Method of controlling storage control apparatus, storage control apparatus, and computer readable program for controlling the same

1. A method of controlling a storage control apparatus connected and capable of communication to a plurality of host computers via communication means, receiving data I/O requests transmitted from the plurality of host computers, and performing a data I/O process corresponding to the requests to a storage device connected to the storage control apparatus, the method comprising steps of:

transmitting a notification message notifying a start of a process from the storage control apparatus to the plurality of host computers when the storage control apparatus executes a process required for a control of data I/O requests transmitted from the plurality of host computers; and

executing the process by the storage control apparatus after receiving from all of the plurality of host computers reply messages in response to the notification messages,

wherein the data I/O request is transmitted to the storage control apparatus in a communication system such that the storage control apparatus has no knowledge of the processing state at which the data I/O request is transmitted from each of the plurality of host computers,

wherein the storage control apparatus includes a file system and the data I/O request is a request instructing a data I/O on file basis, and

wherein the storage control apparatus identifies completion of the set of I/O requests necessary for an application program on each of the plurality of host computers, in response to the reply message from each of the plurality of host computers.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data I/O request transmitted from the plurality of host computers are controlled in such a manner that each of the plurality of host computers transitions to a disabled state thereby preventing transmission of another data I/O request, in such a manner that each of the plurality of host computers does not transfer an uncompleted part of I/O requests in the set of I/O requests necessary for application program running on each of the plurality of host computers, to the storage control apparatus.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reply message notifies that each of the plurality of host computers does not transmit the data I/O request to the storage control apparatus during execution of the process by the storage control apparatus, wherein reply message is sent to the storage control apparatus based on decision determined by each of the plurality of host computers, wherein the decision includes determination whether set of I/O requests necessary for an application program on each of the plurality of host computers, is completed or not.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reply message includes that a data I/O process performed corresponding to the data I/O request is in a committed state during execution of the process by the storage control apparatus, wherein reply message is sent to the storage control apparatus based on decision determined by each of the plurality of host computers, wherein the decision includes determination whether set of I/O requests necessary for an application program on each of the plurality of host computers, is completed or not.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the file system is Network File System and the data I/O request is a Network File System command, wherein the storage apparatus identifies completion of the set of Network File System commands necessary for an application program on each of the plurality of host computers.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the process is fetching backup of the data stored in the storage device by the storage control apparatus, wherein the storage control apparatus identifies completion of the set of I/O requests necessary for an application program on each of the plurality of host computers, in response to the reply message form each of the plurality of host computers.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the storage control apparatus stores information specifying each of the plurality of host computers as the transmission destination of the message notifying the execution start and the message notifying the execution start is transmitted to the plurality of host computers corresponding to the information, wherein the storage control apparatus identifies completion of the set of I/O requests associated with an application program on each of the, plurality of computers.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the process is complete, the storage control apparatus transmits to each of the plurality of host computers a message notifying the completion of the process.

9. A storage control apparatus connected and capable of communication to a plurality of host computers via communication means, receiving data I/O requests transmitted from the plurality of host computers, and performing a data I/O process corresponding to the requests to a storage device connected to the storage control apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving data I/O requests from each of the plurality of host computers via the communication means to execute a data I/O process corresponding to those requests;

means for transmitting a notification message notifying an execution start of a process when executing a process requiring control of the data I/O request; and

means for executing the process after receiving from all of the plurality of the host computers reply messages in response to the notification message,

wherein the data I/O request is transmitted to the storage control apparatus in a communication system such that the storage control apparatus has no knowledge of the processing state at which the data I/O request is transmitted from each of the plurality of host computers,

wherein the storage control apparatus includes a file system and the data I/O request is a request instructing a data I/O on file basis, and

wherein the storage control apparatus identifies completion of the set of I/O requests necessary for an application program on each of the plurality of host computers, in response to the reply message from each of the plurality of host computers.

10. A computer readable program stored on a storage control apparatus connected and capable of communication to a plurality of host computers via communication means, receiving data I/O requests transmitted from the plurality of host computers, and performing a data I/O process corresponding to the request to a storage device connected to the storage control apparatus, the program comprising:

means for receiving data I/O requests from the plurality of host computers via the communication means to execute a data I/O process corresponding to those requests;

means for transmitting a notification message notifying an execution start of a process when executing a process requiring control of the data I/O request; and

means for executing the process after receiving from all of the plurality of host computers reply messages in response to the notification message,

wherein the data I/O request is transmitted to the storage control apparatus in a communication system such that the storage control apparatus has no knowledge of the processing state at which the data I/O request is transmitted from each of the plurality of host computers,

wherein the storage control apparatus includes a file system and the data I/O request is a request instructing a data I/O on file basis, and

wherein the storage control apparatus identifies completion of the set of I/O requests necessary for an application program on each of the plurality of host computers, in response to the reply message from each of the plurality of host computers.