Storage management method and storage management system

0001The present application claims priority from <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="JP2004075866A"><text>Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2004-075866</text></patcit> filed on March 17, 2004.

0002The present invention relates to a storage management method for a storage subsystem and a storage management system and, particularly, to a technique effectively applied to storage management used when logical resources and physical resources of a single storage subsystem are divided for operation.

0003With recent advance of large amounts of storage subsystem, as observed in utilizing storage service providers, there has been carried out such utilization that a single storage subsystem is shared by a plurality of customers. In this utilization, individual system administrators independently manage resources allocated for each customer.

0004To carry out the utilization with security and efficiency, division management is not implemented by a utilizing method or storage management software, but the storage subsystem itself is such that it has resource-dividing management functions.

0005Conventionally, as a storage management technique for the storage subsystem having such resource-dividing management functions, regarding a service function provided to a user of storage resources from a service provider, <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="JP2002230189A"><text>Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-230189</text></patcit> (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique of a service provision system, which can manage and control the number of users available for the individual service functions of the storage subsystem and the total amount of storage resources used by the service users, thereby imposing appropriate licenses on the service function that the service provider provides to the user.

0006Additionally, <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="JP2002259214A"><text>Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-259214</text></patcit> (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique for controlling access to a storage device, the technique being such that control-system calling access to a data storage device from a host system is controlled by access restriction preset and devices which the access permits to each user and actions which are permitted by the access can be controlled.

0007<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US2001020254A"><text>US 2001/020254 A</text></patcit> discloses a storage system that includes a plurality of storage devices and a data structure, accessible to the storage system, that includes a plurality of records corresponding to a plurality of network devices that are coupled to the storage system. Each record includes configuration data that identifies each of the plurality of storage devices to which data access by a respective one of the plurality of network devices is authorized. Each record may further include visibility data that identifies whether certain types of non-data access, such as requests for general information relating to a respective storage device, by a respective one of the plurality of network devices is permitted, even though data access to the respective storage device by the respective one of the plurality of network devices is not authorized.

0008Conventionally, when a plurality of users manage a storage subsystem having resource-dividing management functions, an access guard of other users to the resources has been made.

0009Also, the configuration information of a disk subsystem is managed using storage management software, and management functions in each resource (such as an input/output port, a physical disk, and a cache memory) of the disk subsystem are individually provided in the form of a program product (hereinafter, referred to as a "P.P.").

0010Further, in the storage subsystem having the resource-dividing management functions, program products that each user uses are different from one another, so that the management of the program products to each user is also required.

0011However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are intended to carry out resource management for end users' servers etc. host-connected to the storage subsystems. The management for the program products provided on a side of managing the storage subsystems is carried out in units of the storage subsystem. Thus, the techniques are not intended to make functional provision by the program products different in division units of the storage subsystems.

0012An object of the present invention is to provide a storage management system, which can utilize more flexible division management by making the functional provision of the program products in division units of the storage susbsystem and can enhance security of the entire system.

0013A storage management method according to an aspect of the present invention partitions a physical resource and a logical resource in a storage subsystem, allocates a management user per division unit, and performs division management of each of said resources, the storage subsystem having a plurality of channel adapters coupled to a host computer and receiving data from the host computer, a cache memory storing data sent from the channel adapters, a plurality of disk adapters receiving data stored in the cache memory, a plurality of physical disks connected to said disk adapters, a shared memory, and a switch for connecting said plurality of channel adapters, said plurality of disk adapters, said shared memory, and said cache memory, characterized in that the storage management method comprises the steps of: storing, in said shared memory in said storage subsystem, a program-product management table showing presence or absence of a program product that provides a configuration-changing function for each of said resources in a division, and for each division, said resources including partitioned channel adapters, a partitioned cache memory, and a storage area of the physical disks; referring to said program-product management table at the time of executing the configuration-changing function by said program product of each of said resources in the division unit of said user in accordance with an instruction from said user; and restricting execution of the configuration-changing function of a resource without said program product.

0014A storage management system according to an aspect of the present invention is arranged to: divide a physical resource and a logical resource in a storage subsystem, allocate a user per division unit, and perform division management of each of said resources, the storage subsystem having a plurality of channel adapters coupled to a host computer and receiving data from the host computer, a plurality of disk adapters, a plurality of physical disks connected to said disk adapters, a shared memory, and a switch for connecting said plurality of channel adapters, said plurality of disk adapters, said shared memory, and said cache memory, characterized in that the storage management system comprises: a cache memory storing data sent from the channel adapters, and a program-product management table stored in said shared memory in said storage subsystem and showing presence or absence of a program product that provides a configuration-changing function of each of said resources in a division unit, and for each division, said resources including partitioned channel adapters, a partitioned cache memory, and a storage area of the physical disks, wherein: the plurality of disk adapters receive data stored in the cache memory, and at the time of executing the configuration-changing function by said program product of each of said resources in the division unit of said user in accordance with an instruction from said user, said storage management system is arranged to refer to said program-product management table to restrict execution of the configuration-changing function without said program-product.

