Information processing system and method

The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method suitable for use, for example, a RAID (Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks) device. Specifically, it enables efficient replacement (update) of microprograms provided in the processor of the input / output port of the storage device forming the information processing system without stopping the application business on the host computer. It is a thing.

In a conventional storage device, for example, a RAID device, in order to replace a microprogram without interruption, it has been proposed to provide a dedicated spare port to be used at the time of replacement (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, there is also a means to eliminate concentration on some paths and facilitate data transfer by making two or more connection paths between the host computer and the storage device and alternating them to distribute data. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Further, in a device having a plurality of processors, a means for blocking one of them and exchanging microprograms while the other processor is operating has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

However, none of the above-mentioned patent documents describes anything about automating and efficiently performing program exchange as in the present invention.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-131897</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-62499</text></patcit><patcit num="3"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-221309</text></patcit>

<p> In a storage device used in a conventional information management system, for example, a RAID device, the configuration shown in FIG. 15 is used. That is, FIG. 15 shows the overall configuration of the system when, for example, a RAID device is applied to a so-called SAN (Storage Area Network) environment.</p><p> As shown in FIG. 15, in this system, for example, a RAID device (storage device) 104 is connected to two host computers 101 and 102 through a connection unit 103 provided with a switching means for constructing a SAN environment. There is. A plurality of equivalent devices are provided in the connection unit 103, and they are connected to each other to form a network. As a result, the RAID device 104 can be connected to the above-mentioned host computers 101, 102, and other host computers.</p><p> The RAID device 104 is provided with a plurality of (two in the figure) input / output ports 111 and 112, each of which is connected to the connection unit 103. Specific addresses (for example, WWN = World Wide Name) are provided for each of these input / output ports 111 and 112, and these addresses enable access from host computers 101, 102, and the like. ..</p><p> Further, in the RAID device 104, the input / output ports 111 and 112 are connected to a large number of hard disk drive device groups 113. Then, when access from the host computers 101, 102, etc. is requested, a part in the hard disk drive device group 113 is selected according to the attribute information preset in each input / output port 111, 112, and data is input to that part. Output is done.</p><p> By the way, in such a RAID device 104, for example, a processor is provided in each of the input / output ports 111 and 112, and control such as data input / output is performed according to a microprogram provided in these processors. As for these microprograms, it is always required to deal with new data and the like, and replacement (update) of such microprograms is required.</p><p> That is, in a RAID device, the exchange of microprograms is an indispensable element. Therefore, in order to exchange such microprograms, conventionally, for example, a method of systematically stopping the application business of the host computer and concentrating on this stop period has been adopted. However, in recent years, non-stop operation of storage devices has been required, and microprogram replacement is also required to be performed in an operating state.</p><p> On the other hand, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a spare port equivalent to the input / output ports 111 and 112 is newly provided. Then, when exchanging the microprogram, all the functions of the input / output port to be exchanged are transferred to the spare port, and the application of the host computer is continued to be executed through this spare port. I try to exchange it.</p><p> However, providing such a spare port requires an extra configuration, which complicates the connection with the host computer and the connection in the RAID. Even if such a spare port is used, the switching work is performed manually. For example, a service engineer or a maintenance manager may go to the installation location of the RAID device to perform the work. It requires a great deal of labor and cost.</p><p> Further, in Patent Documents 2 and 3, a means for facilitating data transfer by providing a path for replacement and a microprogram exchange in a state where one of a plurality of processors is blocked and the other processor is operating. Although means for doing so have been proposed, Patent Document 3 also states that the application of the host computer connected to the blocked processor is stopped, and these operations must be performed manually.</p><p> Further, especially in a RAID device, since the correspondence relationship between the input / output port and the internal hard disk drive device group is artificially constructed, there is a problem that the correspondence relationship cannot be grasped unless the person is familiar with the device itself. , It has been difficult to automate the work of exchanging microprograms, which is performed by stopping the functions of the input / output ports at any time. For this reason, the replacement of the microprocessor in the conventional RAID device has been performed manually.</p><p> The present invention has been made in view of these points, and the problem to be solved is that, firstly, in the conventional device, the microprogram is replaced without stopping the operation of the storage device. In order to do so, it is necessary to provide an extra configuration such as a spare port, and the second problem is that the replacement of microprograms requires manual work, which is automated by conventional equipment. It means that it could not be done.</p>

