EP0551718A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for ensuring write data integrity in a redundant array data storage system
Assignee: Tandem Computers Inc
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Filing: 1992-10-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for ensuring the completion and integrity of data modification operations to a redundant array data storage system and for ensuring the integrity of redundancy values in such a system. The system combines four elements: reliable host processing provided by primary and secondary CPU's with check pointing of operations, so that the secondary CPU can complete initiation of a data modification operation if the primary CPU fails; block-buffering of Write data in a host CPU adapter before transmission of the data to a RAID array controller, so that failure of the host CPU after buffering completes does not interfere with completion of the data modification operation; reliable array processing provided by primary and secondary array controllers with check pointing of operations, so that the secondary array controller can complete a data modification operation if the primary array controller fails; and battery-backup for the power supply to the array controller and the storage units comprising the storage array, or, in the alternative, non-volatile memory in the array controller sufficient to store all data modification operation command information for data records that have not been successfully written to the storage units, for use in subsequent retries.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Lui
- 👤 Mark S. Walker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/08; G06F11/10; G06F11/1076; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2089; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/2015; G06F11/202; G06F11/2038; G06F11/2097; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/10; G06F2211/1002; G06F2211/104; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/70; G11C29/74; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/911; Y10S706/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for ensuring the completion and integrity of data modification operations to a redundant data storage array subsystem, comprising: a. first host processor means for initiating data modification operations for data records and for generating host check point information about said data modification operations; b. second host processor means, coupled to the first host processor means, for receiving the host check point information and for assuming control of initiated data modification operations if the first host processor means fails; c. first and second buffer means, coupled to the first and second host processor means, for receiving entire generated data modification operations from the first or second host processor means, whereby subsequent failure of either host processor means does not affect the received data modification operations; d. a redundant array of data storage means for storing data records indicated by said data modification operations; e. first array processor means, coupled to the first buffer means and to the redundant array of data storage means, for receiving data modification operations from the first buffer means, for controlling the completion of the data modification operations to the redundant array of data storage means, and for generating array check point information about said data modification operations; f. second array processor means, coupled to the second buffer means, to the redundant array of data storage means, and to the first array processor means, for receiving data modification operations from the second buffer means, for receiving the array check point information, and for assuming control of the completion of the data modification operations if the first array processor means fails.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of Claim 1, wherein each array processor means further includes non-volatile storage means for storing selected information about each data modification operation until such data modification operation is completed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of Claim 2, wherein the stored information is used to validate redundancy records in the redundant array of data storage means for uncompleted data modification operations after a power loss to the redundant array of data storage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of Claim 3, wherein the stored information is communicated to one of the host processors, and wherein the receiving host processor includes means for re-initiating uncompleted data modification operations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of Claim 1, further including a battery backup means, coupled to the first and second array processor means, and to the redundant array of data storage means, for supplying electrical power to the first and second array processor means and the redundant array of data storage means if the primary power supply thereto fails.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
278 words
A method for ensuring the completion and integrity of data modification operations to a redundant data storage array subsystem, comprising the steps of: a. providing a first host processor means for initiating data modification operations for data records and for generating host check point information about said data modification operations; b. providing a second host processor means, coupled to the first host processor means, for receiving the host check point information and for assuming control of initiated data modification operations if the first host processor means fails; c. providing first and second buffer means, coupled to the first and second host processor means, for receiving entire generated data modification operations from the first or second host processor means, whereby subsequent failure of either host processor means does not affect the received data modification operations; d. providing a redundant array of data storage means for storing data records indicated by said data modification operations; e. providing a first array processor means, coupled to the first buffer means and to the redundant array of data storage means, for receiving data modification operations from the first buffer means, for controlling the completion of the data modification operations to the redundant array of data storage means, and for generating array check point information about said data modification operations; f. providing a second array processor means, coupled to the second buffer means, to the redundant array of data storage means, and to the first array processor means, for receiving data modification operations from the second buffer means, for receiving the array check point information, and for assuming control of the completion of the data modification operations if the first array processor means fails.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of Claim 6, further including the step of storing selected information about each data modification operation in a non-volatile storage component until such data modification operation is completed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of Claim 7, further including the step of using the stored information to validate redundancy records in the redundant array of data storage means for uncompleted data modification operations after a power loss to the redundant array of data storage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of Claim 8, further including the step of communicating the stored information to one of the host processors, and using the stored information in such host processor to re-initiate uncompleted data modification operations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of Claim 6, further including the step of providing a battery backup means, coupled to the first and second array processor means, and to the redundant array of data storage means, for supplying electrical power to the first and second array processor means and the redundant array of data storage means if the primary power supply thereto fails.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for ensuring the completion and integrity of data modification operations to a redundant data storage array subsystem, comprising the steps of: a. initiating data modification operations for data records in a first host processor, and generating host check point information about said data modification operations; b. receiving the host check point information in a second host processor, and assuming control by the second host processor of initiated data modification operations if the first host processor fails; c. receiving entire generated data modification operations in first and second buffers, whereby subsequent failure of either host processor does not affect the received data modification operations; d. receiving data modification operations from the first buffer in a first array processor, the first array processor controlling completion of the data modification operations to a redundant array of data storage means and generation of array check point information about said data modification operations; e. receiving the data modification operations from the second buffer and the array check point information from the first array processor in a second array processor, the second array processor assuming control of the completion of the data modification operations if the first array processor fails.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of Claim 11, further including the step of storing selected information about each data modification operation in a non-volatile storage component until such data modification operation is completed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of Claim 12, further including the step of using the stored information to validate redundancy records in the redundant array of data storage means for uncompleted data modification operations after a power loss to the redundant array of data storage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of Claim 13, further including the step of re-initiating uncompleted data modification operations indicated by the stored information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of Claim 11, further including supplying electrical power to the first and second array processor means and the redundant array of data storage means from a battery backup system if the primary power supply thereto fails.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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