JP2006185118A - Storage management - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify and facilitate storage management in the case of providing a plurality of storages. <P>SOLUTION: A virtual storage KS specifies the respective subordinate storages S1-S2 by IP addresses and unitarily manages the residual capacity ZS of the respective storages and recorded file data. Then, in receiving a command such as a file write request from a computer C1, the virtual storage KS selects the storage to be the write object on the basis of unitarily managed virtual storage data, and writes a write object file 1 to the selected storage S2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage management apparatus that manages a collection of a plurality of storages connected so as to be able to send and receive data, and more specifically, a storage that is connected so as to be able to send and receive data with a client terminal via a network. It relates to a management device.

  In recent years, connection of storage to a network or a computer has been simplified, and a plurality of storages have been used. In addition, since the data handled via the storage is also increased in capacity such as moving image data, various storage management techniques have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-328110 A

  By the way, although the connection of the storage to the network is simple, when a plurality of storages are used for storing data in a client terminal such as a personal computer via the network, each storage is handled separately for each storage. . Therefore, it is complicated when searching for a file stored in the storage or searching for a file storage destination.

  As a single storage, it is possible to partition the storage capacity and perform file duplication and file division arrangement between the partitioned areas, but such a function requires initialization of the storage. Therefore, it cannot be directly applied to a system having a plurality of storages.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to simplify and simplify storage management when a plurality of storages are provided.

  In order to solve at least a part of such problems, the storage management apparatus of the present invention manages a collection of a plurality of storages connected so as to be able to transmit and receive data, and transmits data to and from client terminals via a network. After connecting so as to be able to transmit and receive, specific information for specifying a plurality of storages is generated by the storage unit, and the generated specific information is stored in association with each of the plurality of storages. In addition, for a plurality of storages under management, the storage monitoring unit monitors the storage capacity usage status of the storage, and the monitoring results are stored for each storage as capacity information about the remaining capacity and file information about stored files. Hold.

  On the other hand, for the client terminal, the file hierarchy data of the stored file that can be acquired by the client terminal is used as the file hierarchy data of the hierarchy in which the stored file is treated equally regardless of the storage that is the storage target of the file. The file layering unit constructs the file layer data and outputs the file layer data to the client terminal. Therefore, the client terminal can recognize the file in which the storage is stored by using the file hierarchy data described above without interposing the storage storing the file. When a file processing command to the storage is received from the client terminal, the command execution unit determines the storage to be executed by the file processing command based on the specific information and capacity information about the storage included in the managed storage set. Select from the storage set and execute a file processing command for the selected storage.

  Therefore, according to the storage management device of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the client terminal can treat each file equally with the file hierarchy data regardless of the storage, and directly access the files stored in a plurality of storages. Therefore, the client terminal can easily handle the storage area of the storage. In addition, when executing a file processing command issued from a client terminal, the storage management device side selects and executes the storage subject to execution of the command, so it is necessary to select the storage subject to execution of the command at the client terminal. As a result, the file processing command output operation is also simplified.

  The storage management apparatus of the present invention described above can take various aspects. For example, when a new storage is additionally connected, the storage unit generates specific information for specifying the additional storage, and stores the generated new specific information in association with the additional storage. The storage monitoring unit also monitors the usage state of the storage capacity of the additional storage in the same manner as the existing storage, and holds the monitoring result as new capacity information file information corresponding to the additional storage. The file tiering unit constructs and outputs file tier data including a stored file in the additional storage. Therefore, the client terminal can recognize the stored file with respect to the additional storage as well as the existing storage by using the above file hierarchy data without interposing this additional storage. Then, the command execution unit selects a storage to be executed by the file processing command from the storage set including the additional storage. Therefore, even when a new storage is added, it can be easily handled.

  In selecting a command execution target storage in the command execution unit, the execution target storage is selected from the storage set with priority given to the specific information stored in the storage unit, or the storage unit stores the specific information corresponding to the storage. It is also possible to select the execution target storage in order or select the execution target storage in the order of the remaining capacity of the capacity information held by the storage monitoring unit.

  In addition, the execution mode of the file processing command by the command execution unit can be set from a predetermined mode. For example, when executing a command such as copying or saving a file, it is possible to perform settings such as dividing a file to execute a plurality of storages or executing a command to distribute a file to a plurality of storages. By doing so, it is not necessary to consider such a command execution mode on the client terminal side, which is convenient.

