According to prior art techniques, it is not possible to set virtual
groups of network devices between SANs and IP networks and to provide
virtual connection control of network devices between SANs and IP
networks. A network system having an IP network for interconnecting
network devices constituting SANs, is provided with a virtual group
conversion device for converting, when information including an
identifier for identifying a virtual group in the IP network is received,
the received identifier into an identifier for identifying a virtual
group in the SANs and transmitting the converted identifier to a SAN
virtual group setting device, and for converting, when information
including an identifier for identifying a virtual group in the SANs is
received, the received identifier into an identifier for identifying a
virtual group in the IP network and transmitting the converted identifier
to an IP virtual group setting device.