Storage system

Abstract

While a large amount of files can be intensively managed, the capacity scalability is limited by the number of magnetic disk drives and the number of magnetic tape drives which can be connected to a system, thereby failing to provide satisfactory long-term management for a large amount of information which increases more and more over time. A storage system of the present invention is designed for connection with a heterogeneous storage which can be controlled by the storage system, and creates file systems in a storage area reserved within the storage system and in a storage area provided by the heterogeneous storage.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A method of managing a system which includes a first storage system and a second storage system coupled to said first storage system and stores a file to be accessed by a computer coupled to said first storage system, comprising the steps of: 
 creating a file system in said second storage system; and    by said first storage system, accepting an access request from said computer to said file system created in said second storage system and responding to said access request.    
   
   
       3 . A managing method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: 
 creating a file system in said first storage system; and    managing said file system created in said first storage system and said file system created in said second storage system in a manner that said file systems are recognized by said computer as a single file system.    
   
   
       4 . A method of managing a system which includes a first storage system and a second storage system which is coupled to said first storage system and stores a file to be accessed by a computer coupled to said first storage system, comprising the steps of: 
 creating a file system in said second storage system;    moving said file system created in said first storage system into said second storage system while maintaining a structure of said file system created in said first storage system;    erasing said file system in said first storage system; and    by said first storage system, accepting an access request from said computer to said file system moved in said second storage system and responding to said access request.    
   
   
       5 . A managing method according to  claim 4 , wherein said moving step comprises the step of: 
 adding an attribute indicative of prohibiting a write access from said computer requesting writing of data to be stored in said file system to be moved in said second storage system.    
   
   
       6 . A managing method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of: 
 setting a time at which a new file system is created;    creating a new file system in said first storage system upon a lapse of said time; and    writing data received from said computer in said new file system on and after the lapse of said time,    wherein in said moving step, said file system to be moved in said second storage system is said file system which has stored data written from said computer before said new file system is created in said second storage system.