Storage area management method for a storage system

1. A storage area management method for a computer system having a storage system, a host computer coupled to the storage system via a network, and a management computer that can access to the storage system and the host computer,

wherein the storage system having a first interface coupled to the network, a first processor coupled to the first interface, a first memory coupled to the first processor, and a storage device for storing data read and written by the host computer,

wherein the management computer having a second interface coupled to the network, a second processor coupled to the second interface, and a second memory coupled to the second processor,

wherein the storage system having a pool area which includes the storage device,

wherein the pool area having logical volumes which are created to be provided to the host computer as storage areas where data is read and written by the host computer, and

wherein the logical volumes having a predetermined relation and being included in a logical volume group;

a copy of the logical volume group being created in a pool area different from the pool area to which the logical volume group belongs,

wherein the storage management method comprising the steps of:

monitoring, by the second processor, a capacity of the pool area to which the logic volume belongs;

sending, by the second processor, a request to the storage system to add to the capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs when an unused capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs reaches a predetermined threshold or lower;

sending, by the second processor, a request to the storage system to create a sub-pool area for each of the logical volume groups included in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs when the pool area to which the logical volume belongs includes multiple logical volume groups;

sending, by the second processor, a request to the storage system to create the logical volume groups included in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs, respectively for the created sub-pool areas; and

sending, by the second processor, a request to the storage system to operate a pool area in which the copy of the one logical volume group included in the pool area is created when the pool area includes one logical volume group.

2. The storage area management method according to claim 1 , wherein an update order of the logical volumes included in the logical volume group is determined as the predetermined relation to maintain data consistency.

3. The storage area management method according to claim 1 , wherein the copy of the logical volume group is created in a pool area of a storage system different from the storage system that includes the copy source logical volume group.

4. The storage area management method according to claim 1 , wherein the operation the pool area is a request to create a pool area including the copy of the logical volume group, as the capacity of the created pool area is same capacity of the pool area including the copy source logical volume group.

5. The storage area management method according to claim 1 , wherein the pool area includes a first pool area and a second pool area; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of:

sending, by the second processor, when there is an addition to the first pool area capacity, a request to the storage system to make a capacity of the first pool area coincide with a capacity of the second pool area to which a logical volume group contained in the first pool area is copied.

6. The storage area management method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of:

monitoring, by the second processor, only the capacity of the first pool area.

7. The storage area management method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

prohibiting, by the second processor, when a logical volume is to be newly created in the pool area, to newly create a logical volume that does not belong to a logical volume group included in the pool area.

8. A management computer, comprising:

a processor; a memory; and

an interface,

wherein the management computer being able to access to a storage system having a storage device for storing data, and to a host computer coupled to the storage system via a network,

wherein the storage system having a pool area which includes the storage device,

wherein the pool area having logical volumes which are created to be provided to the host computer as storage areas where data is read and written by the host computer, and

wherein the logical volumes having a predetermined relation and being included in a logical volume group,

a copy of the logical volume group being created in a pool area different from the pool area to which the logical volume group belongs,

wherein the processor is configured to:

monitor a capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs;

request, when an unused capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs reaches a predetermined threshold or lower, the storage system to add to the capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs;

request, when the pool area to which the logical volume belongs contains multiple logical volume groups, the storage system to create a sub-pool area for each of the logical volume groups included in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs;

request the storage system to create the logical volume groups included in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs, respectively for the created sub-pool areas; and

request, when the pool area to which the logical volume belongs includes one logical volume group, the storage system to operate a pool area in which the copy of the one logical volume group included in the pool area is created.

9. The management computer according to claim 8 , wherein the logical volumes included in the logical volume group is determined as the predetermined relation to maintain data consistency.

10. The management computer according to claim 8 , wherein the operation the pool area to which the logical volume belongs is a request to create a pool area including the copy of the logical volume group, as the capacity of the created pool area is same capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs including the copy source logical volume group.

11. The management computer according to claim 8 , wherein the pool area to which the logical volume belongs includes a first pool area and a second pool area; and

wherein the processor is further configured to, when there is an addition to the first pool area capacity, request the storage system to make a capacity of the first pool area coincide with a capacity of the second pool area to which a logical volume group contained in the first pool area is copied.

12. The management computer according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to monitor only the capacity of the first pool area.

13. The management computer according to claim 8 , wherein, the processor is further configured to, when a logical volume is to be newly created in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs prohibit a logical volume that does not belong to a logical volume group included in the pool area.

14. A computer system, comprising:

a storage system;

a host computer coupled to the storage system via a network; and

a management computer which can access to the storage system and the host computer,

wherein the storage system has a first interface coupled to the network, a first processor coupled to the first interface, a first memory coupled to the first processor, and a storage device for storing data read and written by the host computer,

wherein the management computer has a second interface coupled to the network, a second processor coupled to the second interface, and a second memory coupled to the second processor,

wherein the storage system has a pool area which includes the storage device,

wherein the pool area has logical volumes which are created to be provided to the host computer as storage areas where data is read and written by the host computer,

wherein the logical volumes have a predetermined relation and are included in a logical volume group,

wherein a copy of the logical volume group is created in a pool area different from the pool area to which the logical volume group belongs,

wherein the second processor monitors a capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs,

wherein when an unused capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs reaches a predetermined threshold or lower, the second processor requests the storage system to add to the capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs,

wherein the first processor adds to the capacity of the pool area to which the logical volume belongs to meet the pool area capacity addition request,

wherein, when the pool area to which the logical volume belongs contains multiple logical volume groups, the second processor requests the storage system to create a sub-pool area for each of the logical volume groups included in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs,

wherein the first processor creates a sub-pool area for each of the logical volume groups to meet the pool area creation request,

wherein the second processor requests the storage system to create the logical volume groups included in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs, respectively for the created sub-pool areas,

wherein the first processor creates logical volume groups respectively in the created sub-pool areas that have been created for the multiple logical volume groups in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs based on the logical volume group creation request, and

wherein, when the pool area to which the logical volume belongs includes one logical volume group, the second processor requests the storage system to operate a sub-pool area in which the copy of the one logical volume group included in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs is created.

15. The computer system according to claim 14 , wherein the logical volumes included in the logical volume group is determined as the predetermined relation to maintain data consistency.

16. The computer system according to claim 14 , wherein the copy of the logical volume group is created in a pool area of a storage system different from the storage system that includes the copy source logical volume group.

17. The computer system according to claim 14 , wherein the operation the pool area to which the logical volume belongs is a request to create a pool area including the copy of the logical volume group, as the capacity of the created pool area is same capacity of the pool area including the copy source logical volume group.

18. The computer system according to claim 14 , wherein the pool area includes a first pool area and a second pool area; and

wherein, when there is an addition to the first pool area capacity, the second processor requests the storage system to make a capacity of the first pool area coincide with a capacity of the second pool area to which a logical volume group contained in the first pool area is copied.

19. The computer system according to claim 18 , wherein the second processor monitors only the capacity of the first pool area.

20. The computer system according to claim 14 , wherein, when a logical volume is to be newly created in the pool area to which the logical volume belongs, to newly create the second processor prohibits a logical volume that does not belong to a logical volume group included in the pool area.