Patent ID: 8438316

Claim:
A management computer for managing a storage system comprising: a high-level connecting device coupled to the management computer; and an integral apparatus coupled to the high-level connecting device; a computer for executing various processing sequences according to implemented application software; a storage apparatus from or to which the computer reads or writes data; and a low-level connecting device for connecting the computer, the storage apparatus, and the high-level connecting device; wherein the computer, the storage apparatus, and the low-level connecting device may be introduced to, or removed from, the storage system, wherein the management computer stores: integral apparatus internal configuration information indicating a configuration of the integral apparatus; configuration information about an integral apparatus to be introduced, and indicates a configuration of an integral apparatus that may possibly be introduced to the storage system; and utilization rate information indicating the content of usage of the integral apparatus; and is configured to: obtain connectivity guarantee information indicating whether a connection between the computer and the storage apparatus is guaranteed or not; select the integral apparatus to be introduced to the storage system by referring to the integral apparatus internal configuration information, the configuration information about the integral apparatus to be introduced, the connectivity guarantee information, and the utilization rate information; and output information about an integral apparatus to be removed and the selected integral apparatus to be introduced.