Logical volume configuration information distribution program, logical volume configuration information distribution method, and logical volume configuration information distribution apparatus

1. A recording medium storing a logical volume configuration information distribution program causing a computer to execute processing based on logical volume configuration information that defines a correspondence relation between a virtual storage area in a logical volume defined virtually and a real storage area in a storage unit, the logical volume configuration information is provided via a network to an access node that accesses the real storage area in response to an access request that specifies data in the virtual storage area, wherein the logical volume configuration information distribution program causes a computer to execute a process comprising:

changing the correspondence relation between the virtual storage area of the logical volume and the real storage area in the storage unit in the logical volume configuration information; and

referencing an access node list storage unit storing an access node list in which identification information of the access node is registered, and transmitting update information that indicates an updated correspondence relation concerning the virtual storage area whose correspondence relation with the real storage area has been changed, to the access node indicated in the access node list, via the network when the correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area is changed,

wherein the logical volume identification information used by the access node is set in the access node list, and

wherein a load distribution program stored in the recording medium causes the computer to execute a process comprising:

referencing the access node list, and transmitting the update information only to an access node that uses the logical volume whose correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area has been changed when the update information is to be transmitted.

2. The recording medium according to claim 1 , the process comprising:

registering, into the access node list, identification information of another access node having transmitted a heart beat when the heart beat from another access node not registered in the access node list is received.

3. The recording medium according to claim 2 , wherein a load distribution program stored in the recording medium causes the computer to execute a process comprising:

deleting, from the access node list, identification information of an access node whose heart beat has stopped when a heart beat from an access node registered in the access node list has stopped for a specific time or longer.

4. The recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein a load distribution program stored in the recording medium causes the computer to execute a process comprising:

transmitting a configuration information change notification to the access node indicated in the access node list when the correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area is changed; and

transmitting the update information to the access node having outputted the reference request when a reference request for the logical volume configuration information is received from an access node, transmitting the update information to an access node having outputted the reference request.

5. The recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein a load distribution program stored in the recording medium causes the computer to further execute:

when the logical volume configuration information of a primary real storage area serving as an accessing target from the access node and the logical volume configuration information of a secondary real storage area for storing a copy of data stored in the primary real storage area are stored in association with each other in a common virtual storage area,

extracting, from the logical volume configuration information, the updated correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the primary real storage area so as to generate the update information.

6. The recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein a load distribution program stored in the recording medium causes the computer to further execute:

when the correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area is changed,

updating the logical volume configuration information stored in a logical volume configuration information storage unit in response to contents of the change, and

extracting, from the logical volume configuration information storage unit, a changed correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area so as to generate the update information.

7. A logical volume configuration information distribution method causing a computer to execute processing based on logical volume configuration information that defines a correspondence relation between a virtual storage area in a logical volume defined virtually and a real storage area in a storage unit, the logical volume configuration information is provided via a network to an access node that accesses the real storage area in response to an access request that specifies data in the virtual storage area, the method comprising:

changing, by the computer, the correspondence relation between the virtual storage area of the logical volume and the real storage area in the storage unit in the logical volume configuration information; and

referencing an access node list storage unit storing an access node list in which identification information of the access node is registered, and transmitting, by the computer, update information that indicates an updated correspondence relation concerning the virtual storage area whose correspondence relation with the real storage area has been changed, to the access node indicated in the access node list, via the network when the correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area is changed,

wherein the logical volume identification information used by the access node is set in the access node list, and

wherein a load distribution program stored in the recording medium causes the computer to execute a process comprising:

referencing the access node list, and transmitting the update information only to an access node that uses the logical volume whose correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area has been changed when the update information is to be transmitted.

8. A logical volume configuration information distribution apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute,

changing a correspondence relation between a virtual storage area of a logical volume and a real storage area of logical volume configuration information, and

transmitting, when the correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area is changed, update information that indicates an updated correspondence relation concerning the virtual storage area whose correspondence relation with the real storage area has been changed, to an access node that accesses the real storage area in response to an access request that specifies data in the virtual storage area, the access node indicated in an access node list, in which identification information of the access node is registered, via a network, and

wherein the logical volume identification information used by the access node is set in the access node list, and

wherein a load distribution program stored in the memory causes the processor to execute a process comprising:

referencing the access node list, and transmitting the update information only to an access node that uses the logical volume whose correspondence relation between the virtual storage area and the real storage area has been changed when the update information is to be transmitted.