Patent ID: 8065305
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A file server which is coupled to a storage apparatus in a communications-capable manner for managing files stored in a plurality of RAID groups, and managing operation time-zones of said RAID groups, said storage apparatus including said plurality of RAID groups each of which is constituted by one or more volumes, said file server, comprising: a memory device; and a processing part, wherein said memory device includes mapping information in which a one-to-one correspondence is established for each file among file name of a file accessed from a client, first file-attribute identification information, and second file-attribute identification information, said first file-attribute identification information being attribute identification information on said file of a file system of a RAID group which manages said file name, said second file-attribute identification information being attribute identification information on said file of said file system of a RAID group in which said file is actually stored, said processing part, when an access request to said file is made from said client, acquiring a user name concerning said access request, and time-and-date of a coupling request/decoupling request to/from said file server, and creating coupling history information for managing coupling history on coupling time-zone for each user name, and memorizing said coupling history information into said memory device; extracting non-coupling time-zone for each user name based on said coupling history information, applying a grouping to said user names for each similar non-coupling time-zone, establishing a mutual relationship between each grouped group name and each grouped user name, and memorizing said mutual relationship result into said memory device as similar-access user group management information; creating non-coupling time-zone management information, and memorizing said information into said memory device, said non-coupling time-zone management information being designed for establishing a mutual relationship between each group name in said similar-access user group management information and said non-coupling time-zone to said file server; extracting an accessible file by retrieving said file-attribute identification management information on said file system on said RAID group from each user name registered in said similar-access user group management information, establishing a mutual relationship between said extracted file and each group name, and memorizing said mutual relationship result into said memory device as similar-access file group management information; determining a RAID group into which said file belonging to each group is scheduled to be stored, and transferring said file included in said similar-access file group management information so that said file will belong to said RAID group determined, and simultaneously updating said mapping information; and, based on said non-coupling time-zone management information, issuing an instruction of applying spin-down to said RAID group during said non-coupling time-zone, and issuing an instruction of applying spin-up to said RAID group during a time-zone which is not said non-coupling time-zone.