  In addition, data communication is performed with other storage management devices that manage a set of different storages, and the storage unit specific information, the storage monitoring unit capacity information, and the file information that the other storage management device has The file hierarchy data about the stored file that can be acquired by the client terminal is stored in the storage of another storage management device. The file hierarchy is constructed as hierarchy data by the file hierarchy unit, and the file hierarchy data is output to the client terminal. The storage unit included in the storage set managed by the other storage management device is also set as the execution target of the file processing command by the command execution unit, and the storage included in the storage set managed by the other storage management device. When a file processing command is to be executed, a command execution signal from the command execution unit of the other storage management device is transmitted to another storage management device together with the specific information of the storage to be executed. It can also be done.

  By doing so, it is possible to synchronize the storage management device of the network to which the client terminal is connected and the storage management device connected to a different network. Therefore, the client terminal can easily access a file in a storage connected to a network different from the network to which the terminal is connected without being aware of the storage.

  The above-described storage management of the present invention can be realized in various forms. For example, in addition to the storage management method, a computer program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the storage management device and method, and recording the program It can be realized in the form of a recording medium or the like.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the storage management device 100 according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing contents performed by the storage management device 100.

  The storage management apparatus 100 includes a plurality of storages S1 to S4, and data can be transmitted / received to / from these storages. The storage management apparatus 100 is connected to the computers C1 to C4 via a local area network (LAN) so that data can be transmitted to and received from these computers.

  The storage management device 100 includes a CPU that executes logical operations, a ROM, a RAM, a memory, an I / O port, and the like, and by executing a program provided from these and a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, As will be described later, the plurality of storages S1 to S4 are caused to function as a single virtual storage KS for the computers C1 to C4. The virtual storage KS includes a storage unit 10, a storage monitoring unit 20, a file tiering unit 30, and a command execution unit 40.

  The virtual storage KS generates specific information (for example, IP addresses) for specifying the plurality of storages S1 to S4 in the storage unit 10, and stores the generated specific information in association with the storage. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 10 generates and stores S1 to S4 as IP addresses in the respective storages S1 to S4. In addition, the virtual storage KS monitors the usage status of the storage capacity of the storage for the plurality of storages S1 to S4 by the storage monitoring unit 20, and uses the monitoring result as capacity information (remaining capacity ZS1 to ZS1). ZS4) and file information about the stored file (information such as file name, file size, and division / duplication) are stored for each storage as virtual storage information KSJ. Then, the virtual storage KS has a file hierarchy of a hierarchy in which the file hierarchy data on the stored files that can be acquired by the computers C1 to C4 in the file hierarchy unit 30 is treated equally regardless of the storage that is the storage target of the file. It is constructed as data KST, and the file hierarchy data KST is output to the computers C1 to C4.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the file structure of the virtual storage KS based on the file hierarchy data acquired by the computers C1 to C4. The virtual storage KS generates and holds data only for management of the storages S1 to S4 in addition to data related to files provided to the computers C1 to C4. These data are stored in the file operations of the computers C1 to C4. Will not be provided to the computer. Therefore, description of these data is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the situation where the virtual storage KS is not used, on the computer C1 to C4 side, each of the storages S1 to S4 connected to the storage management device is displayed as an icon. However, the storage management apparatus 100 of this embodiment using the virtual storage KS displays only the virtual storage KS with icons on the computers C1 to C4 side, and the files of this virtual storage KS are shown in FIG. Each file can be displayed from the file hierarchy data described later based on the virtual storage data configuration shown. That is, the computers C1 to C4 can access the files stored in the respective storages without recognizing the storages S1 to S4 that actually store the files.

  Next, file operations performed by the virtual storage KS will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of file setting in the virtual storage KS. As shown in FIG. 4, when storage management is performed by the virtual storage KS, it is possible to select whether the file setting is file distribution arrangement or file division arrangement, and whether the file is duplicated or not. It is said that. A user of the virtual storage KS, for example, a system administrator, displays a dialog box shown in FIG. 4 with a predetermined command and performs file setting in the display. Alternatively, a web screen corresponding to FIG. 4 can be displayed by a browser, and file setting can be performed by a mouse operation on the web screen. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state of file distribution and arrangement, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state of file division and arrangement.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the file distribution arrangement setting, for example, when a file write request command is sent from the computer C1 to the virtual storage KS, the virtual storage KS follows the procedure described later. The file 1 is written in a certain storage, for example, the storage S2. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, in the file division arrangement setting, the virtual storage KS divides the file 1 into, for example, two files, one file block (the first half of the block) into the storage S1, and the other file block. Write (second half of the block) to the other storage S2.

