Data management method in storage pool and virtual volume in DKC

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,930,509
App. No.: 12/817,357
Granted: Apr 19, 2011
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A storage system connected to a computer and a management computer, includes storage devices accessed by the computer, and a control unit for controlling the storage devices. A first-type logical device corresponding to a storage area set in at least one of the storage devices and a second-type logical device that is a virtual storage area are provided. The control unit sets at least two of the first-type logical devices different in a characteristic as storage areas included in a storage pool through mapping. The first-type logical device stores data by allocating a storage area of the second-type logical device to a storage area of the first-type logical device mapped to the storage pool. The characteristic of the second-type logical device can be changed by changing the allocated storage area of the second-type logical device to a storage area of another first-type logical device.

Claims (35)

1. A storage system coupled to a computer and a management computer, comprising:

storage devices accessed by the computer; and

a control unit for controlling the storage devices and external storage devices coupled to the storage system,

wherein a 1st first-type logical device corresponding to a storage area that is set in at least one of the storage devices and a 2nd first-type logical device different in an access characteristic and corresponding to a storage area that is set in at least one of the external storage device, and a second-type logical device that is a virtual storage area are provided,

wherein the control unit:

sets at least two of the first-type logical devices as storage areas included in a storage pool through mapping;

sets the second-type logical device to be accessible by the computer if the storage area of the second type logical device is allocated in response to access to the second-type logical device from the computer; and

changes the access characteristic of the second-type logical device by changing the allocated storage area of the second-type logical device to a storage area of the 2nd first-type logical device,

wherein the control unit further sets the 1st first-type logical device to be able to store data by not allocating a storage area of the second-type logical device to a storage area of the 1st first-type logical device first and, when the storage pool is accessed, allocating the storage area of the second-type logical device to the storage area of the 1st first-type logical device in a pool slot mapped to the storage pool if the second-type logical device is not allocated in response to access to the second-type logical device from the computer.

2. The storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a primary storage system; and

a secondary storage system that is externally connected to the primary storage system,

wherein the 1st first-type logical device includes a storage area of a storage device provided for the primary storage system.

wherein the 2nd first-type logical device includes a storage area of a storage device provided for the secondary storage system.

3. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the 2nd first-type logical device includes a storage area of a storage device using a tape type recording medium.

4. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the 2nd first-type logical device includes a storage area of a storage device connected via an ATA interface.

5. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the 2nd first-type logical device includes a storage area of a storage device connected via a Fibre Channel interface.

6. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the 2nd first-type logical device includes a storage area that stores data divided into predetermined size in sequential storage areas.

7. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the 1st first-type logical device includes a storage area that provides a parallel access to data divided into predetermined size.

8. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit further:

copies data stored in the 1st first-type logical device allocated to the storage area of the second-type logical device to the 2nd first-type logical device; and

releases the allocation of the storage area of the second-type logical device to the storage area of the 1st first-type logical device.

9. The storage system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the 1st first-type logical device stores data divided into predetermined size in a storage area accessible in parallel, and the 2nd first-type logical device stores data divided into predetermined size in sequential storage areas,

wherein the control unit further:

copies data stored in the 1st first-type logical device allocated to the storage area of the second-type logical device to the 2nd first-type logical device; and

releases the allocation of the storage area of the second-type logical device to the storage area of the 1st first-type logical device.

10. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit:

copies data stored in the 1st first-type logical device allocated to the storage area of the second-type logical device to the 2nd first-type logical device that is not set as the memory area of the storage pool; and

releases the allocation of the storage area of the second-type logical device to the storage area of the 1st first-type logical device.

11. The storage system according to claim 1 , comprising:

a primary storage system; and

a secondary storage system externally connected to the primary storage system,

wherein the 1st first-type logical is constituted of the storage device provided in the primary storage system, and the 2nd first-type logical device is constituted of the storage device provided in the secondary storage system,

wherein the control unit changes the characteristic of a part of the storage area of the second-type logical device by, without releasing the allocation of the storage area of the second-type logical device to the storage area of the 1st first-type logical device, further allocating the storage area of the second-type logical device to the storage area of the 2nd first-type logical device.