Computer system and a method of assigning a storage device to a computer

Abstract

A computer system which has a plurality of computers and a storage device subsystem connected to the plurality of computers. The storage device subsystem has a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of interfaces, through which the subsystem is connected to the computers. One of the plurality of computers has a management means for holding therein data indicative of the storage devices and a connection relationship between the computers and storage device subsystem. Each computer, when wanting a new device, informs the management means of its capacity and type. The management means receives its notification and selects one of the storage devices which satisfies the request. And the management means instructs the storage device subsystem to set predetermined data in such a manner that the computer can access the selected device. The management means also returns predetermined data to the computer as a device assignment requester, the assignment requester computer modifies setting thereof to allow the computer in question can use the assigned device.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A computer system comprising: 
 a plurality of computers, each of which is configured to issue a file access request;    a storage system including disks and a disk controller coupled to the disks; and    a file server coupled to the storage system and configuring a file system in the storage system, wherein    the file server is configured to: 
 (a) receive a file system allocation request from one of the computers;  
 (b) prepare a logical device in the storage system satisfying the received request;  
 (c) prepare a file system in the prepared logical device in the storage system; and  
 (d) inform said one of the computers of mount point information of the prepared file systems.  
   
   
   
       18 . A computer system according to  claim 17 , wherein the file system allocation request includes at least one of capacity information, performance information, and reliability level information, required for the prepared logical device.  
   
   
       19 . A computer system according to  claim 17 , 
 wherein the file server includes a control manager, which is configured to execute processes required by the file system allocation request from one of the computers, and a server program, which is configured to create a file system, and    wherein the control manager is configured to pass information to specify the prepared logical device to the server program, and the server program is configured to execute a configuration process for the prepared logical device, create the file system in the prepared logical device, and inform the control manager of the mount point information of the created file system.    
   
   
       20 . A computer system according to  claim 17 , 
 wherein the file server is further configured to: 
 (e) receive a request to modify the size of a file system configured in a first logical device in the storage system;  
 (f) prepare a second logical device in the storage system satisfying the received request;  
 (g) instruct the storage system to move data stored in the first logical device to the prepared second logical device; and  
 (h) perform control to modify the size of the file system, which is moved from the first logical device to the second logical device.  
   
   
   
       21 . A method in a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a plurality of computers, each of which is configured to issue a file access request, a storage system including disks and a disk controller coupled to the disks; and a file server coupled to the storage system and configuring a file system in the storage system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving a file system allocation request from one of the computers;    (b) preparing a logical device in the storage system satisfying the received request;    (c) preparing a file system in the prepared logical device in the storage system; and    (d) informing said one of the computers of mount point information of the prepared file system.    
   
   
       22 . A method in a computer system according to  claim 21 , wherein the file system allocation request includes at least one of capacity information, performance information, and reliability level information, required for the prepared logical device.  
   
   
       23 . A method in a computer system according to  claim 21 , 
 wherein the file server includes a control manager, said control manager executing processes required by the file system allocation request from one of the computers, and a server program, said server program creating a file system; and    wherein the control program further performs the step of passing information to specify the prepared logical device to the server program, and the server program further performs the steps of executing a configuration process for the prepared logical device, creating the file system in the prepared logical device, and informing the control manager of the mount point information of the created file system.    
   
   
       24 . A method in a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a plurality of computers, each of which is configured to issue a file access request, a storage system including disks and a disk controller coupled to the disks; and a file server coupled to the storage system and configuring a file system in the storage system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving a request to modify the size of a file system configured in a first logical device in the storage system;    (b) preparing a second logical device in the storage system satisfying the received request;    (c) instructing the storage system to move data stored in the first logical device to the prepared second logical device; and    (d) performing control to modify the size of the file system, which is moved from the first logical device to the second logical device.