  In response to a write request from a computer, the virtual storage KS writes a file to the storages S1 to S4 as described above in either the distributed arrangement or the divided arrangement set in FIG. File duplication is executed based on ON / OFF of file duplication set in 4. That is, if the file replication is set to OFF, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the corresponding file is written to one of the storages S1 to S4 in a distributed or divided manner. Execute file writing as follows.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the state of file duplication processing in the virtual storage KS under the file distribution arrangement setting. As shown in FIG. 7, when there is a file write request from the computers C1 to C4, the virtual storage KS assigns the corresponding file (file 1 in the figure) to a different storage S1 and storage based on the file replication ON setting. Write to S3. That is, execution / non-execution of file replication is determined on the virtual storage KS side, and primary and secondary files are replicated to different storages, and the computers C1 to C4 are not involved in file replication. The same applies to the file division arrangement setting. When division arrangement and file duplication are ON, one file block (first block) is stored in the storage S1 shown in FIG. 6 and another storage S3 not shown in the figure. Write, the other file block (the second half of the block) is written into the storage S2 shown in FIG. 6 and another storage S4 not shown in the figure.

  When the file writing shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is executed, the remaining capacity ZS and the file information are different in the storages S1 to S4 where the writing is executed. Therefore, the virtual storage KS updates and holds such remaining capacity ZS and file information each time.

  Here, the data configuration in FIG. 2 will be described on the assumption that the above-described file distribution / division or file replication has been performed. Assume that files (file a1 and the like) are stored in the respective storages S1 to S4 as illustrated. Among these files, the file (file a4) in the storage S1 and the file (file b1) in the storage S2 are assumed to be the first half of the block and the second half of the block accompanying the file division arrangement described above. The division information (information such as the file name, block size, and division partner block) in such a divided arrangement is stored as file information in each of the storages S1 to S4. The virtual storage KS also reads such file information, and based on this, the file information (file A1) obtained by combining the file (file a4) of the storage S1 and the file (file b1) of the storage S2 is used as the file hierarchy data KST. Build as a single file. The same applies to the case where the file (file a5) in the storage S1 and the file (file b2) in the storage S2 are in the first half of the block or the second half of the block accompanying the file division arrangement.

  In addition, the file (file c1) and the file (file d1), the file (file c2) and the file (file d2), the file (file c3) and the file (file d3), and the file (file c4) and the like in the storage S3 and the storage S4. It is assumed that the file (file d4) is a primary and secondary file accompanying the file duplication described above. Duplicate information (file name, file size, primary and secondary counterpart files, etc.) when such a file is duplicated is stored as file information in each of the storages S1 to S4. The virtual storage KS also reads such file information, and based on this, the positive file information (file C1) of the file (file c1) in the storage S3 and the file (file d1) in the storage S4 is converted into the file hierarchy data KST. Build as a single file. The same applies to the other primary and secondary files described above.

  On the other hand, in the file distribution arrangement, the file information (file A1, A2, B3, etc.) corresponding to each file of each storage S1 to S4 is constructed as one file of the file hierarchy data KST.

  Here, file operations performed by the virtual storage KS will be described. This file operation is executed by the storage unit 10, the storage monitoring unit 20, the file tiering unit 30, and the command execution unit 40 that constitute the virtual storage KS of the storage management apparatus 100. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process when a file existence confirmation command is issued from the computers C1 to C4 to the virtual storage KS, and FIG. 9 is a new file creation from the computers C1 to C4 to the virtual storage KS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process when a file write command is issued from the computers C1 to C4 to the virtual storage KS.

  The file existence confirmation process in FIG. 8 is executed when the virtual storage KS receives a file existence confirmation command output from the computers C1 to C4. First, whether the current file setting state is distributed setting or division setting. Is determined (step S100). If it is determined that the distribution setting is made with reference to the setting state shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the files to be checked for file existence exist in all the storages S1 to S4 (step S110). ). In this determination, the name of the file whose existence is to be confirmed, the virtual storage information KSJ and the file hierarchy data KST in FIG. 2 are referred to, and if it is determined that the corresponding file does not exist, an error signal to that effect is sent to the computers C1 to C4. This is output (step S120), and this routine is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that the file is included, a signal indicating that the file exists is output to the computers C1 to C4 (step S130), and this routine is terminated.