0015In the drawings: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">FIG.1</figref> is a block diagram showing a configuration of a storage management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram showing a configuration of a channel control section in the storage management system according to the embodiment of the invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is an explanatory view for explaining an operation of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is a view showing an example of a program-product management table in the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5</figref> is a view showing an example of a division-resource management table in the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">FIG. 6</figref> is a flowchart showing operations among respective devices in a storage division management processing using the program-product management table in the storage management system according to the embodiment of the invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">FIG. 7</figref> is a flowchart showing operations among respective devices in a program-product setting processing to the program-product management table in the storage management system according to the embodiment of the invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">FIG. 8</figref> is a flowchart showing operations among respective devices in an error processing after receiving a configuration altering request for function having no program product from a management client in the storage management system according to the embodiment of the invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0008">FIG. 9</figref> is a flowchart showing processing after receiving a configuration alteration request from an information processing device serving as a management client in the storage management system according to the embodiment of the invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0009">FIG. 10</figref> is a flowchart showing a processing after reviving a configuration altering request due to in-band from a host side etc. coupled to a port of a channel control section in the storage management system according to the embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

0016Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be detailed based on the drawings. Note that the same members are denoted in principle by the same reference symbol through all the drawings for describing the embodiment and the repetitive explanation thereof will be omitted.

<Configuration of Storage Management System>

0017First, the configuration of a storage management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1. FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram showing the configuration of the storage management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

0018In <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, a storage management system comprises: a storage subsystem 600 including a storage control device 100 and a storage driving device 300; information processing devices 200; information processing devices 210; and a SAN 500.

0019The storage control device 100 comprises a plurality of channel control sections (channel adapter: CHA) 110, a shared memory (SM) 120, a cache memory (CACHE) 130, a plurality of disk control sections (disk adapter: DKA) 140, a connection section 150, and a management terminal (service processor: SVP) 160.

0020The storage control device 100 establishes communication with the information processing devices 1 to 5 (200) via the SAN 500 by using the channel control sections 1 to 8 (110). For example, the storage control device 100 controls the storage driving device 300 in response to commands received from the information processing devices 200. Additionally, after receiving data input/output requests from the information processing devices 1 to 5 (200), the storage control device 100 reads/writes data stored into physical disk drives 330 provided in the storage driving device 300. Further, for example, after receiving various commands from the information processing devices 6 to 8 (210) for managing the storage subsystem 600, the storage control device 100 configures various settings of the storage subsystem 600.

0021The channel control section 110 includes a communication interface for establishing communication with the respective information processing devices 200, and has a function of exchanging data input/output commands etc. with the information processing devices 200.

0022The respective channel control sections 110 and the management terminal 160 are coupled with one another via an internal LAN 151. Thereby, micro-programs etc. to be executed by the channel control sections 110 can be installed by being transmitted from the management terminal 160. The configuration of the channel control section 110 will be described later.

0023The connection section 150 interconnects the channel control sections 110, the shared memory 120, the cache memory 130, the disk control sections 140, and the management terminal 160. Data and commands are exchanged among the channel control sections 110, the shared memory 120, the cache memory 130, the disk control sections 140, and the management terminal 160 via the connection section 150. The connection section 150 comprises a cross-bus switch, for example.

0024The shared memory 120 and the cache memory 130 are storage memories shared by the channel control sections 110 and the disk control sections 140. More specifically, the shared memory 120 is primarily used to store control information and commands, etc. whereas the cache memory 130 is primarily used to store data.

0025For example, if a data input/output request that one of the channel control sections 110 has received from one of the information processing devices 200 is a write command, the above-mentioned channel control section 110 writes the write command into the shared memory 120 and concurrently writes, into the cache memory 130, write data received from the information processing device 200. Meanwhile, the disk control sections 140 monitor the shared memory 120, and, when detecting that the write command is written into the shared memory 120, reads the write data from the cache memory 130 in accordance with the above-mentioned command and writes it into the storage driving device 300.

0026Also, when the data input/output request that the channel control section 110 has received from the information processing device 200 is a read command, the channel control section 110 checks as to whether data to be read-target is present in the cache memory 130 or not. If the data to be read-target is present in the cache memory 130, the channel control section 110 transmits the data to the information processing device 200. Meanwhile, if the data to be read-target is absent in the cache memory 130, the channel control section 110 writes the read command into the shared memory 120 and concurrently monitors the shared memory 120. The disk control section 140, which has detected that the read command is written into the shared memory 120, reads data to be read-target from the storage driving device 300 and writes it into the cache memory 130 and concurrently writes that effect into the shared memory 120. Further, when detecting that the data to be read-target is written into the cache memory 130, the channel control section 110 transmits the data to the information processing device 200.