<p> Therefore, in the present invention, it is an information processing system including a host computer, a storage device, and a management server, and the host computer uses its own plurality of adapters and a plurality of host-side ports of the storage device by using an alternate path program. Whether or not the communication path is secured when the storage device stores information about the communication path in the shared memory and the internal management device of the storage device blocks at least one of multiple processors. Is determined, and when it can be secured, the internal management device notifies the management server that the processor subject to the determination can be blocked.</p>

<p> According to this, the processors of the plurality of host-side ports of the storage device can be sequentially blocked to exchange the microprograms, and the microprograms of the storage device can be exchanged without interruption.</p><p> As a result, in the conventional device, in order to replace the microprogram without stopping the operation of the storage device, it is necessary to provide an extra configuration such as a spare port, and the replacement of the microprogram is manually performed. According to the present invention, these problems can be easily solved, although work is required and this cannot be automated by a conventional device.</p>

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, and FIG. 1 shows the information management system according to the present invention, and the program exchange program, program exchange method, storage device, and management used in the system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the information management system which applied the server apparatus. Note that FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in a DAS (Direct Attach Storage) environment in which a storage device is directly connected to one host computer for basic explanation.

In FIG. 1, the host computer 1 is provided with a plurality of path adapters 11 and 12 (two in the figure), and connection paths 2 and 3 are connected to these path adapters 11 and 12, respectively. Further, the host computer 1 is provided with the alternate path software 13 as disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example, in consideration of the balance of the access amount of the connection paths 2 and 3 and the case where a failure occurs in the connection path. , Connection paths 2 and 3 are automatically selected. Further, in order to perform these processes, a database 14 showing the connection destinations of the connection paths 2 and 3 is provided.

On the other hand, the configuration of the RAID device as the storage device 4 is divided into a plurality of clusters 21 and 22 (two in the figure) according to, for example, the power supply system. In that case, each of the clusters 21 and 22 is provided with a plurality of input / output ports. Although such clusters 21 and 22 do not exist in actual hardware, they are shown as representatives of the input / output ports included in these clusters 21 and 22 for the convenience of the explanation described later. I will do it. Therefore, the invention is equivalent even if these clusters are read as input / output ports.

Then, the input / output ports of the clusters 21 and 22 described above are connected to the connection paths 2 and 3, respectively. A specific address (for example, WWN = World Wide Name) is provided for each of the input / output ports included in the above-mentioned path adapters 11 and 12 and the clusters 21 and 22, and the host computer 1 is determined by the address. Access is controlled by the alternate path software 13.

Further, the input / output ports of these clusters 21 and 22 are connected to a large number of hard disk drive devices 23. Here, attribute information for selecting a part in the hard disk drive device group 23 is set in advance in each input / output port. Further, an internal management device 24 for making such a setting is provided, and the internal management device 24 is provided with a database 25 indicating the connection destination of each input / output port.

Therefore, in such a system, when the storage device 4 is accessed in the application business of the host computer 1, the alternation path software 13 first determines the balance of the access amount and the failure of the connection path to connect. Paths 2 and 3 are selected. Then, access is performed through the selected connection paths 2 and 3, and data is input / output to a part of the hard disk drive device group 23 selected by the input / output ports of the access destination clusters 21 and 22.

Then, in such a system, the exchange (update) of the microprocessors provided in the input / output ports of the clusters 21 and 22 is performed as follows.

That is, in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the management server device 5 is provided separately, and the management server device 5 is provided with the alternate path software 13 of the host computer 1 and the storage device via the LAN (Local Area Network) 6. It is connected to the internal control device 24 of 4. Further, the management server device 5 is provided with a program exchange program (software) 31 and an updated version of the microprogram 32 to be exchanged.

Further, a computer device 33 as a client is connected to the management server device 5, and an updated version of the microprogram 32 is supplied and an instruction to start the microprogram exchange program 31 is given through the computer device 33. A specific address (for example, WWN = World Wide Name) is also provided in the management server device 5, and access is performed via LAN6 by that address.

Therefore, in this system, the exchange of the microprocessor 32 is performed by invoking the program exchange program 31. Then, in this program exchange program 31, for example, a program exchange process is performed by a sequence as shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 2 shows the mutual operation between the alternation path software 13 of the host computer 1 and the internal management device 24 of the storage device 4 centering on the management server device 5.

