in an environment where a plurality of storage devices coexist. The volumes belonging to storage devices A-D are managed virtually integrally. A host recognizes a plurality of storage devices A-D as a single virtual storage device. The user is able to group arbitrarily each volume belonging to the storage system, as a plurality of storage layers 1-3. For example, storage layer 1 can be defined as a high-reliability layer, storage layer 2, as a low-cost layer, and storage layer 3, as an archive layer. Each storage layer is constituted by a group of volumes corresponding to respective policies (high reliability, low cost, archiving). The user designates volumes V1 and V2 to be moved, in group units, and indicates a storage layer forming a movement destination, whereby the data is relocated.

Abstract: The present invention achieves data relocation in accordance with a user's policies, in an environment where a plurality of storage devices coexist. The volumes belonging to storage devices A-D are managed virtually integrally. A host recognizes a plurality of storage devices A-D as a single virtual storage device. The user is able to group arbitrarily each volume belonging to the storage system, as a plurality of storage layers 1-3. For example, storage layer 1 can be defined as a high-reliability layer, storage layer 2, as a low-cost layer, and storage layer 3, as an archive layer. Each storage layer is constituted by a group of volumes corresponding to respective policies (high reliability, low cost, archiving). The user designates volumes V1 and V2 to be moved, in group units, and indicates a storage layer forming a movement destination, whereby the data is relocated.

Abstract: Each time data is migrated, a management system stores information denoting a migration history related to the migration of the data, in history management information. The management system receives an input of an administrator-desired attribute condition combination for a migration-destination storage device, identifies all device attribute combinations conforming to this attribute condition combination, and calculates multiple migration trends based on each device attribute combination and the history management information. The management system identifies, from among the multiple migration trends, a migration trend to which a specified migration-source storage device belongs, and displays information denoting at least this identified migration trend.

Abstract: A method for rearranging a logical volume including arranging a logical volume rearranging program on a particular server and using the logical volume rearranging program to acquire server/storage mapping information from each server and performance information from each storage subsystem. Moreover, the logical volume rearranging program acquires request I/O (Input/Output) performance and a rearranging rule for each application set by a user. Furthermore, the logical volume rearranging program determines a destination by using the logical volume rearranging destination parity group specified by the user according to the aforementioned information, and rearranges the logical volume according to the storage subsystem performance and the request I/O performance of each application.

Abstract: In a storage network including at least a computer system, at least an external storage and at least a network system for communication of input/output data between the computer system and the external storage, a method of collecting the performance data on the network system and the software operated on the network system, in which the range or degree of data collection is automatically adjusted as required based on the performance data collected.

Abstract: In a storage network including at least a computer system, at least an external storage and at least a network system for communication of input/output data between the computer system and the external storage, a method of collecting the performance data on the network system and the software operated on the network system, in which the range or degree of data collection is automatically adjusted as required based on the performance data collected.

Abstract: Proposed are a storage apparatus and its control method capable of performing power saving operations while covering the shortcomings of a flash memory such as the life being short and much time being required for rewriting data. This storage apparatus manages the storage areas provided by each of multiple nonvolatile memories as a pool, provides a virtual volume to a host computer, dynamically allocates the storage area from a virtual pool to the virtual volume according to a data write request from the host computer for writing data into the virtual volume, and places the data in the allocated storage area.

Abstract: A method for rearranging a logical volume including arranging a logical volume rearranging program on a particular server and using the logical volume rearranging program to acquire server/storage mapping information from each server and performance information from each storage subsystem. Moreover, the logical volume rearranging program acquires request I/O performance and a rearranging rule for each application set by a user. Furthermore, the logical volume rearranging program determines a destination by using the logical volume rearranging destination parity group specified by the user according to the aforementioned information, and rearranges the logical volume according to the storage subsystem performance and the request I/O performance of each application.