0027Thus, the data is exchanged between the channel control section 110 and the disk control section 140 via the cache memory 130. The data read/written by the channel control sections 110 and the disk control sections 140 among the data to be stored in the physical disk drives 330 is stored in the cache memory 130.

0028Note that, besides the configuration in which instructions to write/read the data from the channel control sections 110 to the disk control sections 140 are indirectly executed via the shared memory 120, for example, there may also be a configuration in which instructions to write/read the data from the channel control sections 110 to the disk control sections 140 are directly executed without interposing the shared memory 120.

0029Additionally, a structure obtained by adding the channel control section 110 to a function of the disk control section 140 may be used as a data input/output control section.

0030The disk control sections 140 are communicably connected to a plurality of physical disk drives 330 for storing data, thereby controlling the storage driving device 300. For example, as described above, the channel control sections 110 read/write data with respect to the physical disk drives 330, in response to the data input/output requests received from the information processing devices 200.

0031The disk control sections 140 are connected to the management terminal 160 via the internal LAN 151 and thereby can establish communication with one another. For this reason, micro-programs etc. to be executed by the disk control sections 140 can be installed by being transmitted from the management terminal 160.

0032The management terminal 160 is a computer performing maintenance and/or management to the storage subsystem 600. By operating the management terminal 160, for example, an operator can perform: setting of the configurations of the physical disk drives 330 in the storage driving device 300; setting of paths serving as communication paths between the information processing devices 200 and the channel control sections 110; setting of logical volumes; installation of the micro-programs executed in the channel control sections 110 and/or the disk control sections 140; and the like.

0033The setting of the configurations of the physical disk drives 330 in the storage driving device 300 may include, for example, an increase or reduction of the physical disk drives 330, and alteration of configurations of the RAID (alteration of RAID 1 to RAID 5), etc. Additionally, through the management terminal 160, there can be performed various operations which are verification of an operation state of and designation of failure parts in the storage subsystem 600, and installation of operating systems to be executed in the channel control sections 110. The above-mentioned setting and control can be performed, by operators etc., from an interface provided in the management terminal 160 or from user interfaces of the information processing devices 6 to 8 (210) that display Web pages provided by a Web server operating in the management terminal 160. Additionally, by operating the management terminal 160, the operators or the like can perform setting of targets to be fault-monitored, setting of the contents thereof, and setting of a fault-notification destination, etc.

0034Each of the information processing devices 200 is an information processing device such as a computer having a CPU (central processing unit) and a memory. Various functions are implemented through execution of various types of programs by the CPU provided in the information processing device 200. The information processing device 200 may be, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, or a mainframe computer. Each of the information processing devices 1 to 5 (200) is used as, for example, a nucleus computer in an automatic depository/disbursement system in a bank or in an aircraft seat reservation system. The information processing devices 6 to 8 (210) are used as management clients for maintenance and/or management of the storage subsystem 600.

0035In this case, the information processing devices 200 and 210 may be information processing devices 200 and 210 for different users. For example, the information processing devices 1 to 2 (200) and the information processing device 6 (210) may be used as the information processing devices 200 and 210 for a user A; and the information processing devices 3 to 5 (200) and the information processing device 7 (210) may be used as the information processing devices 200 and 210 for a user B. The information processing device 8 (210) may be used as the information processing device 210 for a storage administrator managing the entirety of the storage subsystem 600. The user herein may be, for example, a business enterprise, alternatively a section/department in the business enterprise, still alternatively an individual person.

0036The storage driving device 300 has a large number of physical disk drives 330, whereby mass storage areas can be provided to the information processing devices 200. The physical disk drive 330 may be a storage medium such as a hard disk drive, or may be composed of a plurality of hard disk drives constituting RAIDs (redundant arrays of inexpensive disks) (a plurality of hard disk drives constituting one RAID will be hereafter referred to as an "ECC group").

0037A portion between the storage control device 100 and the storage driving device 300 may be directly connected as shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, or may be connected via a network. Still alternatively, the storage driving device 300 may be configured integrally with the storage control device 100.

0038The information processing devices 1 to 5 (200) are communicably connected to the storage control device 100 via the SAN 500. The SAN 500 is a network used to exchange data between the storage driving device 300 and the information processing devices 1 to 5 (200) in units of a block, which is a management unit of the data in storage resources provided by the storage driving device 300. The communication between the information processing devices 1 to 5 (200) and the storage control device 100, established via the SAN 500, may be performed in accordance with a fiber channel protocol.

0039Of course, portions between the information processing devices 1 to 5 (200) and the storage control device 100 need not be connected via the SAN 500, and may be connected, for example, via a LAN or directly without a network. In the case of connection via the LAN, the portions may be connected communicably in accordance with, for example, a TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol).