In FIG. 2, in step (1), the address of the management server device 5 is notified to the internal management device 24. First, the IP addresses of both are set in order to communicate between the management server device 5-internal management device 24. As a result, information can be transmitted and received, and the configuration information of the RAID device from the internal management device 24, specifically, each port number as RAID internal information, the device number of the hard disk drive device group 23 existing under each port, etc. The address of the pass adapter connected to each port is obtained as external information. It should be noted that these pieces of information have a data structure as shown in FIG. 3, and are stored in, for example, the database 25 of the storage device 4.

Next, in step (2), the host computer 1 notifies the management server device 5 that the alternation path software 13 is operating on the host computer 1. In order to communicate between the management server device 5-host computer 1, set the IP addresses of both in advance. As a result, information can be transmitted and received, and information such as the configuration information of the host computer 1, specifically the address of the bus adapter, and whether or not the alternation path software 13 is operating is obtained. Note that this information has a data structure as shown in FIG. 3, and is stored in, for example, the database 14 of the host computer 1.

With the above steps (1) and (2) as preparations, the work of exchanging the microprogram is started. In FIG. 2, the sequence below step (3) shows the case where the blocked port is managed under the initiative of the management server (when both configurations are first viewed and possible combinations are calculated).

Therefore, in step (3), all the addresses of the input / output ports of the target clusters 21 and 22 are checked, and it is checked whether the alternation path software 13 is operating on all the host computers 1 in which the addresses exist. Although the embodiment of FIG. 1 shows a DAS environment, the SAN environment is considered in this procedure (3). Then, in this procedure (3), if there is a host computer on which the replacement path software is not installed, automatic processing is impossible and the processing is interrupted.

In step (4), a combination that can be blocked is searched. Here, the minimum procedure described later is adopted so that the number of microprogram replacement instructions is as small as possible. Further, in this procedure (4), if there is no blockable combination, the automatic processing is impossible and the processing is interrupted. That is, when the processing is interrupted in these procedures (3) and (4), the automatic processing cannot be performed, so that the same manual work as before is performed.

If automatic processing is possible, step (5) notifies which port is blocked (whether to target microprogram replacement), and step (6) notifies the start of microprogram replacement (). Notify the information of the part where the path is blocked). Then, in step (7), the replacement path software 13 on all the corresponding host computers 1 is called, and the path is replaced. That is, the connection path connected to the blocked part is suspended and switched to another connection path.

When this pass change is completed, a notification of pass exchange completion (OK / NG notification) is sent from the change path software 13 to the management server device 5 in step (8). Further, in step (9), the notification of the completion of the path change (OK / NG notification) is sent from the management server device 5 to the internal management device 24. In the case of NG here, automatic processing is not possible, processing is interrupted, and at the same time, if there are already paused connection paths, those connection paths are restored.

Then, in step (10), the microprogram exchange is carried out. That is, after confirming that the path change is normally performed, the microprogram is updated for the obstructed site. Further, in step (11), the completion of the microprogram exchange is notified. That is, when the update of the microprogram is completed, a completion notification is sent to the management server device 5.

When the completion of the microprogram update is notified by this, the process of recovering the connection paths 2 and 3 is instructed in step (12). That is, the management server device 5 issues an instruction to restore the path to the alternate path software 13. When the path recovery is completed in step (13), a notification of the completion of path recovery is sent in step (14).

Further, such steps (3) to (14) are sequentially performed for each of the clusters 21 and 22 that are the targets of the microprogram update. Then, when the update of the microprograms of all the input / output ports of each of the clusters 21 and 22 is completed, the processing of updating the entire microprogram is completed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the port capable of stopping the input / output can be set by searching the databases of the host computer and the storage device and automatically performing the input / output stop in cooperation with the alternate path function on the host computer side. By setting the ports, the set input / output ports can be stopped in order to replace the microprograms, and the microprograms of the storage device can be automatically replaced without stopping.

As a result, in the conventional device, it is necessary to provide an extra configuration such as a spare port in order to replace the microprogram without stopping the operation of the storage device, and the replacement of the microprogram is a manual operation. However, according to the present invention, these problems can be easily solved, which could not be automated by the conventional apparatus.