  Even if it is determined that the setting is divided in step S100, it is determined whether the corresponding file exists in all the storages S1 to S4 under the management of the virtual storage KS as in step S110 in the distribution setting. (Step S140). This determination is as follows.

  As conceptually described with reference to FIG. 6, the divided file is a file that is divided into a plurality of files (two in this embodiment) and then written to the storage. Therefore, at the time of file division, the virtual storage KS generates division information as described later, and stores this division information in addition to the virtual storage information KSJ (specific information / file information) in FIG. For this reason, in the determination in step S140, such division information and the virtual storage information KSJ and file hierarchy data KST in FIG. 2 are referred to. If it is determined that the corresponding file does not exist, the process proceeds to the above-described step S120. An error signal to that effect is output to the computers C1 to C4, and this routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the divided file exists, it is determined whether or not the file is normal based on the division information of the divided file (step S150). If it is determined that the file is normal, a signal indicating that a divided file exists is output (step S160), and this routine is terminated. If it is determined in step S150 that there is an abnormality in the divided file, it is not necessary to leave the abnormal file in the storage, so that the relevant division information is deleted and the virtual storage information KSJ / file hierarchy data KST is related to the relevant file. The data is deleted, the file itself is deleted, and a signal indicating that the divided file does not exist is output (step S170), and this routine is terminated. With such data deletion / file deletion, the virtual storage KS updates and holds the remaining capacity ZS and file information of FIG. 2 for the storage that had the file after the data / file deletion. The virtual storage information KSJ and the file hierarchy data KST are also updated / held.

  The file existence confirmation process is the same when the file read command is transmitted from the computers C1 to C4.

  The process of creating a new file in FIG. 9 is executed when the virtual storage KS receives a new file creation command output from the computers C1 to C4. It is determined whether the setting is distributed or divided (step S200). If it is determined that the setting is distributed, it is determined whether or not a newly created file exists in all the storages S1 to S4 (step S210). Even in this determination, when the virtual storage information KSJ and the file hierarchy data KST in FIG. 2 are referred to and it is determined that the corresponding file exists, a signal to that effect is output to the computers C1 to C4 and the file creation is not executed. (Step S220), this routine is finished.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the newly created file does not exist, the remaining capacities ZS1 to ZS4 for all the storages S1 to S4 under the management of the virtual storage KS are acquired (step S230), and the creation target storage of the new file is selected. It is determined whether the method is the capacity remaining priority or the storage registration priority (step S240). The capacity remaining priority is to select the file processing destinations in descending order of the remaining storage capacity of the storage, and the registration order priority is the registration (generation) of specific information (IP address) assigned to each storage to the virtual storage KS. The file processing destination is selected in order. Whether the capacity remaining priority / registration order priority can be determined in advance during the operation of the virtual storage KS, or may be determined by displaying a pop-up menu or the like each time a file is operated.

  If it is determined that the capacity remaining priority is given, the storage having the largest remaining capacity among the remaining capacity ZS1 to ZS4 in FIG. 2 is specified by the IP address, and a file is created in the storage (step S250). Then, a signal to the effect that the new file creation has been completed is output to the computers C1 to C4 (step S260), and this routine is terminated. If it is determined that the priority is in the order of registration, the previously registered storage is specified by the IP address, a file is created in the storage (step S270), and this routine is terminated through step S260.

  In creating such a file, if there are storages with the same remaining capacity, the storages may be determined in the order of storage registration. Further, if the remaining capacity of the storage specified in step S250 or step S270 is insufficient for creating a new file, the following may be performed.

  If the remaining capacity of the storage specified in the order of registration priority is insufficient, search the storage with the remaining capacity sufficient for file creation in the order of registration, and if the file can be created with the remaining capacity of the searched storage, it will be stored in that storage. Create a file. If such a search is performed and the remaining capacity of each storage is insufficient to create a file, or the remaining capacity of the storage with the largest capacity is insufficient to create a file, the newly created file is as described with reference to FIG. A file may be divided into a plurality of storages using a file division method. In addition, it is also possible to output a signal indicating insufficient capacity without creating a file for the remaining capacity shortage without taking such a file division method.