0040Or, in the case of direct connection without the network, the portions may be connected communicably in accordance with a communication protocol such as FICON (Fiber Connection) (trademark registration), ESCON (Enterprise System Connection) (trademark registration), ACONARC (Advanced Connection Architecture) (trademark registration), or FIBARC (Fiber Connection Architecture) (trademark registration).

0041Further, the information processing devices 6 to 8 (210) are connected to the storage control device 100 via a LAN 400. The LAN 400 may be the Internet or a dedicated network. For example, the communication between the information processing devices 6 to 8 (210) and the storage control device 100, established via the LAN 400, may be performed in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol.

0042Note that, this embodiment has been described with reference to the configuration in which the shared memory 120 and the cache memory 130 are provided independently of the channel control sections 110 and the disk control sections 140. However, this embodiment is not limited to the above-described configuration, and there may be preferably formed such a configuration that the shared memory 120 or the cache memory 130 is distributed and provided to the individual channel control sections 110 and disk control sections 140. In this case, the connection section 150 interconnects the channel control sections 110 and the disk control sections 140 that have the distributed shared memory 120 or cache memory 130.

0043Additionally, at least any one of the channel control sections 110, the disk control sections 140, the connection section 150, the shared memory 120, and the cache memory 130 may be integrally formed.

0044Further, the management terminal 160 may be built in the storage control device 100 or be externally connected. Alternatively, the management terminal 160 may be a computer dedicated for maintenance and/or management of the storage control device 100 and the storage driving device 300, or be a general-purpose computer to which a maintenance and/or management function is imparted.

<Configuration of Channel Control Section>

0045Next, an example of the configuration of the channel control section 110 will be described with reference to <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2. FIG. 2</figref> is a configuration view showing the configuration of the channel control section 110.

0046In <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, the channel control section 110 is configured as a unitized board having a circuit board 118. Specifically, the channel control section 110 is configured to include one or more circuit boards 118. On each circuit board 118, there are formed a microprocessor (MP) 119, a protocol chip 115, a DMA (direct memory access) 114, a local memory (LM) 117, a memory controller 111, and connectors 116.

0047The protocol chip 115 provides a communication interface function used for establishing communication with the information processing devices 200. For example, in accordance with a fiber channel protocol, the protocol chip 115 receives data input/output requests transmitted from the information processing devices 200, and controls transmission/reception of data. The connector 116 to be connected to the protocol chip 115 constitutes a communication port communicably connected to any one of the plurality of information processing devices 200.

0048The microprocessor 119, the local memory 117, the DMA 114, and the memory controller 111 each receive a data input/output request for data to be stored in the physical disk drive 330 from the information processing device 200 through the communication port, and exchange data, commands, and/or the like among the disk control section 140, the cache memory 130, the shared memory 120, and the management terminal 160, for example.

0049The DMA 114 executes, in response to instructions from the microprocessor 119, transfer of the data transmitted from the information processing devices 200 to the cache memory 130, and transmission of the data stored in the cache memory 130 to the information processing devices 200.

0050The connector 116 to be connected to the DMA 114 is coupled to a connector on a side of the storage control device 100, whereby the channel control sections 110 are electrically connected to the connection section 150 of the storage control device 100 and to the management terminal 160.

0051Note that configurations and operations of individual portions other than those described above, and a basic operation of the storage subsystem 600 are detailed in <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="JP2003400515A"><text>Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-400515</text></patcit>, which is incorporated herein.

<Basic Operation of Storage Management System>

0052Next, a basic operation of a storage management system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <figref idref="f0003 f0004">FIGS. 3 to 5</figref>.

0053<figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is an explanatory view for explaining operations of a storage management system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and shows the simplified configuration in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> for their explanation. <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is a view showing an example of a program-product management table, and <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5</figref> is a view showing an example of a division-resource management table 123.

0054First, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, the present embodiment includes, in the storage subsystem 600, the channel control sections (CHA) 110, the cache memory (CACHE) 130, the disk control sections (DKA) 140, and ECC groups 350 formed by the plurality of physical disk drives 330 each constituting the RAID, wherein respective resources of the ECC groups 350 are divided into three division units (hereinafter each abbreviated as "SLPR"), that is, into Partition A, Partition B, and Partition C so that the shared memory (SM) 120 can be accessed from the respective resources of the SLPRs.

0055The users' Information processing devices 200 to which the SLPRs are individually allocated are connected to ports (PORT) in the channel control sections (CHA) 110 in the individual SLPRs, whereby utilization and management for the respective resources are made in the SLPRs for each user.

0056In the shared memory (SM) 120, there are stored: control configuration information 121 for controlling the storage subsystem 600; a program-product management table 122 in which validity/invalidity of a program product for each SLPR as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is set; and a division-resource management table 123 in which a resource to be managed in each SLPR as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5</figref> is set.

0057The management terminal (SVP) 160 has management configuration information 161 such as a corresponding table showing correspondences between user IDs and the SLPRs.

