JP2005063214A - Data management method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage a plurality of data files regardless of the position of a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: A network 18 communicates an information signal. A client device 10 is operated by a user. A recording part 42 is a recording medium for recording a data file. A processing part 40 includes a CPU for executing processing or the like. A management part 24 arranges a management file in a predetermined directory, and manages a plurality of directories by hierarchical structure. A determination part 28 determines, when a processing according to an instruction from the client device 10 is executed by the plurality of processing parts 40, the processing part 40 which should actually execute the processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a data management technique, and more particularly, to a data management method and apparatus for managing data recorded in a distributed manner on a plurality of recording media via a network.

  In recent years, the ability of personal computers has improved, despite the reduction in costs. Network bandwidth has also improved. Against this background, one technology for virtualizing and efficiently using resources on a network is grid technology. The grid technology makes it possible to use the resources simply by connecting to the network without making the user aware of the location and owner of the resources distributed on the wide area network. If grid technology is used, data distributed and stored in many storages connected to the network can be used uniformly.

The capabilities of a plurality of computer resources connected to the network can generally be classified into a calculation capability and a recording capability. The former corresponds to the capability of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the latter corresponds to the capability of storage. In order to improve the processing capacity of the entire system composed of a plurality of computers, the efficiency of the calculation capability and the recording capability in a plurality of computer resources should be improved together. This is because, in order to execute the calculation, not only the CPU but also the storage is generally used. If the efficiency of the recording ability with a plurality of computer resources is not improved, the calculation using a large amount of data is executed. In addition, there are cases where data transfer frequently occurs on the network at the time of use, and the computing ability cannot be fully exhibited (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
Kenbe, Morita, Matsuoka, Sekiguchi, Iwata, “Grid Datafarm Architecture for Petabyte Scale Data Intensive Computing”, Transactions of Information Processing Society of Japan: High Performance Computing System, Information Processing Society of Japan, September 2002, SIG6 (HPS5), No. 43, p. 184-185

  As described above, if the efficiency of the calculation capability and the recording capability with a plurality of computer resources is improved, calculation using a large amount of data can be executed at high speed. However, since the grid technology is intended to allow users to use data files stored in many storages connected to a network in a unified manner, it is not sufficient to perform calculations at high speed. Furthermore, there is a need to provide an interface with high operability so as not to make the user aware of the storage location of the data file, particularly a file system for managing the data file. That is, there is a need for a file system that gives the user a feeling that all data files are stored in the storage of one computer.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to make it possible to use these data files in a unified manner without making the user aware of the difference in storage in which a plurality of data files are stored. To provide data management technology.

  One embodiment of the present invention is a data management device. The device includes an access unit that accesses a plurality of recording media each recording a plurality of data files via a network, and a plurality of management files that include path information for accessing the plurality of data files. In order to manage the generation unit and the plurality of data files, the management files corresponding to each of the plurality of data files are arranged in a predetermined directory, and the plurality of directories including the directory are logically arranged in a hierarchical structure. And a management unit for managing. In this apparatus, the access unit may access the data file recorded on the recording medium based on the path information included in the management file in the hierarchical structure including a plurality of directories.

  The “path information” can be specified by a network address such as an IP (Internet Protocol) address and an address in the recording medium, but is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the position of the data file can be specified.

  The “hierarchical structure” may be managed by another file. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and information such as upper and lower directories is added to a part of a management file or directory to create a logical structure. Alternatively, it may be formed only.

  With the above apparatus, instead of direct management of the data file, the management file corresponding to the management is managed. Therefore, the data file can be managed regardless of the recording position of the data file.

The generation unit may generate a management file including a plurality of pieces of path information for accessing the data file when data files having the same content are recorded on the plurality of recording media. The generation unit may generate a management file including path information for accessing the data file in the generation stage even when any of the plurality of data files is in the generation stage.
The “generation stage” indicates a stage where the data file is not completed, including not only when the data file is generated but also before the data file is generated.

