Patent ID: 8190789

Claim:
A computer system comprising a management computer for managing the entire system, an integral apparatus, and a high-level connecting device for connecting the management computer and the integral apparatus, wherein the integral apparatus includes: 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; and a set of the computer, the storage apparatus, and the low-level connecting device can be attached to, or removed from, the system; and wherein the management computer retains integral apparatus internal configuration information indicating the configuration of the integral apparatus, configuration information about an integral apparatus to be introduced, that indicates the configuration of the integral apparatus that may possibly be introduced to the system, and lifetime information indicating lifetime of the integral apparatus; obtains connectivity guarantee information indicating whether connectivity between the computer and the storage apparatus is guaranteed or not; selects an integral apparatus to be removed from the system by referring to the lifetime information; selects an integral apparatus to be introduced to the system by referring to the integral apparatus internal configuration information, the configuration information about the integral apparatus to be introduced, and the connectivity guarantee information; and outputs information about the selected integral apparatus to be removed and the selected integral apparatus to be introduced.