In a storage switch to control a snapshot operation in the file unit, the
delay in the writing operation of a host due to a data saving operation
is prevented. In a snapshot acquiring method, the memory usage in a
switch is reduced to create a snapshot. The storage switch includes a
function to create a snapshot of a file. To prevent occurrence of delay
due to the data saving operation, a mirror of source data as a snapshot
target is kept in a source volume in any situation or according to a
predetermined condition with synchronization established between the
mirror and the source data. In the creation of the snapshot, the mirror
data is used. By creating the mirror data in sequential positions in the
source volume, the positional correspondence between the source side and
the snapshot side is simplified.