Reduction of the initial investment cost of a user of a storage system can
be realized, and the user of the storage system can easily perform timely
addition for a short time. In a preferred embodiment, a method for
renting and charging the storage system includes the steps of: reading a
used volume from a use management table held in the storage system; and
sending the read used volume from the storage system to a charging
system. Preferably, the storage system has means for allowing an owner to
grasp that a user starts using the storage system, wherein the owner
rents to the user a storage system having a disk volume, a cache volume,
and other components more than the user's increase intension, charges for
a used volume of the user for a fixed period, and reviews the added
volume and the charged cost on the fixed period basis.