Method and an apparatus for managing access path

Abstract

The present invention grasps in advance a portion in which traffic is concentrated and which may become a bottleneck and simplifies management of an access path. In a storage network system that forms multiple paths between a large-capacity data storage device and a host computer that employs the data storage device, and transfers data by means of a selected path, access paths are managed by a management server. The management server selects a second access path that can be used as a replacement of a first access path that connects the data storage device with the host computer, and calculates the quantity of traffic on the first access path which is associated with a device disposed on the first access path. Also, the management server calculates a variation of the quantity of traffic on the second access path which is associated with a device disposed on the second access path taking the calculated quantity of traffic into consideration. Then, the management server determines whether the device on the second access path causes a bottleneck or not, according to the calculated value of the variation of traffic on the second access path. The management servertransfers the determined result to the outside, for example, a display device, and notifies a manager of the determined result.