0058Conventionally, one management table for the program-product information has been defined to cover the entirety of the storage subsystem. However, to implement the independent management functions in each SLPR, the program-product management table 122 is designed so that a division identifier (SLPR A, SLPR B, SLPR C, ...) is set per division unit (SLPR), and is a table capable of setting, as a P.P. flag, P.P. validity/invalidity of each division identifier.

0059In an example shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, individual P.P. functions and P.P. flags each indicating whether the P.P. is valid or invalid (validity: "ON"; invalidity: "OFF") are set in response to the individual division identifiers.

0060In <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, as the P.P. functions, a LUNM function represents PORT management; a CVS function represents DISK management; a DCR function represents CACHE management; and HORC/HRC represents a remote-copy management function.

0061The program-product management table 122 is stored in the shared memory (SM) 120. This is because the program-product management table copes with both of configuration alterations made in response to command requests from the information processing device 200 such as each user's host computer connected to the port (PORT) and configuration alterations made in response to the operations of the management terminal 160 and/or the information processing device 210 connected to the management terminal 160. Thus, since the program-product management table 122 is stored in the shared memory (SM) 120, it can cope with requests for the configuration alterations with enhanced flexibility.

0062Note that, for the sake of explanation, <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> shows the example in which the storage subsystem 600 is divided into the three SLPRs and the channel control section (CHA) 110, the cache memory (CACHE) 130, the disk control section (DKA) 140, and the ECC group 350 are allocated in each SLPR. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may have a configuration in which the storage subsystem 600 is divided into a plurality of SLPRs or in which a plurality of channel control sections (CHA) 110, a plurality of disk control sections (DKA) 140, and a plurality of ECC groups 350 are allocated in one SLPR.

0063Further, the operation, in which resources such as physical resources and logical resources of the storage subsystem 600 are divided based on the SLPRs and the SLPRs are allocated to individual users, is detailed in <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="JP2003030363A"><text>Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-30363</text></patcit>, which is incorporated herein. Additionally, the management of the individual resources in the SLPRs for individual users is detailed in <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="JP2003400515A"><text>Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-400515</text></patcit>.

0064According to the present embodiment, besides the control configuration information 121 for controlling the storage subsystem 600, the program management table 122 in which the P.P. validity/invalidity for each SLPR as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is set is stored in the shared memory (SM) 120. By a program loaded into the microprocessor (MP) 119 in the channel control section (CHA) 110 of each SLPR, each function of the P.P. stored in the local memory (LM) 117 is executed. When the configuration alterations of each resource are made in the storage subsystem 600, the contents of the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 are referenced, whereby the execution of each function in the P.P. is managed.

0065The individual programs loaded into the microprocessor (MP) 119 in the channel control section (CHA) 110 of each SLPR can execute the processing of the functions of all program products available in the storage subsystem 600, and can make configuration alterations for the individual resources in all the SLPRs. Additionally, by referring to the contents of the program-product management table 122 stored into the shared memory (SM) 120 at the time of executing the functions of the P.P., the execution of the program products for each user of the SLPRs is managed, thereby enabling different P.P. settings in the individual SLPRs to be provided.

0066For example, in the example shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, P.P. settings for the individual SLPRs are provided in accordance with the contents of the program-product management table 122 so that, in the partition A of the SLPR A, PORT management function p.p. is present; CACHE management function P.P. is present; DISK management function P.P. is present; and the like. Similarly also in the partition B of the SLPR B and in the partition C of the SLPR C, the P.P. functions are set in accordance with the contents of the program-product management table 122.

0067Thus, the P.P. functions are set for the individual SLPRs. Therefore, when the user of each SLPR operates the management terminal 160 or the information processing device 210 connected to the management terminal 160 and uses the P.P. function to make the configuration alterations etc. of each resource, a set screen for only the P.P. set in the SLPR being used by the user can be displayed for the user.

0068Additionally, when configuration alteration requests for the individual resources from the users have been accepted, a configuration alteration request for a P.P. function other than those set in the SLPR being used by the user may be regarded as a non-settable error.

0069Like this embodiment, the program products can be independently set in the SLPRs. Therefore, for example, DISK utilization pay can be set independently of the division units, or division operation with enhanced flexibility can be made without depending on the resources themselves so that although a HORC function (remote copy function for open-system volume) is permitted, an HRC function (remote copy function for a mainframe-system volume) is not permitted.

0070Accordingly, it is possible to enhance usability of the storage subsystem management and the security of the system operation. Further, since services provided by storage service providers to individual customers can be set in greater detail, the customers can obtain value measured up to standards of the provided services.

<Operation of Storage Division Management>

0071Next, operations of storage division management of a storage management system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <figref idref="f0005 f0006 f0007">FIGS. 6 to 8</figref>. <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 6</figref> is a flowchart showing operations among respective devices in storage division management processing using the program-product management table. <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 7</figref> is a flowchart showing operations among respective devices in the setting processing of program products to the program-product management table. <figref idref="f0007">FIG. 8</figref> is a flowchart showing operations among respective devices in an error processing at the time of receiving, from a management client, a configuration alteration request for a function a program product does not have.

