A storage subsystem and a storage controller adapted to take advantage of high
data transfer rates of fiber channels while offering enhanced reliability and availability
and capable of connecting with a plurality of host computers having multiple different
interfaces. A loop is provided to serve as a common loop channel having fiber channel
interfaces. Host interface controllers (HIFC) connected to host computers having
different interfaces permit conversion between the fiber channel interface and
a different interface as needed. Control processors, shared by the host interface
controllers, each reference FCAL (fiber channel arbitrated loop) management information
to capture a frame having an address of the processor in question from among the
frames passing through the loop. I/O processing is then carried out by the controller
in accordance with a range of logical unit numbers (LUN) set in the captured frame.