Disk-time-sharing apparatus and method

A disk time-sharing method for a disk time-sharing apparatus comprising a disk apparatus having one or a plurality of disk drives, an input/output request unit for issuing an input/output request to said disk apparatus, and an input/output scheduling unit for scheduling the use of said disk apparatus on the basis of said input/output request, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• forming input/output groups obtained by grouping input/output sources to/from said disk apparatus and defining a ratio of time during which each input/output group uses the disk apparatus;
• deciding allocating time (quantum) during which each input/output group can use the disk apparatus continuously on the basis of said defined time ratio;
• and
• when input/output requests are received from the plurality of input/output groups to the disk apparatus, performing a time-sharing such that the disk apparatus is used by sequentially switching said allocating time among the competing input/output groups.