Abstract: A method for rearranging a logical volume including arranging a logical volume rearranging program on a particular server and using the logical volume rearranging program to acquire server/storage mapping information from each server and performance information from each storage subsystem. Moreover, the logical volume rearranging program acquires request I/O performance and a rearranging rule for each application set by a user. Furthermore, the logical volume rearranging program determines a destination by using the logical volume rearranging destination parity group specified by the user according to the aforementioned information, and rearranges the logical volume according to the storage subsystem performance and the request I/O performance of each application.

Abstract: An access path management method for a storage network system where a plurality of paths are formed between a data storage system and a host computer which uses the data storage system, an integrated management server monitors port resources constantly. When a port overloads or when a failure occurs in a port, a previously unavailable port is made available and then an access path passing through this port is created to thereby secure a necessary bandwidth. When the load on a port is reduced, an access path that passes through this port is deleted to free a part of the bandwidth, and then the port that is currently in use is invalidated. A license management server for managing how the ports are used, charges by counting in only the length of time during which the port is in use.

Abstract: Use situations of storage devices utilizing a storage area network (SAN) are predicted and the devices are automatically managed on the basis of the predicted results. To manage the devices utilizing the SAN, there is established the policy prescribing actions each executed when some object to be judged satisfies some condition with regard to storage devices. Information concerning use situations of the devices is collected and a value of an object to be judged of the policy is calculated based on collected information to judge whether the value of the object to be judged satisfies a condition of the policy. When the condition is satisfied, the action of the policy is executed. The objects to be judged of the policy may be actual result values in the past, current values or prediction values in the future relative to use capacity of storages, the number of I/O operations of disk or fragmentation.

Abstract: A method of allocating storage areas, intended to reserve the storage areas formed on a storage device for storing data, this method including the steps of: registering beforehand as a storage configuration information table 105, information on multiple storage areas to be managed and on the position where the storage device is installed; registering information on the purposes of use and positions of the storage areas beforehand as a position management table 107; acquiring position information from the position management table 107 in accordance with an allocation request for a storage area associated with the purpose of use; selecting an unallocated storage area from the storage configuration information table 105 with reference to the position information; and sending information on a selected area to a client from which the allocation request was issued.

Abstract: In a storage network including at least a computer system, at least an external storage and at least a network system for communication of input/output data between the computer system and the external storage, a method of collecting the performance data on the network system and the software operated on the network system, in which the range or degree of data collection is automatically adjusted as required based on the performance data collected.

Abstract: A CPU of a performance management server, upon receipt of a request from a keyboard or a mouse to newly assign an application to a specified application server, acquires an I/O path between the requested application server and a storage subsystem combined with the application server from the configuration information managed by the internal database of the performance management server, and based on the performance information managed by the database in the performance management server, an I/O path having the performance information satisfying the designated conditions is extracted from the acquired I/O paths and displayed as a candidate path on a display unit.

Abstract: Provided is an inter-volume migration system that allows selection of a relocation-destination volume in consideration of a volume cost. The inter-volume migration system includes a storage subsystem having one or more volumes, an inter-volume relocation instruction module that relocates a data area from a relocation-source volume to a relocation-destination volume, a cost calculation module that calculates a cost value of a volume, and a volume selection module that selects a candidate for the relocation-destination volume based on the cost value of the volume calculated by the cost calculation module and constraints imposed on the relocation-destination volume.

Abstract: The present invention achieves data relocation in accordance with a user's policies, in an environment where a plurality of storage devices are combined. The volumes belonging to storage devices A-D are managed virtually integrally. A host recognizes a plurality of storage devices A-D as a single virtual storage device. The user is able to group the volumes belonging to the storage system, as a plurality of storage layers 1-3. For example, storage layer 1 can be defined as a high-reliability layer, storage layer 2, as a low-cost layer, and storage layer 3, as an archive layer. Each storage layer is constituted by a group of volumes corresponding to respective policies (high reliability, low cost, archiving). The user designates volumes to be moved V1 and V2, in group units, and indicates a storage layer forming a movement destination, whereby the data is relocated.