Patent ID: 7380004

Claim:
A storage system connected to a computer through a network for receiving a variety of commands from said computer to perform a data input/output process with said computer, said storage system comprising: a plurality of first interfaces for receiving a variety of commands from said computer; a storage device for storing data; a second interface for communicating data with said storage device; a plurality of processors, each for performing a data input/output process via one of said plurality of first interfaces previously assigned thereto, in response to a received command; a management unit responsive to a request from an administrator for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system, each said configuration including an assignment of one of said plurality of processors and the first interface assigned thereto; and an interconnection for connecting said first interfaces, said second interface, said processors, and said management unit to one another, wherein, in response to said request from said administrator, said management unit configures said storage system for data input/output via one of said plurality of first interfaces and one of said plurality of processors, by selecting an unassigned first interface from among said plurality of first interfaces for use in the data input/output process between said computer and said storage device, and selecting and assigning to the selected first interface a processor from among said plurality of processors which meets required performance of said computer entered by said administrator, for use in said data input/output process.