System having table storing plurality of optimal patrol seek schemes for respective disk drives and executing associated scheme based upon inputted disk device name

摘要

A data processing system having a magnetic disk apparatus that includes a patrol seek system that provides for the altering of a patrol seek method. The patrol seek system provides for the selection of a patrol seek method for executing an optimal patrol seek based on the performance characteristics of a high density magnetic disk apparatus. The patrol seek system, equipped with a plurality of high density magnetic disk apparatuses, includes a patrol seek management table for storing patrol seek information for a high density magnetic disk apparatus, a system start processing means, an optimal processing decision means for selecting and deciding the optimal patrol seek method, an input/output means for reading the patrol seek management table, analyzing requests to alter the patrol seek method, and selecting and starting a particular patrol seek process, a patrol seek stopping means, a seek processing means for executing seek processing on a plurality of high density magnetic disk apparatuses on the basis of the contents of the patrol seek management table, and a system shutdown processing means for stopping the patrol seek. The patrol seek system can also include a terminal from which a user can alter the patrol seek method. Furthermore, a patrol seek information display can be included for displaying the information stored in the patrol seek management table.