Information apparatus

1. An information apparatus accessing a storage apparatus, the information apparatus comprising:

a processor to execute a process including

executing a test on a storage area of the storage apparatus to determine whether a command issued to the storage area of the storage apparatus results in a medium error or a hard error, and

setting an accessible valid storage area in the storage area, and

extending the accessible valid storage area to extend a valid capacity by including a part of the storage area for which the command issued to the storage area of the storage apparatus did not result in a medium error or a hard error.

2. The information apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the process further includes

monitoring usage of the accessible valid storage area, wherein the processor extends the accessible valid storage area in accordance with the monitored usage.

3. The information apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the process includes executing the test in accordance with the usage.

4. The information apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein when the usage reaches a first value, the processor executes the test, and when the test is completed and the usage reaches a second value larger than the first value, the processor extends the accessible valid storage area.

5. An information processing system comprising:

a storage unit; and

a processor to access the storage unit, wherein the processor executes a process including

executing a test on the storage area of the storage unit to determine whether a command issued to the storage area of the storage unit results in a medium error or a hard error,

setting an accessible valid storage area in the storage area, and

extending the accessible valid storage to extend a valid capacity by including a part of the storage area for which the command issued to the storage area of the storage unit did not result in a medium error or a hard error.

6. The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein the process further includes

monitoring usage of the valid accessible storage area of the storage unit, wherein the processor extends the accessible valid storage area in accordance with the monitored usage.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the process includes executing the test in accordance with the usage.

8. The information processing system according to claim 7 , wherein when the usage reaches a first value, the processor executes the test, and when the test is completed and the usage reaches a second value larger than the first value, the processor extends the accessible valid storage area.

9. The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein the process further includes

managing, when a capacity of a defect area is less than a specified value, the defect area as a restricted area.

10. The information processing system according to claim 9 , wherein the process further includes

notifying, when a capacity of the defect area is more than the specified value, an external device of the defect of the storage unit.

11. A storage area management method for management of an accessible valid storage area of a storage unit, the method comprising:

executing a test on a storage area of the storage unit to determine whether a command issued to the storage area of the storage unit results in a medium error or a hard error;

setting the accessible valid storage area in the storage area; and

extending the accessible valid storage area to extend a valid capacity by including a part of the storage area for which the command issued to the storage area of the storage unit did not result in a medium error or a hard error.

12. The storage area management method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

monitoring usage of the accessible valid storage area, wherein the extending the accessible valid storage area is based on the monitored usage.

13. The storage area management method according to claim 12 , wherein the test is executed in accordance with the usage.

14. The storage area management method according to claim 13 , wherein when the usage reaches a first value, the test is executed, and when the test is completed and the usage reaches a second value larger than the first value, the accessible valid storage area is extended.

15. The storage area management method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

managing, when a capacity of a defect area is less than a specified value, the defect area confirmed by the test as a restricted area.

16. The storage area management method according to claim 15 , further comprising:

notifying an external device of a defect of the storage unit when a capacity of the defect area is more than the specified value.

17. A computer-readable recording medium encoded with a computer program that causes a computer accessing a storage unit to perform a method for storage area management of a valid storage area of the storage unit, the method comprising:

executing a test on the storage area of the storage unit to determine whether a command issued to the storage area of the storage unit results in a medium error or a hard error;

setting the accessible valid storage area in the storage area; and

extending the accessible valid storage area to extend a valid capacity by including a part of the storage area for which the command issued to the storage area of the storage unit did not result in a medium error or a hard error.

18. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17 , the method further comprising:

monitoring usage of the accessible valid storage area, wherein the extending the accessible valid storage area in based on the monitored usage.

19. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 18 , wherein the test is executed in accordance with the usage.

20. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19 , wherein when the usage reaches a first value, the test is executed, and when the test is completed and the usage reaches a second value larger than the first value, the accessible valid storage area is extended.