  Even when it is determined in step S200 that the file is divided, whether or not the file exists in all the storages S1 to S4 under the management of the virtual storage KS, as in the case of the file existence confirmation described above. Determination is made (step S280). Even in this determination, if the above-described division information, the virtual storage information KSJ and the file hierarchy data KST in FIG. 2 are referred to, and it is determined that the corresponding file exists, the process proceeds to the above-described step S220, to that effect. The routine is terminated without outputting a signal to the computers C1 to C4 and executing the creation of a new divided file.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S280 that a newly created divided file does not exist, it is necessary to determine that the divided file constitutes one file when the file to be newly added is divided into two files. The division information (for example, presence / absence of division, file name / file size before division, file name / size of each divided file (file block), etc.) is generated, and this division information is used as virtual storage information KSJ ( It is added to (specific information / file information) and stored (step S290). Then, in order to newly create the divided files in the two storages, the process proceeds to the above-described steps S230 to S260, and a signal to the computer C1 to C4 that the new creation of the divided files is completed. Output, and this routine ends.

  In other words, even when such a new divided file is created, the two storages to be created are selected in the order of storage registration or in order of increasing remaining capacity ZS as described above. In addition, when the remaining capacity of the storage to be created is insufficient, a signal indicating that the capacity is insufficient can be output without creating a divided file. When the virtual storage KS thus creates a new file in the storage, the virtual storage KS updates and holds the remaining capacity ZS and file information of FIG. 2 for the storage.

  The file write process of FIG. 10 is executed when the virtual storage KS receives a file write command output from the computers C1 to C4. First, the file to be written exists in all the storages S1 to S4. Is determined (step S300). Even in this determination, the virtual storage information KSJ and the file hierarchy data KST in FIG. 2 are referred to. If it is determined that the file does not exist, a signal to that effect is output to the computers C1 to C4 (step S310), and this routine is terminated. That is, since there is no file to be written, it is processed as an error. In this case, it is also possible to process as creation of a new file in the processing after step S230 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the file is included, the file is written (overwritten) to the storage having the file (step S320), and this routine is terminated. When the virtual storage KS executes file writing to the storage in this manner, the remaining capacity ZS, virtual storage information KSJ, and file hierarchy data KST in FIG.

  Even when such a file is written, there may be a shortage of capacity in the storage to be written. In this case, in addition to the error signal output of insufficient capacity, as described above, search and identify a storage with sufficient remaining capacity, and if a file can be created with the remaining capacity of the storage, You can also create a file. In this case, since the write target storage is changed, file deletion in the original storage is executed. It is also possible to perform file writing by a file division method. Note that if the file to be written is a file created by dividing in the virtual storage KS at the time of division setting, it is only written for each file block while referring to the division information of the file, and the processing content has already been described. It is as follows.

  Next, a case where a storage is newly added to the storage management apparatus 100 in the virtual storage KS will be described. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the state of storage addition processing in the virtual storage KS when a new storage is added to the storage management apparatus 100. As shown in the figure, when a new storage SN is now connected to the virtual storage KS (physically, the storage management device 100), the new storage SN sends a predetermined management command to the virtual storage KS. Upon receiving this command, the virtual storage KS generates specific information (IP address) for specifying the storage as described above, and the capacity information (remaining capacity ZS1 to ZS4) and file information of the new storage SN. And the virtual storage data shown in FIG. 2 is reconstructed including the new storage SN. As a result, the computers C1 to C4 can access the files in the storage without being aware of the new storage SN. Note that when a new storage SN is connected, the operator (for example, a system administrator) may send a predetermined management command to the virtual storage KS. Further, instead of sending the management command, an identification number for identifying the storage can be sent.

  The addition of a new storage may be performed not on the storage management apparatus 100 but on the LAN to which the management apparatus is connected. Even in this case, the new storage SN connected / added to the LAN sends a predetermined management command to the virtual storage KS via the LAN, or the system administrator sends a predetermined management command. Upon receiving this command, the virtual storage KS generates specific information (IP address) for specifying the storage as described above, and the capacity information (remaining capacity ZS1 to ZS4) and file information of the new storage SN. And the virtual storage data shown in FIG. 2 is reconstructed including the new storage SN. The virtual storage KS then connects the computers C1 to C4 to the LAN connection / additional storage so that the storage directly connected / added to the LAN can be managed in the same manner as the existing storage directly connected to the storage management apparatus 100. Prohibit access. As a result, the computers C1 to C4 can access files on the LAN connection / additional storage via the virtual storage KS without being aware of the new storage SN.