The original data file is divided into a plurality of data files and recorded on at least one of the plurality of recording media, and the management unit has a plurality of management files respectively corresponding to the plurality of divided data files. Are arranged in a predetermined directory and managed, and a reception unit that receives an instruction to select a predetermined directory from a hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of directories managed by the management unit, and is arranged in the selected directory A plurality of data files corresponding to a plurality of management files may be regarded as the original data file, and an instruction unit that instructs the access unit to access the original data file may be further provided. The reception unit receives an instruction to select a management file arranged in a predetermined directory from a hierarchical structure including a plurality of directories managed by the management unit, and the instruction unit Access to the data file corresponding to the selected management file may be instructed.
“Instructing access to the original data file” may be performed by instructing access to a plurality of data files constituting the original data file.

  The plurality of recording media are respectively included in a predetermined data processing device. The data management device further includes a reception unit that receives a processing instruction for the data file and a plurality of data files corresponding to the processing target data file. A data processing device that is to execute processing so that processing on the data file is preferentially executed by the data processing device including the recording medium on which the data file is recorded, based on the path information included in the management file And an instruction unit that instructs the determined data processing apparatus to perform processing via the access unit.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a data management method. In this method, in order to manage a plurality of data files recorded on a plurality of recording media via a network, a plurality of management files including path information for accessing the plurality of data files are respectively generated and managed. Files are arranged in a predetermined directory, and a plurality of directories are logically managed by a hierarchical structure.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a program. The program includes a step of accessing a plurality of external recording media each recording a plurality of data files via a network, and a plurality of management files including path information for accessing the plurality of data files. Hierarchical structure information in which a management file corresponding to each of a plurality of data files is arranged in a predetermined directory and a plurality of directories form a hierarchical structure in order to generate and manage a plurality of data files Is recorded on an internal recording medium, and logically managed. In this program, the step of accessing via the network includes data recorded on the recording medium based on the path information included in the management file in a hierarchical structure consisting of a plurality of directories recorded on the internal recording medium. You may access the file.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, these data files can be used uniformly without making the user aware of the difference in storage in which a plurality of data files are stored.

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a parallel computing system in which a plurality of processing devices including a recording medium and a CPU are connected via a network, and execute parallel computing processing in conjunction with each other. The present invention relates to a data management system for managing a plurality of data files respectively recorded on a recording medium. The data management system according to the present embodiment further connects a server device to a network to which a plurality of processing devices are connected, and the server device is configured for each of a plurality of data files recorded in the plurality of processing devices. Create a management file containing path information. For example, the management file “A” corresponding to the data file “A” describes the network address of the processing device that recorded the data file “A” and the address of the recording area in the recording medium included in the processing device. . Further, the server device does not directly manage a plurality of data files, but instead arranges a plurality of management files in a predetermined directory, and manages such a plurality of directories in a hierarchical structure. When a user or program designates a predetermined data file, a management file corresponding to the data file is designated from a directory forming a hierarchical structure. Based on the path information included in the designated management file, the server device accesses the processing device in which the data file is recorded, and designates the data file.

  Furthermore, it is desirable to improve the operability with respect to an unfinished data file by the embodiment of the present invention. Also, I want to change the data file processing target according to the size of the processing target data file. I want to achieve high-speed processing of data files.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a data processing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The data processing system 100 includes a client device 10, a server device 12, a recording unit 14, and a first processing device 16a, a second processing device 16b, a third processing device 16c, a fourth processing device 16d, and a fourth processing device 16. 5 processor 16e, sixth processor 16f, and network 18. The server device 12 includes an access unit 20, a reception unit 22, a management unit 24, a generation unit 26, a determination unit 28, and an instruction unit 30. The processing device 16 is a first processing unit 40 a that is collectively referred to as a processing unit 40. , Second processing unit 40b, third processing unit 40c, fourth processing unit 40d, fifth processing unit 40e, sixth processing unit 40f, first recording unit 42a, second recording unit 42b, collectively referred to as recording unit 42, A third recording unit 42c, a fourth recording unit 42d, a fifth recording unit 42e, and a sixth recording unit 42f are included.