Further, FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the sequence of processing the program exchange by the program exchange program 31. In FIG. 5, the procedures (1) and (2) as preparations are the same as those in FIG. Then, in FIG. 5, the sequence below step (3) shows the case where the blocked port is managed under the initiative of the internal management device 24 of the RAID device. According to the sequence of FIG. 5, the load on the internal control device 24 increases, but the procedure can be simplified and the performance can be improved.

First, in step (3), the internal management device 24 notifies the management server device 5 of a list of which ports are to be blocked (whether to be the target of microprogram exchange). Here, we will start with a simple combination in consideration of performance. That is, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the clusters 21 and 22 are first divided, and these are the combinations to be the target of microprogram exchange. As a result, the microprogram can be exchanged at least twice in the procedure.

Next, in step (4), the management server device 5 checks all the addresses of the I / O ports included in the target cluster, and the alternate path software 13 operates on all the host computers 1 in which the addresses exist. Check if it is. Also, check if the path status is normal. Furthermore, in step (5), the check in step (4) is repeated. As a result, when the alternate path software 13 is not installed on all the host computers 1 and when the path state is not normal, automatic processing becomes impossible and the processing is interrupted.

Then, in step (6), the start of microprogram exchange is notified, and the following processes are performed in the same manner as in the sequence of FIG. 2 up to step (14). Further, such steps (3) to (14) are sequentially performed for clusters 21 and 22 to be updated of the microprogram. When the update of the microprograms of all the input / output ports is completed, the processing of updating the entire microprogram is completed.

Therefore, the entire process of microprogram exchange based on the sequences of FIGS. 2 and 5 is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, in FIG. 6, in step S1, all the host computers 1 connected to the target RAID device are searched from the management database 25, for example, based on the execution notification of the microprogram exchange from the internal management device 24. Next, in step S2, check whether the alternate path software 13 is installed and operating on all the host computers 1. If it is not installed here (NG), the automatic processing will end.

Also, in step S3, it is confirmed whether the path setting of the host computer 1 is 2 paths of different systems for all the hard disk drive devices in the target RAID device. If the two paths of another system are not set (NG), the automatic processing is terminated. In step S4, check if all the paths are normal and valid. Again, if everything is normal and not enabled (NG), the automatic process ends.

If the replacement path software 13 installed on the host computer 1 is a so-called failover version, the path is switched in step S5, and it is confirmed that the path is switched normally. Even here, if the path is not switched normally (NG), the automatic processing is terminated. In this way, in these steps S2 to S5, it is confirmed whether or not the system is adapted to the program exchange program of the present invention.

Further, in step S6, check the case where the cluster 21 side is completely blocked. That is, here, the device numbers of the hard disk drive device group 23 and the like connected under the cluster 21 are selected. Then, in step S7, it is checked whether all the selected device numbers are connected to the path on the cluster 22 side. As a result, when the connection is confirmed, in step S8, for example, the input / output ports included in each cluster are blocked in the order of cluster 21 and cluster 22, and microprogram exchange is executed.

If the connection is not confirmed in step S7 (NG), the search logic of the detailed procedure as shown in FIG. 7 is further started. That is, as described above, each of the clusters 21 and 22 is composed of a plurality of input / output ports, but it is possible to stop the function of each of these input / output ports and exchange microprograms. Therefore, in FIG. 7, a search is performed for the input / output ports in each of the clusters 21 and 22.

In FIG. 7, in step S11, the input / output port number N is set to the initial value for the cluster to be searched. Then, in step S12, when the input / output port N is blocked, it is confirmed whether the subordinate hard disk drive device has a connection established with another input / output port. Here, if the connection is established, the I / O port N is described in the blockage group in step S13. If the connection is not established, the input / output port N is skipped in step S14.

Further, in step S15, it is determined whether or not the next input / output port N + 1 exists, and if it exists, in step S16, the input / output port number N = N + 1 is set and the process returns to step S12. If the next I / O port N + 1 does not exist in step S15, it is determined in step S17 whether or not there is a skipped I / O port. And if there is no skip, in step S18, the microprogram can be exchanged for the cluster at once.

If there is a skip in step S17, the process proceeds to step S19, and the same search is performed for each input / output port for the group of processing processors included therein. Ultimately, such a search extends to each mouth connected to each hard disk device controlled by each processor. Therefore, FIG. 8 shows the final stage processing after step S19, and in FIG. 8, a search is performed for the processors in each group.