  Next, a situation where different virtual storages KS are connected via a network (for example, the Internet) will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state of processing when different virtual storages KS are connected via a network. As shown in the figure, the virtual storage KS1 connected to the computers C1 to C2 via the LAN and placed under the management of the storages S1 to S2, and the computers C10 to C11 connected via the LAN to manage the storages S10 to S11. Data can be transmitted to and received from the virtual storage KS10 placed on the Internet.

  First, in the mutual virtual storage KS, the self-recognition codes are transmitted and received, and it is confirmed whether they can be managed under each other. For example, when the virtual storage KS1 is installed at the head office in Nagoya and the virtual storage KS10 is installed at the Tokyo branch office, one virtual storage KS (for example, virtual The storage KS10) sends a predetermined management command to the other virtual storage KS (virtual storage KS1) via the Internet in the same manner as the one additional storage described above. The virtual storage KS1 that has received this command generates specific information (IP address) for specifying the virtual storage KS10, and stores the virtual storage data of this virtual storage KS10 in the storage as in the case of the storage management described above. In this case, the capacity information (remaining capacity ZS1 to ZS4) and file information (see FIG. 2) are obtained in the same manner, and new virtual storage data including the virtual storage KS10 is reconstructed.

  Therefore, the computers C1 to C2 on the virtual storage KS1 side start the storages S1 to S2 under the management of the virtual storage KS1 and the storages S10 to S11 under the management of the other virtual storage KS10 connected via the Internet. It becomes possible to access the file of the storage without being conscious of. In other words, the virtual storage KS1 and the virtual storage KS10 connected via the network can be synchronized.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a set of a plurality of storages S1 to S4 connected so as to be able to transmit and receive data is centrally managed by the virtual storage KS, and the specific information of these storages S1 to S4 The capacity information and file information of each storage are stored (see FIG. 2). The virtual storage KS has a hierarchy in which the stored files of each storage are treated equally regardless of the storage, as shown in FIG. 2, for the computers C1 to C4 capable of transmitting and receiving data via the network (LAN). Provided as file hierarchy data. Therefore, the computers C1 to C4 can recognize the files stored in the storages S1 to S4 with the file hierarchy data described above without interposing the storage storing the files. When the virtual storage KS receives a file processing command such as file writing from the computers C1 to C4, the virtual storage KS selects a storage to be executed by the command from the storages S1 to S4 based on the virtual storage data of FIG. Then, a file processing command is executed for the selected storage.

  For this reason, when the virtual storage KS is started by a program in the storage management apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the computers C1 to C4 store each file in the file hierarchy data (virtual storage data) of FIG. It can be handled equally and can directly access files stored in multiple storages. Therefore, the computers C1 to C4 can easily handle the storage area of the storage. In addition, when executing the file processing commands issued from the computers C1 to C4, the virtual storage KS selects and executes the execution target storage of the command, so that the computers C1 to C4 store the execution target storage of the command. Since there is no need to select, the file processing command output operation is also simplified.

  In the present embodiment, when a new storage is newly connected to the virtual storage KS, or when another virtual storage KS is connected via a network, these new storage and other virtual storage KS In addition, specific information is generated / stored and data is acquired, and file hierarchy data including these new storages and other virtual storages KS is constructed and output. Therefore, the computers C1 to C4 can recognize the file stored in the additional storage / other virtual storage KS with the virtual storage data of FIG. 2 without interposing the additional storage or other virtual storage KS. For this reason, even when a storage is newly added or even when another virtual storage KS is connected via a network, it can be easily dealt with.

  Further, for example, when executing a command such as creating a new file, the execution mode is determined and executed by the virtual storage KS. Therefore, the computers C1 to C4 do not need to consider the command execution mode, and are simple.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the storage management apparatus 100 of an Example. It is explanatory drawing explaining the processing content which the storage management apparatus 100 performs. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the mode of the file structure of the virtual storage KS which the computers C1-C4 acquired. It is explanatory drawing explaining the mode of the file setting in virtual storage KS. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the mode of the file distribution arrangement | positioning in virtual storage KS. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the mode of the file division | segmentation arrangement | positioning in virtual storage KS. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the mode of the file replication process in virtual storage KS. It is a flowchart which shows the mode of a process when the file existence confirmation command is issued with respect to virtual storage KS from computer C1-C4. It is a flowchart which shows the mode of a process when the new creation command of a file is issued with respect to virtual storage KS from the computers C1-C4. It is a flowchart which shows the mode of a process when the file write command is issued with respect to virtual storage KS from the computers C1-C4. 4 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state of a storage addition process in a virtual storage KS when a storage is newly added to the storage management apparatus 100. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the mode of a process in case different virtual storage KS is connected via the network.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Memory | storage part 20 ... Storage monitoring part 30 ... File hierarchization part 40 ... Command execution part 100 ... Storage management apparatus C1-C4 ... Computer KS ... Virtual storage S1- S4 ... Storage