  The network 18 communicates information signals according to a predetermined protocol. The network 18 is configured by connecting cables for transmitting signals, such as coaxial cables, twisted pair cables, and optical cables, with devices that control signal transmission paths such as routers and exchanges. Although only one network 18 is shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is not limited to this, and the network 18 may be configured by combining a plurality of networks, and the bandwidths of the plurality of networks may be different from each other.

  The client device 10 is a personal computer or the like operated by a user. The client device 10 outputs an instruction such as data file search or calculation processing to the server device 12 described later via the network 18, receives the result from the server device 12, and displays it on a display (not shown).

  The recording unit 42 is a recording medium such as a hard disk that records data files. Here, the data file “DATA A” is duplicated and recorded in the first recording unit 42a and the sixth recording unit 42f. Further, since the data file “DATA B” has a large data capacity, it is divided into data files “DATA B-1”, “DATA B-2”, and “DATA B-3”. 1 ”is duplicated and recorded in the first recording unit 42a and the fourth recording unit 42d, and the data file“ DATA B-2 ”is duplicated and recorded in the second recording unit 42b and the fifth recording unit 42e. The data file “DATA B-3” is duplicated and recorded in the third recording unit 42c and the sixth recording unit 42e. Further, not only the data file recorded in advance, but also the data file generated by the processing of the processing unit 40 described later is recorded.

The processing unit 40 includes a CPU that executes processing such as calculation and data file search, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily records data files. Here, a data file and processing to be subjected to calculation, data file search, and the like are instructed from the server device 12 described later.
The access unit 20 is connected to the network 18 and inputs / outputs data and signals for predetermined instructions.

  The reception unit 22 receives data output from the client device 10 or the processing device 16 via the network 18 and the access unit 20. The client device 10 receives instructions such as data file search, calculation processing, and management data file display. The processing device 16 receives the path information of the data file recorded in each recording unit 42, or receives the result according to the instruction output from the server device 12 in advance. A specific example of the path information will be described later.

  The generation unit 26 generates a management file including the path information of the data file recorded by the recording unit 42 based on the path information of the data file received by the reception unit 22. At the time of generation, for example, the name of the management file is determined so as to match the corresponding data file. Here, when data is recorded in a plurality of recording units 42 like the data file “DATA A”, a plurality of path information is described in the management file. Further, a management file associated with the data file in advance may be generated before or at the generation stage of the data file.

  The management unit 24 arranges management files in a predetermined directory, and manages a plurality of directories in a hierarchical structure. Information of a plurality of directories forming a hierarchical structure to be managed and management files are recorded in the recording unit 14. Further, when searching for a predetermined data file according to an instruction from the client device 10, the management unit 24 accesses the recording unit 14 and corresponds to the data file to be searched from information of a plurality of directories forming a hierarchical structure. Search for administrative files.

  The determination unit 28 determines the processing unit 40 that should actually execute the process when the plurality of processing units 40 execute the process according to the instruction from the client device 10. Here, if processing that has already been executed is ignored, processing is preferentially assigned to the processing unit 40 included in the same processing device 16 as the recording unit 42 that records the data file to be processed. For example, when the instruction from the client device 10 is a search process of the data file “DATA A”, the determination unit 28 is included in the same first processing device 16a as the first recording unit 42a that records the data file “DATA A”. The process is assigned to the first processing unit 40a. Since the data file “DATA A” is also recorded in the sixth recording unit 42f, the process may be assigned to the sixth processing unit 40f.

The instruction unit 30 instructs the processing device 16 determined by the determination unit 28 to execute processing, or outputs a processing result directly executed by the management unit 24.
This configuration can be realized in terms of hardware by a CPU, memory, or other LSI of an arbitrary computer, and in terms of software, it is realized by a program having a reservation management function loaded in memory. The functional block realized by those cooperation is drawn. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the file system in the server device 12. The hierarchical structure information formed by a plurality of directories recorded by the recording unit 14 is shown in the upper part of FIG. The directory “/ grid” is positioned at the top of the hierarchical structure, and directories “ggf” and “jp” are arranged below the directory “/ grid”. A management file “DATA A” is arranged under the directory “jp”. Furthermore, management files “DATA B-1”, “DATA B-2”, and “DATA B-3” are arranged below the directory “aist” which is lower than the directory “ggf”. Here, the management files “DATA A”, “DATA B-1”, “DATA B-2”, and “DATA B-3” are the data files “DATA A”, “DATA B-1” in FIG. Management files corresponding to “DATA B-2” and “DATA B-3”, respectively.

