Information processing performing prefetch with load balancing

An information processing apparatus which sends data input/output requests to a storage equipment which includes a logical unit logically assigned to physical devices through logical paths serving as communication paths to said logical unit, said information processing apparatus comprising

• a path selection management section which manages configurations of a plurality of blocks into which said logical unit is divided,
• an I/O request allocation section which allocates data input/output requests to be transmitted to said storage equipment to said logical paths,
• wherein
• I/O processing units which transmit said data input/output requests through said logical paths, according to the allocation determined by said I/O request allocation section, pursuant to an established protocol, wherein said path selection management section assigns at least one of said logical paths to one of said blocks, and
• said I/O request allocation section allocates data input/output requests that specify consecutive locations on the logical unit to the same logical path assigned by said path selection management section when data input/output requests that specify consecutive locations on the logical unit are received.

A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, which when executed, implements functions of an information processing apparatus which sends data input/output requests to a storage equipment which includes a logical unit logically assigned to physical devices through logical paths serving as communication paths to said logical unit, said computer program comprising

• computer program code means for managing configurations of a plurality of blocks into which said logical unit is divided,
• computer program code means for allocating the data input/output requests to be transmitted to said storage equipment to said logical paths,
• computer program code means for transmitting said data input/output requests through said logical paths, according to the allocation determined by said allocation means, pursuant to an established protocol,
• computer program code means for assigning at least one of said logical paths to one of said blocks, and
• computer program code means for allocating data input/output requests that specify consecutive locations on the logical unit to the same logical path assigned to said one of said blocks when data input/output requests that specify consecutive locations on the logical unit are received.