Claims (9)

A storage management device that is a collection target of a plurality of storages that are connected so as to be able to send and receive data, and that is connected to be able to send and receive data with a client terminal via a network,
A storage unit that generates specific information for specifying the plurality of storages, and stores the generated specific information in association with each of the plurality of storages;
A storage monitoring unit that monitors the usage status of the storage capacity of the storage for the plurality of storages, and holds the monitoring result for each storage as capacity information about the remaining capacity and file information about stored files;
The file hierarchy data of the stored file that can be acquired by the client terminal is constructed as file hierarchy data of a hierarchy in which the stored file is treated equally regardless of the storage that is the storage target of the file, and the file hierarchy data A file layering unit for outputting to the client terminal;
When receiving a file processing command to the storage from the client terminal, based on the specific information and the capacity information of the storage included in the managed storage set, the storage to be executed of the file processing command is A storage management device comprising: a command execution unit that selects from a storage set and executes the file processing command on the selected storage. The storage management device according to claim 1,
When additional storage is connected,
The storage unit generates specific information for specifying the additional storage, stores the generated new specific information in association with the additional storage,
The storage monitoring unit monitors the usage state of the storage capacity of the additional storage, holds the monitoring result as new capacity information file information,
The file tiering unit constructs and outputs the file tier data including a stored file of the additional storage,
The storage management device, wherein the command execution unit selects a storage to be executed by the file processing command from the storage set including the additional storage. The storage management device according to claim 1 or 2,
The storage management device, wherein the command execution unit selects the storage to be executed by the file processing command from the storage set with priority on the specific information stored in the storage unit. The storage management device according to claim 3,
The storage management device, wherein the command execution unit selects a storage to be executed by the file processing command from the storage set in the order in which the storage unit stores the specific information corresponding to the storage. The storage management device according to claim 1 or 2,
The storage management device, wherein the command execution unit selects a storage to be executed by the file processing command from the storage set in descending order of capacity remaining in the capacity information held by the storage monitoring unit. The storage management device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Furthermore,
A storage management device comprising: an execution mode setting unit for setting an execution mode of a file processing command by the command execution unit from a predetermined mode. The storage management device according to claim 1,
Communicate data with other storage management devices that manage different sets of storage,
Obtain the storage unit specific information, the storage monitoring unit capacity information and file information that the other storage management device has, perform storage by the storage unit, hold information by the storage management unit,
File hierarchy data for the stored file that can be acquired by the client terminal is constructed in the file hierarchy unit as file hierarchy data including a file stored in the storage of the other storage management device, and the file hierarchy Outputting data to the client terminal;
The storage included in the storage set to be managed by the obtained other storage management device is also the execution target of the file processing command by the command execution unit,
When the storage included in the storage set managed by the other storage management device is the execution target of the file processing command, the command execution unit of the other storage management device is used to execute the file processing command. A storage management device that transmits a command execution execution signal together with the specific information of the storage to be executed. Management processing of a plurality of storages connected to a storage management apparatus that is connected to a client terminal via a network and that is a collection of a plurality of storages that are connected so as to be able to send and receive data. A computer program for executing
A function of generating specific information for specifying the plurality of storages, and storing the generated specific information in association with each of the plurality of storages;
A function of monitoring the usage status of the storage capacity of the storage for the plurality of storages, and holding the monitoring result for each storage as capacity information about the remaining capacity and file information about the stored files;
The file hierarchy data of the stored file that can be acquired by the client terminal is constructed as file hierarchy data of a hierarchy in which the stored file is treated equally regardless of the storage that is the storage target of the file, and the file hierarchy data A function for outputting to the client terminal;
When receiving a file processing command to the storage from the client terminal, based on the specific information and the capacity information of the storage included in the managed storage set, the storage to be executed of the file processing command is A function of selecting from a storage set and executing the file processing command on the selected storage;
A computer program for causing the storage management apparatus to realize   A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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