  The management file “DATA A” describes “ftp://p1.co.jp/a/DATAA” and “http://p6.co.jp/a/DATAA” as path information. Here, the first processing device 16a in FIG. 1 corresponds to “p1.co.jp”, the sixth processing device 16f corresponds to “p6.co.jp”, and the data file “DATA A” corresponds to “DATAA”. To do. The same applies to the management files “DATA B-1”, “DATA B-2”, and “DATA B-3”.

  The lower part of FIG. 2 shows the data file recorded by the recording unit 42 as in the description of FIG. As described above, each protocol and network address is indicated as “ftp://p1.co.jp” in the upper part of each recording unit 42. In each recording unit 42, the address of the recording area is indicated as “/ a / DATAA” and “/ b / DATAB-1”. Data files are distributed and recorded in a plurality of recording units 42, but the recording unit 14 does not directly manage these data files, but manages the management files corresponding to the data files in a hierarchical structure. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the data file can be managed without being aware of the recording unit 42 that recorded the data file.

  When the user or the program instructs processing for the data file “DATA B-1”, the management unit 24 performs the first recording according to the path information of the management file “DATA B-1” recorded in the recording unit 14. “/ B / DATAB-1” of the unit 42a or the fourth recording unit 42d is accessed. On the other hand, when instructing the processing for all of the data file “DATA B”, the management unit 24 changes the directory “aist” including all the management files corresponding to the data file “DATA B” to the data file “DATA B”. It is regarded as a corresponding management file. Furthermore, based on the path information described therein, the corresponding recording unit 42 is accessed.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a data file display process instructed from the client device 10. Here, it is assumed that the user instructs display of the data file “DATA B”. The user instructs the client device 10 to display the directory “aist” in FIG. 2 (S10). The client device 10 outputs an instruction signal to the server device 12 via the network 18 (S12). The server device 12 detects path information from the management files “DATA B-1”, “DATA B-2”, and “DATA B-3” arranged under the directory “aist” of the recording unit 14 (S14). ). The server device 12 instructs the first processing device 16a to output the data file “DATA B-1” according to the path information of the management file “DATA B-1” (S16). The first processing device 16a reads the data file “DATA B-1” from the first recording unit 42a (S18), and outputs it to the server device 12 (S20). Further, the server device 12 instructs the second processing device 16b to output the data file “DATA B-2” according to the path information of the management file “DATA B-2” (S22). The second processing device 16b reads the data file “DATA B-2” from the second recording unit 42b (S24) and outputs it to the server device 12 (S26).

  Further, the server device 12 instructs the third processing device 16c to output the data file “DATA B-3” according to the path information of the management file “DATA B-3” (S28). The third processing device 16c reads the data file “DATA B-3” from the third recording unit 42c (S30) and outputs it to the server device 12 (S32). Finally, the server device 12 outputs the output result to the client device 10 as a single data file of the directory “aist” (S34), and the client device 10 outputs “aist” corresponding to the data file “DATA B”. Is displayed (S36).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a data file display process in the server apparatus 12. Here, it is assumed that the user instructs display of a predetermined data file as in FIG. The management unit 24 reads a logical hierarchical structure formed by a plurality of directories from the recording unit 14 (S50). A request for displaying a data file is input from the client device 10 to the access unit 20, and the receiving unit 22 receives a request for access to the data file (S52). When the access target is a directory (Y in S54), for example, in the case of “aist” in FIG. 2, the management unit 24 detects path information included in a plurality of management files in the directory (S56). When the plurality of management files are “DATA B-1”, “DATA B-2”, and “DATA B-3”, the read data files are “B-1”, “B-2”, “B” Preparation for arranging data files corresponding to a plurality of management files so as to be arranged in the order of “−3” (S58). Information indicating this order may be included in the management file. In response to an instruction from the instruction unit 30 according to the path information, the access unit 20 reads a data file (S60). Further, the data file is output to the client device 10 to display the data file (S62).

