Patent ID: 7337299
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A storage apparatus comprising: a storage unit; and a controller, wherein control of inputting/outputting data from/to a device provided in said storage unit is executed in accordance with a request from an external device connected via a communication means, a side of said external device handles a virtual device for an access to an actual device handled in a side of the storage apparatus, retains a virtual device address for an access to said virtual device, specifies the actual device to be mounted or unmounted to said virtual device, and issues an access request for data input/output by specifying said virtual device address with respect to said virtual device, and said controller performs: a process for mapping an actual device address to said virtual device address, in accordance with specification of the actual device to be mounted or unmounted to said virtual device on said external device side, and storing and retaining mapping information obtained from the mapping in a first table; and a data input/output process for receiving, from said external device side, an access request for data input/output in which said virtual device address is specified, obtaining the actual device address mapped to said specified virtual device address in said first table, and accessing the actual device by said obtained actual device address.