Patent ID: 8650374
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer system, coupled to a computer, comprising: a first storage system having a plurality of first storage areas for storing the data used by the computer; a second storage system coupled to the first storage system and the computer, the second storage system including a plurality of second storage areas supplied to the computer, the second storage areas including a virtual storage area, the virtual storage area being associated with one of the first storage areas such that to the computer the associated one of the first storage areas appears to be the virtual storage area with which the first storage area is associated; a first management computer coupled to the first storage system and controlling the first storage system and data stored in the first storage areas; and a second management computer coupled to the second storage system and controlling the second storage system and the data stored in the virtual storage area, wherein the first storage system is configured to store first hierarchy information that indicates a correspondence between the first storage areas and the second storage areas, wherein the second storage system is configured to store second hierarchy information that indicates a correspondence between the second storage areas and the first storage areas, wherein the first management computer is configured to transmit identification information of a first manager managing the first storage system and a control request for a setting operation to a given first storage area of the first storage areas to the first storage system, the setting operation being an operation to change the correspondence between a first storage area and a second storage area, wherein the first storage system is configured to receive the identification information of the first manager and the control request from the first management computer, and to determine whether the given first storage area, constituting an object of the control request, is associated with the virtual storage area based on the first hierarchy information, and when the given first storage area is determined to be associated with the virtual storage area, then the first storage system is configured to transmit an approval request to the second storage system to request approval to execute the setting operation which is the subject of the control request wherein the second storage system is configured to receive the approval request, and to transmit the approval request to the second management computer to request a second manager having an approval role to approve the execution of the setting operation, wherein the second management computer is configured to transmit to the second storage system a response to the approval request, the response indicating whether or not execution of the setting operation is approved, and wherein the first storage system is configured to receive the response from the second storage system, and if the response indicates approval of the setting operation, the first storage system is configured to execute the setting operation which is the subject of the control request, otherwise the first storage system is configured to reject the control request for the setting operation.