Computer system

A computer linkable to at least one storage system among a plurality of serially linked storage systems each having at least one storage area in which data is stored, there being established in the plurality of storage systems at least one copy pair which is a combination of two storage areas among the plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems, copying of data being to be carried out among the two storage areas of the copy pair, wherein

• the computer comprises:
• a sub system selector configured to select from among the plurality of storage systems a storage system to be accessed in order to acquire the sub system pair information, the sub system pair information including copy pair information that defines a copy pair for which at least one of the two storage areas making up the copy pair is a storage area within the storage system in question;
• a sub system pair information acquirer configured to acquire the sub system pair information belonging to the selected storage system;
• and
• a system pair information generator configured to generate, based on the acquired sub system pair information, system pair information that includes copy pair information relating to a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems,
• wherein the sub system selector initially selects a storage system directly linked to the computer, and after performing initial acquisition of sub system pair information by means of the sub system pair information acquirer, sequentially selects a storage system to be accessed, based on the acquired sub system pair information.

A computer system comprising:

• a first computer;
• a plurality of storage systems serially linked to the first computer;
• and
• a second computer linked to at least one of the plurality of storage systems,
• wherein each of the plurality of storage systems includes at least one storage area for storing data,
• wherein there is established at least one copy pair which is a combination of two storage areas among a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems, copying of data being to be carried out among the two storage areas of the copy pair,
• wherein the first computer has stored therein system pair information including copy pair information that defines the copy pair,
• wherein each of the storage systems stores sub system pair information including copy pair information that defines a copy pair in which at least one of the two storage areas making up the copy pair is a storage area within the storage system in question,
• wherein the second computer includes:
• a sub system pair information acquirer configured to acquire the sub system pair information belonging to the plurality of storage systems;
• and
• a system pair information generator configured to generate, based on the acquired sub system pair information, system pair information that includes copy pair information relating to a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems,
• wherein during the generation of system pair information by the second computer, the sub system pair information acquirer generates a collect command for acquiring the sub system pair information from the plurality of storage systems and sends the collect command to a specific storage system among the plurality of storage systems,
• wherein the specific storage system sequentially transfers the collect command to another storage system, collects the sub system pair information from the storage system that has received the transferred collect command, and sends collected sub system pair information to the second computer.

A method for generating system pair information by means of a computer linked to at least one of a plurality of serially linked storage systems each having at least one storage area for storing data,

• wherein there is established in the plurality of storage systems at least one copy pair which is a combination of two storage areas among a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems, copying of data being to be carried out among the two storage areas of the copy pair,
• wherein each of the storage systems stores sub system pair information including copy pair information that defines a copy pair in which at least one of the two storage areas making up the copy pair is a storage area within the storage system in question,
• wherein the method for generating system pair information comprising the steps of:
• selecting a storage system directly linked to the computer, and after acquiring the sub system pair information of the selected storage system, sequentially selecting a storage system to be accessed, based on the acquired sub system pair information;
• acquiring the sub system pair information belonging to the selected storage system;
• and
• based on the acquired sub system pair information, generating system pair information that includes copy pair information relating to a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon a system pair information generation program for generating system pair information by means of a computer linked to at least one of a plurality of serially linked storage systems each having at least one storage area for storing data,

• wherein there is established in the plurality of storage systems at least one copy pair which is a combination of two storage areas among a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems, copying of data being to be carried out among the two storage areas of the copy pair,
• wherein each of the storage systems stores sub system pair information including copy pair information that defines a copy pair in which at least one of the two storage areas making up the copy pair is a storage area within the storage system in question,
• wherein the system pair information generation program causing a computer to execute the functions of:
• selecting a storage system directly linked to the computer, and after acquiring the sub system pair information of the selected storage system, sequentially selecting a storage system to be accessed, based on the acquired sub system pair information;
• acquiring the sub system pair information belonging to the selected storage system;
• and
• based on the acquired sub system pair information, generating system pair information that includes copy pair information relating to a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems.

A computer system comprising:

• at least one storage system group composed of storage systems;
• a first computer linked to at least one of the storage systems in each the storage system group;
• and
• a second computer linked to at least one of the storage systems in each the storage system group,
• wherein each of the plurality of storage systems has a storage controller and a disk array including at least one storage area for storing data,
• wherein there is established at least one copy pair which is a combination of two storage areas among a plurality of storage areas belonging to the disk array of the plurality of storage systems, copying of data being to be carried out among the two storage areas of the copy pair,
• wherein the first computer has stored therein system pair information including copy pair information that defines the copy pair,
• wherein each of the storage systems stores, in a memory of the storage controller, sub system pair information including copy pair information that defines a copy pair in which at least one of the two storage areas making up the copy pair is a storage area within the storage system in question,
• wherein the second computer:
• selects a storage system directly linked to the second computer;
• acquires the sub system pair information belonging to the selected storage system;
• when copy pair information included in the acquired sub system pair information defines a copy pair composed of two storage areas that are stored in two storage systems separately, selects from among the two storage systems, as a storage system to be accessed next, another storage system different from the storage system from which the acquired sub system pair information was acquired, while sub system pair information belonging to the other storage system have not been acquired;
• acquires the sub system pair information belonging to the selected storage system;
• and
• based on the acquired sub system pair information, generates system pair information that includes copy pair information relating to a plurality of storage areas belonging to the plurality of storage systems.