Patent ID: 8271759

Claim:
A storage system comprising a plurality of storage subsystems, wherein each storage subsystem includes a storage resource and controls access from a host system to the storage resource of the storage subsystem, the storage system comprising: a controller configured to virtualize the plurality of storage subsystems logically into one virtual storage subsystem and execute a first mode of causing the host system to recognize the virtual storage subsystem execute a second mode of causing the host system to recognize the plurality of storage subsystems respectively as separate storage subsystems; and a memory for recording configuration information for setting the first mode or the second mode; wherein, when the first mode is set in the memory, the controller executes the first mode; wherein, when the second mode is set in the memory, the controller executes the second mode, wherein each of the plurality of storage subsystems comprises the controller and the memory, wherein respective memories of the plurality of storage subsystems subject to the first mode record common information, wherein the common information includes an ID that is common to the plurality of storage subsystems subject to the first mode, wherein each of the plurality of storage subsystems subject to the first mode includes a connector for connecting each other; and wherein the connector disables the connection between the plurality of storage subsystems having a different ID.