That is, in FIG. 8, in step S21, the processor number M is set to the initial value for the group to be searched. Then, in step S22, when the processor M is closed, it is confirmed whether or not the connection of the subordinate hard disk drive device is established by another processor. Here, if the connection is established, the processor M is described in the blockage group in step S23. If the connection is not established, the processor M is skipped in step S24.

Further, in step S25, it is determined whether or not the next processor M + 1 exists, and if it exists, in step S26, the processor number M = M + 1 is set and the process returns to step S22. If the next processor M + 1 does not exist in step S25, it is determined in step S27 whether or not there is a skipped processor. Then, when there is no skip, in step S28, the microprogram can be exchanged for the group at once.

On the other hand, if there is a skip in step S27, automatic processing is impossible, and in step S28, for example, a display to that effect is displayed on the client computer 33, and the processing is interrupted. That is, in this case, since automatic processing cannot be performed, the same manual work as in the conventional work is performed, and a display prompting the work is performed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the port that can stop the input / output is automatically set by searching the database of the host computer and the storage device, and is entered in cooperation with the alternate path function on the host computer side. Changed to set the port where the output can be stopped. As a result, the set input / output ports can be stopped in order to exchange the microprogram, and the microprogram of the storage device can be exchanged automatically without stopping, and the microprogram in a larger unit can be exchanged. By exchanging the microprograms, the microprograms can be exchanged efficiently.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the present invention can be carried out even when three or more path adapters of the host computer 1 are provided, and the hard disk drive device group 23 under each input / output port. Even if the connection setting is set by the user as shown in FIG. 10, for example, it can be implemented.

That is, even in the case shown in FIG. 9 above, the check logic on the management server device 5 side handles it by checking whether the paths are valid for all the paths other than the blocked paths. It is possible. Even in the case shown in Fig. 10, it is possible to deal with it by checking whether the path is valid by setting the check logic on the management server side as the path unit from the WWN unit to each hard disk drive device group 23. It is possible.

As a result, according to the present invention, when there are three or more connection paths between the host computer 1 and the storage device (RAID device) 4 and the alternate path setting is not load balanced (failover setting), the path is not blocked. Check if there is a valid path inside, and if not, issue a command to enable (perform a path change) at least one path for all settings. The system can enable automatic replacement of microprograms.

Further, according to the present invention, the program exchange program 31 provided in the management server device 5 in the above-described embodiment and the updated version of the microprogram 32 to be exchanged can be distributed as packaged software. That is, the present invention can be implemented as software in such a package.

Further, the program exchange program 31 can be incorporated in the internal control device 24 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the program exchange program 31 can be incorporated in the host computer 1. When the program exchange program 31 is built in the device in this way, the microprogram exchange is executed by further installing the updated version of the microprogram 32 in the internal management device 24 or the host computer 1. ..

Further, the present invention is also possible for a storage device in a SAN environment as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 13, the connection paths 2, 3, 2'and 3'from the two host computers 1 and 1'are connected to the storage device 4 via the connection unit 7, respectively. A plurality of equivalent devices are provided in the connection unit 7, and they are connected to each other to form a network.

And even in such a SAN environment system, in the procedure (3) described in the explanation of the sequence in Fig. 2, all the I / O ports of the target clusters 21 and 22 are checked, and all the addresses exist. The present invention can be implemented by checking whether the alternate path software 13 is operating on the host computer 1. However, in this case, it is a requirement that the management server device 5 and the host computers 1 and 1'are connected by, for example, LAN6.

Further, FIG. 14 shows a block diagram showing a configuration that is an element of the present invention. In the configuration of FIG. 14, the host computer 50 is provided with, for example, four path adapters 51 to 54. Further, the host computer 50 has a microprocessor (MP) 55 for controlling pass adapters 51 to 54 and the like. The microprocessor (MP) 55 has a local memory 56, and the alternate path software 57 is provided in the local memory 56.

On the other hand, the storage device 60 is also provided with four host-side ports 61 to 64. Then, these path adapters 51 to 54 and the host side ports 61 to 64 are connected to each other including a sash so that one of them is connected to all of the other. Further, these host-side ports 61 to 64 are connection ports for receiving commands and data from the host computer 50, and have a microprocessor (MP) inside.

