Patent ID: 7562197
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A virtualization system to be coupled to first and second storage systems which store data written by a host computer, the first and second storage systems presenting at least one storage volume as a storage resource to the virtualization system, the virtualization system presenting at least one virtual volume as a storage resource to the host computer, the virtualization system comprising: a first interface to be coupled to the host computer sending an I/O request; a second interface to be coupled to the first storage system storing data written by the host computer; a third interface to be coupled to the second storage system storing data written by the host computer; and a processor being configured to manage a first storage volume configured with at least one of storage devices in the first storage system as a first virtual volume and to manage a second storage volume configured with at least one of storage devices in the second storage system as a second virtual volume; wherein, when the virtualization system receives an attribute of the first virtual volume with retention period, the virtualization system manages the first virtual volume based on the attribute and the retention information so as to control access to the first storage volume via the first and second interface and further issues a request to change an attribute of the first storage volume to the first storage system, wherein, when the virtualization system receives an attribute of the second virtual volume with retention period, the virtualization system manages the second virtual volume based on the attribute and the retention information so as to control access to the second storage volume via the first and third interface and further issues a request to change an attribute of the second storage volume to the second storage system, wherein the attribute assigned to the at least one of the first storage volume and the second volume cannot be changed within the retention period.