Storage apparatus and control method of the same

Abstract

A storage management system, if the required response performance of the file is added to the access request from the host computer, compares the required response performance of the file with the response performance of the pool volume assigned to the page. If the response performance of the compared pool volume does not satisfy the required response performance, the storage management system selects a pool volume whose response performance satisfies the required response performance from the pool volumes, migrates the page to the selected pool volume, and stores the data in the page to which the pool volume is assigned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage apparatus coupled to a computer, the storage apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of types of storage devices, each of the plurality of types of storage devices having a different response performance; and   a controller configured to:   provide a virtual volume including a plurality of logical areas;   receive, from the computer, a write request designating a file and a required response performance set for the designated file;   specify a storage area allocated to a logical area in the virtual volume storing data of the file indicated by the write request; and   if a response performance set to the storage area does not satisfy the required response performance designated in the write request, migrate data stored in the storage area to another storage area having a response performance satisfying the required response performance, and change an allocation to the virtual area from the storage area to the another storage area.   
     
     
         2 . The storage apparatus according to the  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 request, from the computer, an address of the designated file in the virtual volume; and   specify the storage area allocated to the logical area in the virtual volume based on the address from the computer.   
     
     
         3 . The storage apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the computer includes an Operation System (OS) and a guest OS executed in a virtual machine,   wherein the OS is configured to provide a VM virtual volume to the guest OS,   wherein logical areas of the VM virtual volume correspond to logical areas of the virtual volume, and   wherein the controller is further configured to:   receive an identification of the virtual machine with the write request;   request, from the guest OS, an address in the VM virtual volume of the designated file;   request, from the OS of the computer, an address in the virtual volume, which corresponds to the address in the VM virtual volume from the guest OS; and   specify the storage area allocated to the logical area in the virtual volume based on the address from the OS of the computer.   
     
     
         4 . A storage apparatus according to the  claim 3 , wherein the response performance of the another storage area is the lowest response performance among response performances of the storage areas satisfying the required response performance. 
     
     
         5 . A storage apparatus according to the  claim 2 , wherein, when there is not enough free storage areas having a response performance satisfying the required response performance, the controller is further configured to output a request to add storage areas. 
     
     
         6 . A method of controlling a storage apparatus coupled to a computer, the storage apparatus comprising: a plurality of types of storage devices, each of the plurality of types of storage devices having a different response performance, the method comprising:
 providing a virtual volume including a plurality of logical areas;   receiving, from the computer, a write request designating a file and a required response performance set for the designated file;   specifying a storage area allocated to a logical area in the virtual volume storing data of the file indicated by the write request; and   if a response performance set to the storage area does not satisfy the required response performance designated in the write request, migrating data stored in the storage area to another storage area having a response performance satisfying the required response performance, and changing an allocation to the virtual area from the storage area to the another storage area.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to the  claim 6 , further comprising:
 requesting, from the computer, an address of the designated file in the virtual volume; and   specifying the storage area allocated to the logical area in the virtual volume based on the address from the computer.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the computer includes an Operation System (OS) and a guest OS executed in a virtual machine,   wherein the OS is configured to provide a VM virtual volume to the guest OS,   wherein logical areas of the VM virtual volume correspond to logical areas of the virtual volume, and   wherein the method further comprises:   receiving an identification of the virtual machine with the write request;   requesting, from the guest OS, an address in the VM virtual volume of the designated file;   requesting, from the OS of the computer, an address in the virtual volume, which corresponds to the address in the VM virtual volume from the guest OS; and   specifying the storage area allocated to the logical area in the virtual volume based on the address from the OS of the computer.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to the  claim 8 , wherein the response performance of the another storage area is the lowest response performance among response performances of the storage areas satisfying the required response performance. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to the  claim 7 , the method further comprises:
 when there is not enough free storage areas having a response performance satisfying the required response performance, outputting a request to add storage areas.