0072First, as operations among the individual devices in the storage division management processing using the program-product management table, as shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 6</figref>, for example, a user of the SLPR A (user ID: USER A) performs a logon operation from the information processing device 210 to be a management client by using management software (Client) on the information processing device 210 (S100).

0073In the information processing device 210, the logon operation by the user (user ID: USER A) is received by the management software (Client). Then, a processing of a program-product information acquisition request is performed through the operations by the user (S101), and the program-product information acquisition request together with logon information is transmitted to the management terminal (SVP) 160 (S102).

0074In the management terminal (SVP) 160, the management software (Server) executes a logon processing for the user, and refers to the corresponding table showing the relation between the user IDs of users and the SLPRs if user's validation is successfully achieved, and specifies the SLPR (SLPR A) of the user (user ID: USER A) (S103).

0075Subsequently, an information request for the P.P. corresponding to the SLPR (SLPR A) specified in S103 is transmitted to the storage subsystem 600 (S104).

0076In the storage subsystem 600, the contents of the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 is referenced from the SLPR (SLPR A) to which the information request for the P.P. has been made from the management terminal (SVP) 160, whereby the P.P. information corresponding to the requested SLPR A is specified (S105).

0077Subsequently, only the P.P. information specified in S105 is returned to the management terminal (SVP) 160 (S106). In the management terminal (SVP) 160, the P.P. information returned from the storage subsystem 600 is verified by the management software (Server), and the P.P. information is returned to the information processing device 210 on which the user has been logged (S107).

0078In the information processing device 210, only the P.P. information returned from the management terminal (SVP) 160 is screen-displayed by the management software (Client), and other P.P. information is guarded (S108). More specifically, when the user of the SLPR (SLPR A) (user ID: USER A) is logged on, only the P.P. function permitted in the SLPR A is displayed on the screen of the information processing device 210. However, the P.P. information not permitted in the SLPR A is not displayed thereon. Accordingly, the user (user ID: USER A) of the SLPR A can operate only the permitted P.P. function from on the information processing device 210.

0079Thus, since management screens of the P.P. functions not permitted in each division unit (SLPR) can be masked, configuration setting errors etc. can be prevented and, consequently, security of the entire system can be enhanced.

0080Additionally, as shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 6</figref>, since the management terminal (SVP) 160 on a side of the management software (Server) has the corresponding table showing the relations between the user IDs and the SLPRs, it on a side of the management client can implement flexible operations without considering the division units (SLPRs).

0081Note that, in this embodiment, the users do not consider the table being managed over the shared memory (SM) 120 of the storage subsystem 600. This is because it is necessary to consider the settings produced in response to command request from a host computer not having a user's concept.

0082In operations between the individual devices in the setting processing of the program products to the program-product management table, as shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 7</figref>, for example, the user of the SLPR A (user ID: USER A) performs a logon operation from the information processing device 210 to be a management client on the management software (Client) (S110).

0083In the information processing device 210, by the management software (Client), the logon operation from the user (user ID: USER A) is received, and a processing for newly adding a P.P. of "HORC" is performed through the user's operation (S111). In this case, the user inputs a code etc. for adding the P.P. issued at the time of purchasing a P.P., whereby it is determined whether the P.P. is added. Then, a additional request for the P.P. codes together with the user's logon information is transmitted to the management terminal (SVP) 160 (S112).

0084In the management terminal (SVP) 160, by the management software (Server), execution of a logon processing for the user is made, and the corresponding table showing the relations between the user IDs of users and the SLPRs is referred to if user validation is successfully achieved, and an SLPR (SLPR A) of the user (user ID: USER A) is specified (S113).

0085Subsequently, an addition request for the P.P. code of "HORC" corresponding to the SLPR (SLPR A) specified in S113 is transmitted to the storage subsystem 600 (S114).

0086In the storage subsystem 600, with respect to the SLPR (SLPR A) to which the addition request for the P.P. code has been issued from the management terminal (SVP) 160, the P.P. flag in the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 is validated (ON) and the P.P. code is added (S115).

0087Also in the case of deleting the P.P. similarly thereto, when there are instructions to delete the P.P. through the user operation, a deletion request for the P.P. code is transmitted to the storage subsystem 600. Then, in the storage subsystem 600, with respect to the SLPR (SLPR A) to which the deletion request for the P.P. code has been issued from the management terminal (SVP) 160, the P.P. flag in the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 is invalidated (OFF) and the P.P. code is deleted.

0088In this manner, by the operations from a side of the management client being used by the user, the function addition/deletion processing of the P.P. of the SLPR being used by the user can easily be performed by validating (ON)/invalidating (OFF) the P.P. flag in the program-product management table 122 stored into the shared memory (SM) 120. After the P.P. flag in the program-product management table 122 has been updated, the management of the P.P. functions in units of the SLPR can be securely performed based on the above-mentioned information.

