Information system and data transfer method

1. An information system, comprising:

a computer as a host system;

a first storage apparatus coupled to said computer and including a first primary volume and a first secondary volume;

a second storage apparatus coupled to said first storage apparatus and said computer and including a second primary volume and a second secondary volume,

wherein said first and second storage apparatuses execute remote copy of copying data written into said first primary volume from said computer to said second primary volume,

wherein at least one of said first and second storage apparatuses executes local copy of copying said data written into said first or second primary volume in a self-storage apparatus to corresponding said first or second secondary volume, and

wherein said computer switches the destination of a write request of said data from said first storage apparatus to said second storage apparatus in case of a failure occurring in said first storage apparatus;

a third storage apparatus coupled to said first storage apparatus and including a third volume constituted of a storage area provided by a mounted Hard Disk Drive (HDD); and

a fourth storage apparatus coupled to said second storage apparatus and including a fourth volume constituted of a storage area provided by a mounted HDD;

wherein said first and second secondary volumes are virtual volumes mapped to said third or fourth volume, and

wherein said first and second storage apparatuses respectively copy said data to be copied to said first or second secondary volume to said third or fourth volume.

2. The information system according to claim 1 , wherein said third storage apparatus is further coupled to said second storage apparatus, and

wherein alternatively only one of said first and second storage apparatuses copies data to be copied to said first or second secondary volume to said third volume.

3. The information system according to claim 2 , wherein said first and second storage apparatuses respectively retain local copy control information for controlling said local copy,

wherein said first storage apparatus notifies update information to said second storage apparatus upon updating said local copy control information, and

wherein said second storage apparatus updates said local copy information in its possession according to a notice from said first storage apparatus.

4. A data transfer method in an information system comprising:

a computer as a host system, a first storage apparatus coupled to said computer, and a second storage apparatus coupled to said first storage apparatus and said computer,

wherein said first storage apparatus includes a first primary volume and a first secondary volume;

wherein said second storage apparatus includes a second primary volume and a second secondary volume;

said data transfer method comprising:

a first step of said first and second storage apparatuses executing remote copy of copying data written into said first primary volume from said computer to said second primary volume, and at least one of said first and second storage apparatuses executing local copy of copying said data written into said first or second primary volume in a self-storage apparatus to corresponding said first or second secondary volume; and

a second step of said computer switching the destination of a write request of said data from said first storage apparatus to said second storage apparatus in case of a failure occurring in said first storage apparatus,

wherein said information system further comprises a third storage apparatus coupled to said first storage apparatus and including a third volume constituted of a storage area provided by a mounted Hard Disk Drive (HDD), and a fourth storage apparatus coupled to said second storage apparatus and including a fourth volume constituted of a storage area provided by a mounted HDD,

wherein said first and second secondary volumes are virtual volumes mapped to said third or fourth volume, and

wherein, at said first step, said first and second storage apparatuses respectively copy said data to be copied to said first or second secondary volume to said third or fourth volume.

5. The data transfer method according to claim 4 , wherein said third storage apparatus is further coupled to said second storage apparatus, and

wherein, at said first step, alternatively only one of said first and second storage apparatuses copies data to be copied to said first or second secondary volume to said third volume.

6. The data transfer method according to claim 5 , wherein said first and second storage apparatuses respectively retain local copy control information for controlling said local copy,

wherein said first storage apparatus notifies update information to said second storage apparatus upon updating said local copy control information, and

wherein said second storage apparatus updates said local copy information in its possession according to a notice from said first storage apparatus.

7. An information system, comprising:

a computer as a host system:

a first storage apparatus coupled to said computer and including a first primary volume and a first secondary volume; and

a second storage apparatus coupled to said first storage apparatus and said computer and including a second primary volume and a second secondary volume,

wherein said first and second storage apparatuses execute remote copy of copying data written into said first primary volume from said computer to said second primary volume,

wherein at least one of said first and second storage apparatuses saves pre-updated data of said first or second primary volume updated following a creation command of a logical snapshot in said first or second secondary volume, and

wherein said computer switches the destination of a write request of said data from said first storage apparatus to said second storage apparatus in case of a failure occurring in said first storage apparatus;

a third storage apparatus coupled to said first storage apparatus and including a third volume constituted of a storage area provided by a mounted Hard Disk Drive (HDD); and

a fourth storage apparatus coupled to said second storage apparatus and including a fourth volume constituted of a storage area provided by a mounted HDD,

wherein said first and second secondary volumes are virtual volumes mapped to said third or fourth volume, and

wherein said first and second storage apparatuses respectively save said data to be saved in said first or second secondary volume in said third or fourth volume.

8. The information system according to claim 7 , wherein said third storage apparatus is further coupled to said second storage apparatus and

wherein alternatively only one of said first and second storage apparatuses saves data to be saved in said first or second secondary volume in said third volume.

9. The information system according to claim 8 , wherein said first and second storage apparatuses respectively retain snapshot management information for managing said snapshot,

wherein said first storage apparatus notifies update information to said second storage apparatus upon updating said snapshot management information, and

wherein said second storage apparatus updates said snapshot management information in its possession according to a notice from said first storage apparatus.

10. A data transfer method in an information system comprising:

a computer as a host system, a first storage apparatus coupled to said computer, and a second storage apparatus coupled to said first storage apparatus and said computer,

wherein said first storage apparatus includes a first primary volume and a first secondary volume;

wherein said second storage apparatus includes a second primary volume and a second secondary volume;

said data transfer method comprising:

a first step of said first and second storage apparatuses executing remote copy of copying data written into said first primary volume from said computer to said second primary volume, and at least one of said first and second storage apparatuses saving pre-updated data of said first or second primary volume updated following a creation command of a logical snapshot in said first or second secondary volume; and

a second step of said computer switching the destination of a write request of said data from said first storage apparatus to said second storage apparatus in case of a failure occurring in said first storage apparatus

wherein said information system further comprises:

a third storage apparatus coupled to said first storage apparatus and including a third volume constituted of a storage area provided by a mounted Hard Disk Drive (HDD), and

a fourth storage apparatus coupled to said second storage apparatus and including a fourth volume constituted of a storage area provided by a mounted HDD,

wherein said first and second secondary volumes are virtual volumes mapped to said third or fourth volume, and

wherein, at said first step, said first and second storage apparatuses respectively save said data to be saved in said first or second secondary volume in said third or fourth volume.

11. The data transfer method according to claim 10 , wherein said third storage apparatus is further coupled to said second storage apparatus; and

wherein, at said first step, alternatively only one of said first and second storage apparatuses saves data to be saved in said first or second secondary volume in said third volume.

12. The data transfer method according to claim 11 , wherein said first and second storage apparatuses respectively retain snapshot management information for managing said snapshot,

wherein said first storage apparatus notifies update information to said second storage apparatus upon updating said snapshot management information, and

wherein said second storage apparatus updates said snapshot management information in its possession according to a notice from said first storage apparatus.