Then, these microprocessors (MP) interpret commands (for example, read and write) issued by the host device, and write or read data to the cache memory 65 in the subsequent stage. The cache memory 65 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily holds the above-mentioned data, and the storage device 60 is further transferred to the hard disk drive device group 70 in the subsequent stage when the data is received in the cache memory 65. Even if no data is written, the host computer 50 is notified that the command processing is completed.

Further, for controlling the writing of data from the above-mentioned cache memory 65 to the hard disk drive device (HDD) group 70 and the reading of the data of the hard disk drive device group 70 onto the cache memory 65, the disk side ports 66 to 69 Is provided. These disk-side ports 66 to 69 also have a microprocessor (MP) inside.

That is, as described above, the present invention is applicable as long as the communication path to the adapters 51 to 54 and the cache memory 65 can be secured without securing the communication path to the hard disk drive device (HDD) group 70. it can. This is because a completion response is sent to the upper level when writing to the cache memory 65.

In the above configuration, the internal configuration information of the storage device 60 is stored in the shared memory (SM) 71. This shared memory (SM) 71 is a shared memory. Each of the above-mentioned microprocessors (MP) performs write / read processing according to this internal configuration information. A logical volume is a storage area management unit defined across the storage areas of a plurality of hard disk drive devices (HDDs), and the host computer 50 controls writing and reading to the logical volume.

Such a relationship between the logical volume and the storage area on the hard disk drive device (HDD), which logical volume the adapters 51 to 54 of the host computer 50 are connected to, etc., are actually connected to the hard disk drive from the host computer 50. The information required for writing to the device (HDD) is stored in the shared memory (SM) 71 as the above-mentioned configuration information.

Further, the internal control device can be provided in the service processor (SVP) 72. The service processor (SVP) 72 is a processor that can read and change the information in the shared memory (SM) 71, and is not shown as each port in the storage device 60 or the shared memory (SM) 71. It is connected by the internal LAN. Further, the service processor (SVP) 72 is connected to an external device, for example, a management server 90 by a communication line such as LAN80. Further, the management server 90 is connected to the configuration information setting client device 92 through, for example, the network 91.

Then, the internal management device monitors the state of the communication path by referring to the configuration information in the shared memory (SM) 71. In addition, even if one microprocessor (MP) is blocked, commands sent from the host computer 50 side adapters 51 to 54 are received on any of the remaining host side ports 61 to 64 through the other route. , It is analyzed, and if it is a write command, it can be determined whether or not the communication path is set so that the data can be written to the cache memory 65.

In this way, according to the above configuration, the host computer uses the alternate path program to set the communication path between its plurality of adapters and the plurality of host-side ports of the storage device, and the storage device is stored in the shared memory. It accumulates information about the communication path, determines whether the communication path is secured when the internal management device of the storage device blocks at least one of multiple processors, and if it can be secured, the management server from the internal management device. Can be notified that the processor subject to the determination can be blocked.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

<figref num="1">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the information management system to which this invention is applied.</figref><figref num="2">It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating one operation of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a block diagram of the database for the explanation.</figref><figref num="4">It is a block diagram of the database for the explanation.</figref><figref num="5">It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating other operation of this invention.</figref><figref num="6">It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation of this invention.</figref><figref num="7">It is a flowchart of the main part for demonstrating the operation of this invention.</figref><figref num="8">It is a flowchart of the main part for demonstrating the operation of this invention.</figref><figref num="9">It is a block diagram which shows the other structure of embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="10">It is a block diagram which shows still another structure of embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="11">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the other embodiment of the information management system to which this invention is applied.</figref><figref num="12">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the other embodiment of the information management system to which this invention is applied.</figref><figref num="13">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of embodiment of the information management system which applied this invention to the SAN environment.</figref><figref num="14">It is a block diagram which shows the structure which becomes the element of this invention.</figref><figref num="15">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional information management system.</figref>

Code description

1 ... host computer, 11,12 ... path adapter, 13 ... alternate path software, 14 ... database showing connection destination, 2,3 ... connection path, 4 ... storage device, 21,22 ... cluster, 23 ... hard disk drive device group, 24 ... internal management device, 25 ... database showing connection destination of input / output port, 5 ... management server device, 31 .. .Program exchange program, 32 ... updated microprogram for exchange, 33 ... client computer equipment, 6 ... LAN