Patent ID: 8046535
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data processing system, comprising: a first storage apparatus; a second storage apparatus that uses the first storage apparatus as an external storage area; at least one or more host computers; at least one or more switches for connecting the first storage apparatus, the second storage apparatus, and the host computer; and a management server for managing the first storage apparatus, the second storage apparatus, and the switches; wherein the first storage apparatus includes one or more physical devices, and a first storage area configured from the one or more physical devices; wherein the second storage apparatus includes one or more physical devices, an external device management unit that sets the first storage area as an external storage area and uses the external storage area as a virtual device, and a storage pool configured from a second storage area configured from the one or more physical devices and the first storage area; and wherein the data processing system further comprises: a creation unit for determining the reliability of the second storage area based on connection information between the first storage area and the second storage area, classifying the first and the second storage areas based on the reliability, and creating the storage pool in the second storage apparatus; and a provision unit for creating a path between the host computer and the second storage apparatus so as to guarantee the same level of reliability as the reliability of the respective storage pools, and providing the second storage area to the host computer.