  On the other hand, when the access target is not a directory (N in S54), for example, in the case of the management file “DATA B-1” in the figure, the management unit 24 detects path information included in the management file (S64). ). In response to an instruction from the instruction unit 30 according to the path information, the access unit 20 reads a data file (S66). Further, the data file is output to the client device 10 to display the data file (S68).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a data file search process in the server device 12. The management unit 24 reads a logical hierarchical structure formed by a plurality of directories from the recording unit 14 (S80). A request for data file search is input from the client device 10 to the access unit 20, and the receiving unit 22 receives the instruction (S82). The management unit 24 detects path information included in a plurality of management files in the search target directory (S84). Further, the access unit 20 detects the CPU usage rate in the plurality of processing devices 16 (S86), and inputs the detection result to the management unit 24. When there is a processor whose CPU usage rate is lower than the threshold among the processing devices 16 that have locally recorded the data file to be searched (Y in S88), for example, if the data file “DATA B-1” is to be searched Any one of the CPU usage rates of the first processing unit 40a and the fourth processing unit 40d of the processing device 16 including the first recording unit 42a and the fourth recording unit 42d that locally recorded it is lower than the threshold value. In this case, the determination unit 28 determines the search of the data file in the processing device 16, and the instruction unit 30 instructs the processing device 16 to that effect (S90). On the other hand, if none of the processing devices 16 that have recorded the search target data file locally has a CPU usage rate lower than the threshold (N in S88), step 90 is skipped.

  If there is an unprocessed data file among the search target data files (Y in S92), the determination unit 28 determines the search for the unprocessed data file to the processing device 16 having a low CPU usage rate. The instruction unit 30 instructs the processing device 16 to that effect (S94). When the search processing is executed by the plurality of processing devices 16, the receiving unit 22 acquires path information from the processing devices 16 to the search results (S96). The generation unit 26 generates a management file based on the acquired path information, arranges it in a predetermined directory, and records it in the recording unit 14 (S98). In addition, the access unit 20 outputs the search result to the client device 10.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, regardless of the storage location where the data file is recorded, the data file is managed by the management file in which the path information is described. Therefore, the data file can be managed uniformly. In addition, since the management file is managed by being arranged in a directory forming a hierarchical structure, the operability for the user is improved. Furthermore, the management file can be generated before the corresponding data file is completed, and the data file can be managed regardless of the amount of data at the time of completion of the data file, so that the operability is improved. Since the processing target is changed to a plurality of data files corresponding to one data file or directory according to the size of the processing target data file, operability and high-speed processing can be realized. In addition, since the processing for the data file is assigned to the processing device in which the data file is recorded, the processing can be executed locally and high-speed processing is possible.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the generation unit 26 automatically generates a management file including path information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the management file may be directly generated by the user. In that case, it is generated from the client device 10 via a predetermined interface. According to this modification, a management file including path information that reliably reflects the user's intention can be generated. That is, it is only necessary that the management file including the path information of the data file to be managed is managed by the management unit 24.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, one server device 12 manages a data file and receives an instruction from the client device 10 used by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the server device 12 may be installed in areas such as Japan, the United States, and Europe, and the user may access the nearest server device 12. At this time, since it is necessary to unify data file management information required for processing in the plurality of server apparatuses 12, the plurality of server apparatuses 12 exchange the information as necessary. According to this modification, it is possible to avoid concentration of processing by the server device 12 and congestion of communication lines. That is, it is only necessary that the recording area of the data file corresponds to the management file.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, particularly in FIG. 3, the server device 12 acquires the data file “DATA B-1” from the first processing device 16 a and then sends the data file “DATA B-2” to the second processing device 16 b. , And after obtaining the data file “DATA B-2” from the second processing device 16b, the third processing device 16c is requested to output the data file “DATA B-3”. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the server device 12 requests the second processing device 16b to output the data file “DATA B-2” before acquiring the data file “DATA B-1” from the first processing device 16a. Before obtaining the data file “DATA B-2” from the second processing device 16b, the third processing device 16c may be requested to output the data file “DATA B-3”. According to this modified example, the processing becomes faster.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the server device 12 determines the processing device 16 to be processed so as to be preferentially processed by the processing device 16 that locally records the data file. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the client device 10 instructs a predetermined directory, that is, a set of data files and a program, to the server device 12, the server device 12 causes the plurality of processing devices 16 storing the data files to execute the program. The execution results may be stored in the respective recording units 42, and the server device 12 may also manage the set of generated execution results as a set of data files. According to this modification, further processing of the execution result is facilitated.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the data processing system which concerns on an Example. It is a figure which shows the structure of the file system in the server apparatus of FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process of the data file display instruct | indicated from the client apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the display process of the data file in the server apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the search process of the data file in the server apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Client apparatus, 12 Server apparatus, 14 Recording part, 16 Processing apparatus, 18 Network, 20 Access part, 22 Reception part, 24 Management part, 26 Generation part, 28 Determination part, 30 Instruction part, 40 Processing part, 42 Recording part 100 Data processing system.

