Patent ID: 8667098

Claim:
A computer system comprising: a first storage apparatus including a first controller including a first storage port and a first storage device; a second storage apparatus including a second controller including a second storage port and a second storage device; a first network coupled to the first storage port and the second storage port to enable communication between the first storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus; a second network coupled to the first storage port and the second storage port and a computer, where the second network transmits an access request including an identifier of a storage port and an access number to the computer system from the computer; and a management system including a memory, a processor, and an input/output device connected to at least the first network, wherein the first controller defines a plurality of first internal logical units (LUs), a part of which is defined using the first storage device, and another part of which is defined using a part of a plurality of second internal LUs; wherein the first controller provides one or more LUs by assigning access numbers to at least one of the first internal LUs; wherein the second controller defines the second internal LUs, part of which is defined using the second storage device, and another part of which is defined using a part of the first LUs; wherein the second controller provides one or more LUs by assigning access numbers to at least one of the second internal LUs; wherein the memory stores management-side storage configuration information about the first storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus, and wherein the memory further stores instructions which instruct the processor to: (1A) receive an LU creation request designating a storage port which is at least one of the first storage port and the second storage port, via the input/output device; (1B) identify a storage apparatus including the designated storage port from the first storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus, based on the management-side storage configuration information; (1C) search an unused area of a storage device in the identified storage apparatus, based on the management-side storage configuration information; (1D) if an appropriate unused area is found, send a request to the identified storage apparatus to provide a new LU from the designated port based on the appropriate unused area in the identified storage apparatus; and (1E) if an appropriate unused area is not found, send a request to the identified storage apparatus to provide a new LU from the designated port based on an unused area in another storage apparatus.