Storage system and setting method for storage configuration information

Abstract

Pairs are formed from a plurality of dispersed volumes and copying between the volumes is conducted by a series of remote operations from a management server. A management server 10 instructs the generation of configuration setting files 23, 30 to host computers 20, 30 selected so as to form copy pairs. If the configuration setting files are generated by host agents 21, 31 , the management server 10 instructs copy start to a host computer 20 having a primary volume. The host agent 21 generates a prescribed command via a copy pair control module 22 and causes a storage subsystem 40 to execute copying between the volumes. When copying is completed, the management server 10 acquires the newest storage configuration information from the storage subsystem 40 and updates configuration information DB 12.

1 . A storage system comprising at least one host computer, at least one storage device for providing a memory device to said host computer, and a management computer for managing said storage device, wherein 
 said management computer comprises:    means for acquiring in advance from said host computer storage configuration information that said host computer has; and    change notification means for generating change information for changing said storage configuration information that was acquired in advance and posting it to said host computer; and    said host computer comprises means for instructing a change of configuration to said storage device based on said change information posted from said management computer.    
   
   
       2 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said change information comprises first change information for preparing configuration changes of said storage device and second change information for executing the configuration changes prepared by said first change information;    said change notification means comprises:    first notification means for posting said first change information to said host computer; and    second notification means for posting said second change information to said host computer;    said host computer comprises preparation means for preparing the configuration change to said storage device by generating configuration setting information based on said first change information; and    execution instruction means for instructing the configuration change to said storage device based on said second change information and said generated configuration setting information.    
   
   
       3 . The storage system according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said host computer is provided in a plurality;    said first notification means posts said first change information to each said host computer;    said second notification means post said second change information to the prescribed host computer among said host computers;    each said host computer comprises preparation means for preparing the configuration change to said storage device by generating configuration setting information based on said first change information; and    said prescribed host computer comprises execution instruction means for instructing the configuration change to said storage device based on said second change information and said generated configuration setting information.    
   
   
       4 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein said management computer comprises setting means for setting all or some of the parameters for generating said change information based on said storage configuration information that was acquired in advance.  
   
   
       5 . The storage system according to  claim 4 , wherein the storage configuration relating to all or some of the said parameters set with said setting means is protected.  
   
   
       6 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein said management computer acquires the newest storage configuration information from said storage device when the configuration of said storage device is changed based on said change information.  
   
   
       7 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein said management computer posts the configuration change of said storage device to another host computer which is not a notification object of said change information but is associated with the configuration change of said storage device.  
   
   
       8 . A setting method for storage configuration information, which uses at least one host computer, at least one storage device for providing a memory device to said host computer, and a management computer for managing said storage device, wherein 
 said management computer:    acquires configuration information of said memory device that is provided to said host computer;    generates change information for changing said acquired storage configuration information and posts the generated change information to said host computer; and    said host computer instructs a change of configuration to said storage device based on said change information posted from said management computer.    
   
   
       9 . A program for controlling a management computer connected via a communication network to at least one host computer and at least one storage device for providing a memory device to said host computer, said program serving for the realization of: 
 a function of acquiring in advance from said host computer storage configuration information that said host computer has;    a function of generating change information for changing said storage configuration information that was acquired in advance and posting it to said host computer; and    a function of acquiring the newest storage configuration information from said storage device when the configuration of said storage device is changed by said host computer instructing the configuration change to said storage device based on said posted change information.    
   
   
       10 . A program for controlling a host computer connected via a communication network to a storage device and a management computer for managing said storage device, said program serving for the realization of: 
 a function of transmitting its own storage configuration information to said management computer;    a function of receiving from said management computer change information for changing said transmitted storage configuration information; and    a function of instructing a change of configuration to said storage device based on said received change information.    
   
   
       11 . A storage system comprising a plurality of host computers, at least one storage device for respectively providing a volume to each said host computer, and a management computer for managing said storage device, wherein 
 said management computer comprises:    prior acquisition means for acquiring in advance from each said host computer the volume information that each said host computer has;    selection means for respectively selecting pairs of primary volumes and secondary volumes based on said acquired volume information;    first instruction means for instructing the generation of configuration setting information following said selected contents to a host computer having the selected volume as said primary volume and a host computer having the selected volume as said secondary volume; and    second instruction means for instructing a volume copy to any one of said selected host computers, and    at least each of said selected host computers comprises:    means for generating configuration setting information following said selected contents based on the instruction from said first instruction means; and    means for instructing the volume copy to said storage device based on the instruction from said second instruction means.    
   
   
       12 . The storage system according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 said management computer comprises detection means for detecting, when host computers of a plurality of sets are selected by said selection means, a host computer which takes part in both sides of a plurality of sets, and    said second instruction means instructs to said detected host computer a volume copy that relates to a set in which the host computer takes part.