0089Further, in the example shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 6</figref>, only the function logged on and corresponding to the user is displayed on the screen of the management client operated by the user. Accordingly, the user does not transmit the configuration alteration request for the function having no P.P. from the management client.

0090However, in a case where, for example, the management client is configured by the user program, the configuration alteration request for the function having no P.P. can be received in some cases due to faults etc. of the user program. Additionally, in the storage subsystem 600, there can be received also the configuration alteration instructions due to in-band from, for example, a side of the host connected to the port of the channel control section 110, so that this case is also the same. For this reason, checking presence or absence of the P.P. function at the time of receiving the configuration alteration request is required, by referring to the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory 120 of the storage subsystem 600.

0091For example, as operations among the individual devices in an error processing at the time of receiving the configuration alteration request for the function having no P.P. from the management client, as shown in <figref idref="f0007">FIG. 8</figref>, for example, a user (user ID: USER C) of the SLPR C performs a logon operation from the information processing device 210 to be a management client, by using a user program on the information processing device 210 (S120).

0092In the information processing device 210, the user program receives a log-on operation from the user (user ID: USER C), and a CACHE-setting request processing is performed through the operation by the user (S121). At this time, there is a possibility that the user program will receive a setting request for a P.P. function other than those permitted in the SLPR of the user, so that there is a probability that the CACHE-setting request from the user will be made nothing in the P.P. function permitted in the SLPR of the user.

0093In the management terminal (SVP) 160, by the management software (Server), execution of a logon processing of the user is made, and the corresponding table showing the relations between the user IDs of the users and the SLPRs is referred to if user validation is successfully achieved, and an SLPR (SLPR C) of the user (user ID: USER C) is specified (S123).

0094Subsequently, the CACHE-setting request for the SLPR (SLPR C) specified in S123 is transmitted to the storage subsystem 600 (S124).

0095In the storage subsystem 600, in accordance with the CACHE-setting request from the management terminal (SVP) 160, a verification is performed by referring to the contents of the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 to determine whether the P.P. having a DCR function required for the CACHE setting is set in the SLPR (SLPR C) of the user (S125).

0096As a result of the verification in S125, for example, the P.P. flag of the SLPR (SLPR C) of the user in the program-product management table 122 with respect to the P.P. having the DCR function required for the CACHE setting is invalid (OFF). Therefore, a CACHE non-settable error is returned to the management terminal (SVP) 160 (S126) and, in the management terminal (SVP) 160, by the management software (Server), the CACHE non-settable error returned from the storage subsystem 600 is returned to the information processing device 210 on which the user is logged (S127).

0097In the information processing device 210, by the user program, information on the CACHE non-settable error is screen-displayed, and the user is notified that the requested CACHE setting cannot be executed (S128).

0098Also at the time of receiving configuration alteration instructions due to in-band from, for example, a side of the host connected to the port of the channel control section (CHA) 110 is received similarly thereto, the configuration alteration instructions (e.g., CACHE setting) from, for example, the side of the host are received in the storage subsystem 600 similarly to S124 in <figref idref="f0007">FIG. 8</figref>. Further, similarly to S125 in <figref idref="f0007">FIG. 8</figref>, a verification is performed by referring to the contents of the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 to determine whether the P.P. having the DCR function required for the CACHE setting is set in the SLPR (SLPR C). Similarly to S126 in <figref idref="f0007">FIG. 8</figref>, if the setting is impossible, the non-settable error is returned to the host side.

<Processing in Reception of Configuration Alteration Request>

0099Next, with reference to <figref idref="f0008">FIGS. 9</figref> and <figref idref="f0009">10</figref>, a description will be made of a processing at the time of receiving a configuration alteration request, the processing including an error processing at the time of receiving a configuration alteration request for a function having no P.P. from, for example, a management client or an in-band source. <figref idref="f0008">FIG. 9</figref> is a flowchart showing a processing at the time of receiving a configuration alteration request from an information processing device to be a management client. <figref idref="f0009">FIG. 10</figref> is a flowchart showing a processing at the time of receiving a configuration alteration request due to an in-band from, for example, a side of a host coupled to a port of a channel control section.

0100First, as shown in <figref idref="f0008">FIG. 9</figref>, in the processing at the time of receiving a configuration alteration request from an information processing device to be a management client, the user performs a logon operation from the management client, and transmits a configuration alteration request for a resource from the management client to the management terminal (SVP) 160 through a user operation (S130).

0101In the management terminal (SVP) 160, the corresponding table showing the relations between the user IDs and the SLPRs of the users is referred to by the management software (Server), and an SLPR corresponding to a logged-on user name is specified, and the configuration alteration request is transmitted to the storage subsystem 600 (S131). The configuration alteration request contains information that specifies the SLPR.

