Patent ID: 7512643
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer system comprising: a storage system; a computer connected to the storage; and a backup management server connected to the storage system and the computer; wherein the storage system includes: a plurality of first storage areas, for storing data used by a plurality of different computers, other than said computer, connected to the storage system via a network; and a plurality of second storage areas, for storing duplicate data obtained by copying the data stored in the plurality of first storage areas, and wherein the backup management server, includes a mounted status managing module which manages the statuses of the first and second storage areas by using a group management table, for managing the plurality of first and second storage areas in correlation with groups and target information mapping the first storage units to the computer and the different computers, and wherein the backup management server further includes a backup managing module which performs backups between the first and second storage areas by using a frequency management table, for managing time information, indicating duplication of data included in the first storage areas of the groups that are to be prepared, and a preparation frequency for the duplication of data and by using a target management table in which the specific first storage area is entered that is the target for the preparation of the duplicate; and wherein the storage device further includes: a controller, for employing the time information, which indicates a time at which to prepare a duplicate of data included in the first storage areas, under the groups in the frequency management table, to determine a specific group, among the plurality of the first storage areas, that is a target for the preparation of the duplicate, to determine an opportunity for preparing duplicate data in a specific first storage area of the first storage areas included in the specific group, to transmit an unmounting request to a specific different computer of the different computers that employ the specific first storage area, and to, when the specific first storage area is unmounted from the specific different computer, mount the specific first storage area on the computer, copy data in the specific first storage area, and store the thus obtained duplicate data in one of the plurality of second storage areas, and wherein, when the controller employs the frequency management table to determine the specific group, among the plurality of first storage areas, that is the target for the preparation of the duplicate, the controller registers in the target management table the plurality of first storage areas included in the specific group, and prepares a duplicate for the specific first storage area entered in the target management table, wherein primary and secondary time information, for preparing duplicates of data included in the first storage areas in the specific group, and frequencies, for preparing data duplicates, are entered in the frequency management table, and wherein, when the copying of data included in the first storage areas, in the specific group, under the primary time information has ended, the controller determines whether data included in the first storage areas, in the specific group, under the secondary time information is to be copied, wherein, when data included in the first storage areas, in the specific group, under the secondary time information is to be copied, the controller designates a plurality of second storage areas that correspond to the plurality of first storage areas, included in the specific group, and copies the data, and wherein, in a case wherein the controller copies data included in the first storage areas, in the specific group, under the secondary time information into the plurality of second storage areas that correspond to the plurality of first storage areas, included in the specific group, the controller includes means for turning on power for the plurality of second storage areas, when it has been determined that back up copying from the first storage areas to the second storage areas is to be performed, means for changing a status of the second storage areas to “mounted” after the power is turned on, means for determining methods, pairs and instructions for performing the copying from the first storage areas to the corresponding second storage areas, after the status of the second storage areas has been changed to “mounted,” means for copying the data from the first storage areas to the corresponding second storage areas, means for changing the status of the second storage areas to “unmounted”, after copying to them has been completed, and means for turning off power to the second storage areas when it has been determined that all copying to the second storage areas from the corresponding first storage areas has been completed.