Method and an apparatus for managing access path

An access path management program that is executed in a storage network system that can connect a host computer that processes information with a storage device that stores the information therein via multiple paths, the program comprising:

• inputting a first device that constitutes a storage network;
• acquiring a second device where access paths are concentrated and the traffic is increased in the case where all of the access paths that pass through the first device are switched over to other access paths through a multi-path managing process;
• and
• transferring information related to the acquired second device to display the information on a display device.

A management server that manages an access path between a large-capacity data storage device and a host computer that employs the data storage device in a storage network system that forms multiple paths between the data storage device and the host computer to transfer data by means of a selected path, the management server comprising:

• a main memory that stores an access path integration management program for integrally managing the access path, and holds temporal data associated with the execution of the program;
• a processing device that executes the access path integration management program;
• and
• a display device that displays a state in which the access path integration management program is executed,
• wherein the processing device includes means for selecting a second access path that can be used as a substitute of a first access path that connects the data storage device with the host computer by execution of the access path integration management program;
• means for calculating the quantity of traffic of the first access path which is associated with a device on the first access path;
• means for calculating a variation of traffic quantity of the second access path which is associated with a device on the second access path taking the calculated quantity of traffic into consideration;
• means for determining whether the device on the second access path is a bottleneck or not, according to the calculated variation of traffic of the second access path;
• and means for notifying the outside of the determination result.