0102In the storage subsystem 600, a program loaded into the microprocessor (MP) 119 in the related channel control section (CHA) 110 refers to the division-resource management table 123 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5</figref>, and checks whether the requested resource is a resource in the SLPR (S132). Note that, in the program loaded into the microprocessor (MP) 119, configuration alterations of the resources in all the SLPRs can be made and the execution of the processing of the functions of all the program products can be made.

0103By the check in S132, it is determined whether the requested resource is a resource in the SLPR (S134). If it is determined in S134 that the requested resource is not a resource in the SLPR, a configuration-unalterable error of the requested resource is returned to the management terminal (SVP) 160 and error information on the configuration-unalterable error of the resource is displayed to the management client of the user (S135).

0104If it is determined in S134 that the requested resource is a resource in the SLPR, the contents of the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 are referred to and, thereby, it is checked whether the P.P. permitting the requested configuration alteration is set in the SLPR (S136). For example, in the case of performing a configuration alteration of CACHE, the presence or absence of the P.P. for DCR is checked.

0105By the check in S136, it is determined whether the P.P. permitting the requested configuration alteration is present (S137). If it is determined in S137 that the P.P. permitting the configuration alteration is absent, a P.P.-free error is returned to the management terminal (SVP) 160 and information on the P.P.-free error is displayed in the management client of the user (S138).

0106If it is determined in S137 that the P.P. permitting the configuration alteration is present, the configuration information table of the individual resources in the shared memory (SM) 120 is updated (S139).

0107Additionally, as shown in <figref idref="f0009">FIG. 10</figref>, in the processing at the time of receiving a configuration alteration request due to in-band from, for example, the side of the host connected to the port of the channel control section, the storage subsystem 600 receives the configuration alteration request for the resource from the in-band (S140).

0108As shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5</figref>, the program loaded into the microprocessor (MP) 119 in the related channel control section (CHA) 110 refers to the division-resource management table 123 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120, and checks whether the requested resource is a resource in the SLPR (S141). Note that, in the program loaded into the microprocessor (MP) 119, the configuration alterations of the resources in all the SLPRs can be made and the processing to the functions of all the program products can be executed.

0109By the check in S141, it is determined whether the requested resource is a resource in the SLPR (S142). If it is determined in S142 that the requested resource is not a resource in the SLPR, the configuration-unalterable error of the requested resource is returned to the host side (S143).

0110If it is determined in S142 that the requested resource is a resource in the SLPR, the contents of the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 are referred to and, thereby, it is checked whether the P.P. permitting the requested configuration alteration is set in the SLPR (S144). For example, in the case of performing the configuration alteration of the CACHE, the presence or absence of the P.P. for DCR is checked.

0111By the check in S144, it is determined whether the P.P. permitting the requested configuration alteration is present (S145). If it is determined in S145 that the P.P. permitting the configuration alteration is absent, the P.P.-free error is returned to the host side (S146).

0112If it is determined in S145 that the P.P. permitting the configuration alteration is present, the configuration information table of the individual resources in the shared memory (SM) 120 is updated (S147).

0113Thus, in the program loaded into the microprocessor (MP) 119, the configuration alterations of the resources in all the SLPRs can be made, and the processing to the functions of all the program products can be performed. Whether the actually requested processing is to be executed is determined based on the program-product management table 122 that is managed in the shared memory (SM) 120. by having, on the shared memory (SM) 120, management information such as the program-product management table 122, not only requests from the in-band but also requests from the management software (Server) in the SVP can easily be coped with.

0114Additionally, by checking not only whether the requested resource alteration corresponds to the resource in the SLPR but also whether it is the function permitted by the P.P., it is possible to perform a secure system operation in the division management.

0115Note that, in this embodiment, there has been described the example in which, by the program loaded into the microprocessor (MP) 119 in the channel control section (CHA) 110, the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 is referred to and the individual functions of the program products stored in the local memory (LM) 117 in the channel control sections (CHA) 110 are executed. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may have a configuration in which, by the microprocessor in the resource in each division unit, the program-product management table 122 stored in the shared memory (SM) 120 is referred to and the individual functions of the program products stored in the individual division units are executed.

0116Additionally, in this embodiment, the example in which the user performs the logon operation from the information processing device 210 to be a management client has been described. However, the present invention may have a configuration in which the user directly operates the management terminal (SVP) 160 to be logged on and performs operations similar to those with the management client.

0117According to the present embodiment, since the P.P. functions are set with respect to the individual division units, the functions provided by the program product in each division unit can be implemented, whereby the division management operation with enhanced security can be implemented.

0118Further, when the configuration alterations etc. are performed for the individual resources by using the P.P. functions, the set screen of only the program products set in the division unit being used by the user can be displayed with respect to the user. Consequently, it is possible to enhance security of the entirety of the system.