US 7,373,455 B2
Storage system and storage system control method in which storage areas can be added as needed
Yutaka Watanabe, Odawara (Japan); Masanobu Yamamoto, Odawara (Japan); and Takashi Kaga, Odawara (Japan)
Assigned to Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/258,033.
Claims priority of application No. 2005-255459 (JP), filed on Sep. 02, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0055704 A1, Mar. 08, 2007
Int. Cl. G06F 12/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 711—114 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A storage system for performing data processing corresponding to a request from an upper level apparatus, in which a storage control apparatus is connected communicably to another storage control apparatus that is different from said storage control apparatus,
wherein said storage control apparatus comprises:
a first volume constructed virtually;
a second volume for storing data targeted at said first volume;
a management unit for managing the relationship between a storage space of said first volume and a storage space of said second volume;
a third volume generated in association with a storage area provided in said other storage control apparatus; and
a control unit for performing data input/output to and from said second volume based on an access request issued by said upper level apparatus in relation to said first volume, and in a predetermined case, storing first volume data, which are stored in said second volume, in said third volume.