Visualization method and storage apparatus for a storage system having external connectivity

A logical device virtualization method for a storage system provided with an internal apparatus between a host apparatus and an external apparatus that provides one or more logical devices for storing data, the one or more logical devices provided by the external apparatus being virtualized by the internal apparatus, the method comprising:

• a first step of, when a channel connected to the internal apparatus comes on-line, the host apparatus sending a predetermined inquiry command to all logical devices defined as being connected to the channel via the channel;
• a second step of the internal apparatus recognizing the logical devices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel, based on the inquiry command sent from the host apparatus;
• a third step of the internal apparatus detecting one or more logical devices, from among the logical devices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel, that exist in the external apparatus, based on the recognition result;
• and
• a fourth step of the internal apparatus setting, based on the detection result, one or more virtual volumes in its own apparatus, respectively corresponding to the one or more logical devices, from among the logical devices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel, that exist in the external apparatus, and also setting a first logical path between each of the set one or more virtual volumes and each of the corresponding one or more logical devices existing in the external apparatus.

A storage apparatus provided between a host apparatus and an external storage apparatus that provides one or more logical devices for storing data, the storage apparatus virtualizing the one or more logical devices provided by the external apparatus,

• the storage apparatus comprising:
• a logical device recognition unit that, when the host apparatus sends a predetermined inquiry command to all logical devices defined as being connected to a channel connected to the storage apparatus via the channel upon the channel coming on-line, recognizes the one or more logical devices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel, based on the inquiry command sent from the host apparatus;
• a device detection unit that detects one or more logical devices, from among the one or more logical devices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel, that exist in the external apparatus, based on the recognition result;
• and
• a logical path setting unit that sets, based on the detection result, one or more virtual volumes in its own apparatus, respectively corresponding to the one or more logical devices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel, that exist in the external apparatus, and also sets a first logical path between each of the set one or more virtual volumes and each of the corresponding one or more logical devices existing in the external apparatus.