Centralized storage management method

Abstract

Data states of storage apparatuses are managed. When a storage apparatus is allocated from a storage pool to a computer, management information written in the storage apparatus is erased if the data state of the storage apparatus is unknown. When the storage apparatus becomes unnecessary and is restored to the storage pool, the management information is also erased. Further, when the storage apparatus is allocated to the computer, a level of confidentiality is set. When the storage apparatus is restored to the storage pool, data in the storage apparatus is automatically erased according to the set level of confidentiality.

1 .- 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A storage system comprising: 
 a plurality of storage apparatuses storing data; and    a storage controller which transmits and receives said data between an external computer and said plurality of storage apparatuses, and controls said plurality of storage apparatuses;    wherein logical devices each representing a logical storage area are defined on said plurality of storage apparatuses;    wherein when one of said plurality of logical devices is in a state of allocation to said external computer, said storage controller performs a processing for initialization to the logical device being allocated to the external computer.    
   
   
       20 . A storage system according to  claim 19 , wherein said initialization processing is a processing for initialization of a management area of the logical device being allocated to said external computer.  
   
   
       21 . A storage system according to  claim 20 , wherein said initialization of the management area is a processing to write zero into a head sector of the logical device being allocated to said external computer.  
   
   
       22 . A storage system according to  claim 19 , wherein said initialization processing is a processing for initialization of a data storage area of the logical device being allocated to said external computer.  
   
   
       23 . A storage system according to  claim 22 , wherein said initialization of the data area is a processing to write zero into the data storage area of said logical device being allocated to said external computer.  
   
   
       24 . A storage system according to  claim 19 , wherein said initialization of the logical device being allocated to said external computer is performed according to an input content which is input from a managing apparatus connected to said storage system before said initialization, 
 wherein said input content is information of a “high” level or a “low” level representing a degree of importance of data stored in the logical device being allocated to said external computer, and    when the “high” level information is input said initialization processing is initialization of a data storage area of the logical device being allocated to said external computer, while when the “low” level information is input said initialization processing is initialization of a management area of the logical device being allocated to said external computer.    
   
   
       25 . A storage system according to  claim 24 , wherein said initialization of the management area is a processing to write zero into a head sector of the logical device being allocated to said external computer.  
   
   
       26 . A storage system according to  claim 24 , wherein said initialization of the data area is a processing to write zero into the data area of the logical device being allocated to said external computer.  
   
   
       27 . A storage system according to  claim 19 , wherein said initialization of the logical device being allocated to said external computer is controlled according to information representing a degree of importance of data stored in the logical device allocated to said external computer, said information being input from a managing apparatus connected to said storage system, and 
 wherein when said information representing the degree of importance of data is not input from said managing apparatus, said initialization is initialization of a data storage area of the logical device being allocated to said external computer.    
   
   
       28 . A storage system according to  claim 27 , wherein said initialization of the data storage area is a processing to write zero into the data storage area of the logical device being allocated to said external computer.