Subsystem replacement method

• US 7,200,729 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Katsunori, Koide, Takeshi, Nagasawa, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Kevin L.
• Application Number:
  US11/170,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 711/112, 711/113, 711/161, 711/165
• US Class Current: 711/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1423 by reconfiguration of paths
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2071 using a plurality of controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2082 Data synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD

Abstract

A storage system which includes a first storage device, and a storage control device connected to a higher level device and the first storage device. The storage control device controls reading or writing of data from or to the higher level device to or from the storage control device. The storage control device can be connected to another storage control device, and can acquire device information of the other storage control device.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a disk array system having a logical volume; and

a relay device, which is coupled to a higher level device, an information processing device and said disk array system, receives a read/write access command from said higher level device to said logical volume, and relays said read/write access command to said disk array system,

wherein said relay device acquires device information of said disk array system from said disk array system, and

wherein said relay device sends said device information to said information processing device when requested by said information processing device.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said relay device sends a request to said disk array system for said device information of said disk array system, and acquires said device information issued by said disk array system in response to said request.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said relay device has a memory,

wherein said relay device sends a request to said disk array system for said device information of said disk array system,

wherein said relay device stores in said memory said device information issued by said disk array system in response to said request, and

wherein said relay device sends said device information to said information processing device when requested by said information processing device.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said relay device relays the read/write access command from said high level device to said disk array system based on setting by an operator.

5. A method for a relay device coupled to a higher level device, to an information processing device, and to a disk array system, said disk array system having a logical volume, said method comprising:

receiving a read/write access command from said higher level device to said logical volume;

relaying said read/write access command from said higher level device to said disk array system;

acquiring device information of said disk array system from said disk array system; and

sending said device information to said information processing device when said relay device is requested by said information processing device.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said relay device sends a request to said disk array system for said device information of said disk array system, and acquires said device information issued by said disk array system in response to said request.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said relay device has a memory,

wherein said relay device sends a request to said disk array system for said device information of said disk array system,

wherein said relay device stores in said memory said device information which is issued by said disk array system in response to said request,

wherein said relay device sends said device information to said information processing device when requested by said information processing device.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said relay device relays the read/write access command from said high level device to said disk array system based on setting by an operator.