Patent ID: 6883073

Claim:
A data replication method for a computer system which includes at least one storage device including plural physical volumes and a controller, and an apparatus including first correspondence information between a virtualized volume and a physical volume included in the virtualized volume, said data replication method comprising steps of: in said apparatus, receiving a data replication request designating a virtualized volume from a computer; in said apparatus, identifying at least one storage device including a physical volume corresponding to said virtualized volume by referring to the first correspondence information; in said apparatus, sending to the specified storage device a replication request designating said virtualized volume; in a storage device, receiving a replication request designating said virtualized volume from said apparatus; in said storage device, identifying at least one source physical volume corresponding to said virtualized volume, by referring to second correspondence information between a virtualized volume and a physical volume included in the virtualized volume, said second correspondence information is included in said storage device; in said storage device, identifying at least one target physical volume corresponding to said at least one source physical volume; and in said storage device, copying data stored in said at least one source physical volume to said at least one target physical volume.