Subsystem replacement method

A storage system comprising:

• a first storage control device;
• a second storage control device;
• wherein said first storage control device comprises:
• a first access path for receiving an access command issued from a higher level device;
• wherein said second storage control device comprises:
• a second access path for receiving an access command issued from said higher level device;
• and
• a second controller having a function of designating whether to process through said first storage control device or said second storage control device based upon the received access command;
• and
• a third access path connected between said first storage control device and said second storage control device;
• wherein device information stored in said first storage control device is transferred via said third access path to said second storage control device and stored in said second storage control device.

A method in a storage system having a first storage control device, a second storage control device, and an access path connected between said first storage control device and said second storage control device, said method comprising the steps of:

• connecting a first access path between said first storage control device and a higher level device to permit said first storage control device to receive an access command issued from said higher level device;
• and
• connecting a second access path between said second storage control device and said higher level device to permit said second storage control device to receive an access command issued from said higher level device;
• wherein device information stored in said second storage control device is transferred via said access path to said first storage control device and stored in said first storage control device;
• and
• wherein said first storage control device designates whether to process through said first storage control device or said second storage control device based upon the received access command.

A method in a storage system having a first storage control device, a second storage control device, and an access path connected between said first storage control device and said second storage control device, said method comprising the steps of:

• connecting a first access path between said first storage control device and a higher level device to permit said first storage control device to receive an access command issued from said higher level device;
• connecting a second access path between said second storage control device and said higher level device to permit said second storage control device to receive an access command issued from said higher level device;
• wherein device information stored in said first storage control device is transferred via said access path to said second storage control device and stored in said second storage control device;
• and
• wherein said second storage control device designates whether to process through said first storage control device or said second storage control device based upon the received access command.

A storage system comprising:

• a first storage control device;
• a second storage control device;
• wherein said first storage control device comprises:
• a first access path for receiving an access command issued from a higher level device;
• and
• a first controller having a function of designating whether to process through said first storage control device or said second storage control device based upon the received access command;
• wherein said second storage control device comprises:
• a second access path for receiving an access command issued from said higher level device;
• and
• a third access path connected between said first storage control device and said second storage control device;
• wherein said first storage control device relays to said second storage control device the access command received via said first access path from said higher level device through said third access path.

A storage system comprising:

• a first storage control device;
• a second storage control device;
• wherein said first storage control device comprises:
• a first access path for receiving an access command issued from a higher level device;
• and
• a first controller having a function of designating whether to process through said first storage control device or said second storage control device based upon the received access command;
• wherein said second storage control device comprises:
• a second access path for receiving an access command issued from said higher level device;
• and
• a third access path connected between said first storage control device and said second storage control device;
• wherein said first storage control device further includes:
• a first controller having a function of designating whether to process through said first storage control device or said second storage control device;
• wherein when said first storage control devices receives an access command from said higher level device via said first access path, said first storage control device decides whether to process the received access command based upon a designation given by said first controller, or to process through said second storage control device, and when the decision is to process through said second storage control device, sends said received access command to said second storage control device, via said third access path, without performing the process of said received access command.

A storage system comprising:

• a first storage control device;
• a second storage control device;
• wherein said first storage control device comprises:
• a first access path for receiving an access command issued from a higher level device;
• wherein said second storage control device comprises:
• a second access path for receiving an access command issued from said higher level device;
• and
• a third access path connected between said first storage control device and said second storage control device;
• wherein said first storage control device further includes:
• a first controller having a function of designating whether to process through said first storage control device or said second storage control device based upon the received access command;
• and
• wherein when said first storage control device receives an access command from said higher level device via said first access path, said first storage control device decides whether to process the received access command based upon a designation given by said first controller, or to process through said second storage control device, and when the decision is to process through said second storage control device, via said third access path, without performing the process of said received access command, and said first controller performing an operation equivalent to that performed by said higher level device.