Claims (8)

An access unit for accessing a plurality of recording media each recording a plurality of data files via a network;
A generating unit that generates a plurality of management files each including path information for accessing the plurality of data files;
In order to manage the plurality of data files, a management file corresponding to each of the plurality of data files is arranged in a predetermined directory, and the plurality of directories including the directory are logically managed by a hierarchical structure. With a management department,
The access unit accesses a data file recorded on a recording medium based on path information included in a management file in a hierarchical structure including a plurality of directories.   The generation unit generates a management file including a plurality of pieces of path information for accessing the data file when data files having the same contents are recorded on the plurality of recording media. Item 2. The data management device according to Item 1.   The generation unit generates a management file including path information for accessing the data file in the generation stage even when any of the plurality of data files is in the generation stage. The data management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The original data file is divided into a plurality of data files and recorded on at least one of the plurality of recording media,
The management unit manages a plurality of management files respectively corresponding to the plurality of divided data files in a predetermined directory,
A receiving unit that receives an instruction for selecting a predetermined directory from a hierarchical structure including a plurality of directories managed by the management unit;
A plurality of data files corresponding to the plurality of management files arranged in the selected directory are regarded as original data files, and an instruction unit for instructing the access unit to access the original data files is further provided. The data management apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a data management apparatus according to claim 1. The reception unit receives an instruction to select a management file arranged in a predetermined directory from a hierarchical structure including a plurality of directories managed by the management unit,
The data management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the instruction unit instructs the access unit to access a data file corresponding to the selected management file. The plurality of recording media are respectively included in a plurality of data processing devices,
The data management apparatus further includes a receiving unit that receives a processing instruction for a predetermined data file;
Based on the path information included in the management file corresponding to the data file to be processed, the processing on the data file is preferentially executed in the data processing apparatus including the recording medium on which the data file is recorded. A determination unit for determining a data processing device to execute processing;
An instruction unit for instructing the determined data processing apparatus to perform processing via the access unit;
The data management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   In order to manage a plurality of data files recorded on a plurality of recording media via a network, a plurality of management files including path information for accessing the plurality of data files are respectively generated. A data management method comprising arranging in a predetermined directory and further logically managing a plurality of directories by a hierarchical structure. Accessing a plurality of external recording media each recording a plurality of data files via a network;
Generating a plurality of management files each including path information for accessing the plurality of data files;
In order to manage the plurality of data files, a management file corresponding to each of the plurality of data files is arranged in a predetermined directory, and hierarchical structure information in which the plurality of directories form a hierarchical structure is internally recorded. Logically managing by recording on a medium,
The step of accessing via the network includes the step of copying the data file recorded on the recording medium based on the path information included in the management file in a hierarchical structure consisting of a plurality of directories recorded on the internal recording medium. A program that causes a computer to execute access.

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