Method and apparatus for automatically configuring data storage subsystems

1. A method in a data processing system for automatically replicating a first data storage subsystem's configuration data on a second data storage subsystem, each storage subsystem being a peripheral of said data processing system and not a standalone computer system, each storage subsystem being inaccessible directly by users, said method comprising the steps of:

specifying said first data storage subsystem as a parent subsystem, said first data storage subsystem being configured using a first configuration data;

specifying a second data storage subsystem that is to be configured the same as said first data storage subsystem;

automatically initiating by said second data storage subsystem a transfer of a copy of said first configuration data from said first data storage subsystem to said second data storage subsystem, said transfer being executed automatically without user intervention; and

said second data storage subsystem configuring itself using said copy of said first configuration data, said second data storage subsystem being configured the same as said first data storage subsystem, said second storage subsystem being automatically configured without user intervention.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

automatically initiating by said first data storage subsystem a transfer of a copy of said first configuration data from said first data storage subsystem to said second data storage subsystem.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

enabling an automatic configuration facility on said first and second data storage subsystems.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

enabling an automatic configuration facility on said first and second data storage subsystems;

automatically initiating by said second data storage subsystem utilizing said automatic configuration facility said transfer of said copy.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

specifying within said first data storage subsystem an address of said second data storage subsystem; and

specifying within said second data storage subsystem an address of said first data storage subsystem.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

coupling said first and second storage subsystems together using a dedicated communication link.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

specifying within said first storage subsystem when said transfer of said copy is to be a push transfer or a pull transfer; and

specifying within said second storage subsystem when said transfer of said copy is to be a push transfer or a pull transfer.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:

in response to a specification that said transfer is to be a push transfer, said first data storage subsystem initiating said transfer; and

in response to a specification that said transfer is to be a pull transfer, said second data storage subsystem initiating said transfer.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

enabling an automatic configuration facility on said first and second data storage subsystems;

automatically initiating by said second data storage subsystem said transfer of said copy utilizing said automatic configuration facility; and

monitoring said transfer by said automatic configuration facility.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of:

executing error handling by said automatic configuration facility to correct any errors that occur during said transfer.

11. A data processing system for automatically replicating a first data storage subsystem's configuration data on a second data storage subsystem, a storage subsystem being a peripheral of said data processing system and not a standalone computer system, said storage subsystem being inaccessible directly by users, comprising:

said first data storage subsystem being specified as a parent subsystem configured using a first configuration data;

a second data storage subsystem that is to be configured the same as said first data storage subsystem;

said second data storage subsystem automatically initiating a transfer of a copy of said first configuration data from said first data storage subsystem to said second data storage subsystem, said transfer being executed automatically without user intervention; and

said second data storage subsystem configuring itself using said copy of said first configuration data, said second data storage subsystem being configured the same as said first data storage subsystem, said second storage subsystem being automatically configured without user intervention.

12. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising:

said first data storage subsystem automatically initiating a transfer of a copy of said first configuration data from said first data storage subsystem to said second data storage subsystem.

13. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising:

an automatic configuration facility included on said first and second data storage subsystems.

14. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising:

an automatic configuration facility included on said first and second data storage subsystems;

said second data storage subsystem automatically initiating said transfer of said copy utilizing said automatic configuration facility.

15. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising:

an address of said second data storage subsystem being specified within said first data storage subsystem; and

an address of said first data storage subsystem being specified within said second data storage subsystem.

16. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising:

said first and second storage subsystems being coupled together using a dedicated communication link.

17. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a flag within said first storage subsystem for indicating when said transfer of said copy is to be a push transfer or a pull transfer; and

a flag within said second storage subsystem for indicating when said transfer of said copy is to be a push transfer or a pull transfer.

18. The system according to claim 17 , further comprising:

said first data storage subsystem initiating said transfer when said flag in said first data storage subsystem indicates that said transfer is to be a push transfer,; and

said second data storage subsystem initiating said transfer when said flag in said second data storage subsystem indicates that said transfer is to be a pull transfer.

19. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising:

an automatic configuration facility included on said first and second data storage subsystems;

said second data storage subsystem automatically initiating said transfer of said copy utilizing said automatic configuration facility; and

said automatic configuration facility monitoring said transfer.

20. The system according to claim 19 , further comprising the step of:

said automatic configuration facility executing error handling to correct any errors that occur during said transfer.