Patent ID: 7409514

Claim:
In a case where one or more servers that control first shared data that is shared by a plurality of clients, and a plurality of network attached storages (NAS) that store a plurality of sets of second shared data, are provided, an hardware apparatus comprising: a first input part that receives from the respective servers server state information that indicates information relating to a utilization state of first shared data in the respective servers, wherein the utilization state of first shared data is information that is produced by said servers based on updating of selling information relating to data sharing in the servers; a second input part that receives NAS state information that indicates information relating to a utilization state from the plurality of NAS connected to a network, wherein the utilization state from the plurality of NAS is information that is produced by said plurality of NAS, based on updating of setting information relating to data sharing in the plurality of NAS; a monitoring part which monitors the setting information relating to the data sharing in the servers and the setting information relating to the data sharing in the plurality of NAS; and a selection part which, when the utilization state of said first shared data or said utilization state of said second shared data is updated, compares said input server state information and NAS state information to each other, selects which data among said plurality of first shared data or said plurality of second shared data is to be taken as the data that is the object of migration on the basis of the comparison results, further selects as a data migration destination, a server or NAS from said one or more servers or said plurality of NAS, and outputs information relating to the results of this selection.