File management system

• US 20080281882A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hitoshi, Nakamoto, Makoto, Hachio, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems

Abstract

Since both a physical storage place and a logical storage place in a storage system are separately managed as a directory structure, or a hierarchical structure, even in such a case that the physical storage place has been changed, the logical storage place which is displayed to the user is not changed, and thus, the user can use the file while the user need not become aware of the change of the file. When the contents of a file is displayed, a physical storage destination of the file is acquired based upon both a reference path and a relative path of the file, and then, the file is acquired from the physical storage destination.

Claims

1. A data managing method for managing data in a data storage structure of a first storage apparatus, the data storage structure including a first storage structure and a second storage structure, the method comprising:

displaying the first storage structure to a user,

wherein the respective first storage structure and the second storage structure correspond to storage structures managed by different systems, and

wherein the first storage structure is a logical storage structure and the second storage structure is a physical storage structure;

storing information in a second storage apparatus,

wherein said information establishes a correspondence relationship between first information which indicates a logical storage place of data by said first storage structure, and second information which indicates a physical storage place of said data by said second storage structure;

selecting data which satisfies a predetermined storage destination changing condition for changing a storage destination;

moving said selected data from a logical storage place in said first storage structure to a new logical storage place designated by said storage destination changing condition;

changing said second information into information which indicates a new physical storage place after said data has been moved; and

storing said information that establishes a correspondence relationship between said first information and said changed second information in said second storage apparatus.

2. The data managing method of claim 1, further comprising:

when an instruction for deleting data is received, deleting said data from said first information, whereas said data is not deleted from said second information.

3. The data managing method of claim 1, wherein both said first storage structure of the data and said second storage structure of the data have been managed as paths respectively.

4. The data managing method of claim 3, further comprising:

when a value which is calculated based upon information as to a plurality of data under a predetermined path satisfies a predetermined storage destination changing condition, moving said plurality of data under said path, which satisfies said storage destination changing condition, from the physical storage place in said second storage structure to a new physical storage place under such a path which is designated by said storage destination changing condition;

in said corresponding information, changing said second information into information which indicates the new physical storage place after said data has been moved; and

storing information for establishing said correspondence relationship between said first information and said changed second information in said second storage apparatus.

5. The data managing method of claim 4, wherein said first storage apparatus and said second storage apparatus are the same storage apparatus.

6. The data managing method of claim 4, wherein the storage place before said data is moved corresponds to a storage apparatus owned by a first storage system, and the storage place after said data is moved corresponds to a storage apparatus which is owned by a second storage system connected to the first storage system.

7. A data managing method for managing data in a data storage structure of a first storage apparatus, the data storage structure including a first storage structure and a second storage structure, the method comprising:

displaying the first storage structure to a user,

wherein the respective first storage structure and second storage structure correspond to storage structures managed by different systems, and

wherein the first storage structure is a logical storage structure and the second storage structure is a physical storage structure;

accepting a designation of a logical storage place of a data in said first storage structure;

selecting, based on information of said data, a physical storage place in said second storage structure, which satisfies a predetermined condition;

storing said data in said selected physical storage place;

storing information in a second storage apparatus,

wherein said information establishes a correspondence relationship between first information which indicates said selected physical storage place in said second storage structure, and second information which indicates said designated logical storage place in said first storage structure;

managing said second storage place by a path;

selecting, based on the information of said data, a path which satisfies said predetermined condition; and

storing in a place under said selected path, wherein said place under said selected path is used as a new physical storage place in said second storage structure.

8. The data managing method of claim 7, wherein said first storage apparatus and said second storage apparatus are the same storage apparatus.

9. A data managing system for managing data, comprising:

a first storage apparatus;

a second storage apparatus; and

a file move processing unit,

wherein the first storage apparatus includes a data storage structure, and

wherein said data storage structure comprises;

a first storage structure which is displayed to a user; and

a second storage structure which is used for a managing purpose,

wherein the respective first storage structure and second storage structure correspond to storage structures managed by different systems,

wherein the first storage structure is a logical storage structure and the second storage structure is a physical storage structure,

wherein said second storage apparatus stores information in said second storage apparatus,

wherein said information establishes a correspondence relationship between first information which indicates a logical storage place of data by said first storage structure, and second information which indicates a physical storage place of said data by said second storage structure,

wherein said file move processing unit selects data which satisfies a predetermined storage destination changing condition,

wherein said selected data is moved from said physical storage place in said second storage structure to a new physical storage place designated by said storage destination changing condition,

wherein said second information is changed into information which indicates the new physical storage place after said data has been moved, and

wherein information for establishing a correspondence relationship between said first information and said changed second information is stored in said second storage apparatus.

10. The data managing system of claim 9, further comprising:

a display apparatus for displaying said first information and said second information in correspondence with each other based upon said corresponding information.

11. The data managing system of claim 10, wherein both said first storage structure of the data and said second storage structure of the data have been managed as paths respectively.

12. The data managing system of claim 11,

wherein said file move processing unit, when a value which is calculated based upon information regarding a plurality of data under a predetermined path satisfies a predetermined storage destination changing condition, moves said plurality of data under said path, which satisfies said storage destination changing condition, from the physical storage place in said second storage structure to a new physical storage place under a path designated by said storage destination changing condition,

wherein in said corresponding information, said second information is changed into information which indicates the new physical storage place after said data has been moved, and wherein information for establishing a correspondence relationship between said first information and said changed second information is stored in said second storage apparatus.

13. The data managing system of claim 12, wherein said first storage apparatus and said second storage apparatus are the same storage apparatus.

14. A data managing system for managing data, comprising:

a first storage apparatus;

a second storage apparatus; and

a file storage processing unit,

wherein said first storage apparatus includes a data storage structure,

wherein said data storage structure comprises;

a first storage structure which is displayed to a user; and

a second storage structure which is used for a managing purpose,

wherein the respective first storage structure and second storage structure correspond to storage structures managed by different systems,

wherein the first storage structure is a logical storage structure and the second storage structure is a physical storage structure,

wherein said file storage processing unit accepts a designation of a logical storage place of a data in said first storage structure,

wherein a physical storage place in said second storage structure is selected based on information of said data, which satisfies a predetermined condition,

wherein said data is stored in said selected physical storage place,

wherein said information is stored in a second storage apparatus,

wherein said information establishes a correspondence relationship between information which indicates said selected physical storage place in said second storage structure, and information which indicates said designated logical storage place in said first storage structure,

wherein said second storage place is managed by a path,

wherein said file storage processing unit selects a path which satisfies said predetermined condition, and

wherein said file storage processing unit designates a place under said selected path as a new physical storage place in said second storage structure, and stores said data in said designated logical storage place.

15. The data managing system of claim 14, wherein said first storage apparatus and said second storage apparatus are the same storage apparatus.