US5479653A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Disk array apparatus and method which supports compound raid configurations and spareless hot sparing
Assignee: PURE FLASH INC
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Filing: 1994-07-14
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Granted: 1995-12-26
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Expires: 2014-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A disk array architecture which supports compound RAID configurations and which can automatically switch between various RAID configurations in case of drive failures to prevent data loss and retain data redundancy. In the preferred embodiment, the disk array system of the present invention begins operation with an array configuration that implements a maximum of data redundancy using all of the available disk drives. As drive failures occur, the disk array system automatically reconfigures one or more of the drives to other RAID configurations which utilize less data redundancy and thus require a lesser number of drives. This automatic reconfiguration occurs until the least amount of redundancy remains, or no redundancy remains. In this manner, the disk array system initially takes advantage of all of the available drives for maximum performance and redundancy while still retaining a high level of fault tolerance. Also, no human intervention is immediately required to replace a failed disk drive because the disk array system automatically reconfigures one or more drives to a different scheme to compensate for the failed drive while still retaining some level of redundancy. As subsequent drive failures occur after a first failure and prior to installation of respective replacement drives, no data will be lost up to a point because the disk array system simply reconfigures one or more of the drives to a different RAID scheme using less redundancy.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2094; G06F11/08; G06F11/10; G06F11/1076; G06F11/1084; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G11B20/18; G11B20/1883; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/70; G11C29/88; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/10; G06F2211/1002; G06F2211/1004; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for supporting compound configurations in a disk array system comprising a disk array including a plurality of disk drives and a disk array controller coupled to the disk array, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the disk array according to a first configuration; the disk array controller determining that a first disk drive failure has occurred, wherein one or more of the drives comprising said drive array remain functioning properly after said disk drive failure; and the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring one or more of the one or more functioning drives comprising said drive array into a second configuration in response to said first disk drive failure being determined to have occurred in said step of determining.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for supporting compound configurations in a disk array system comprising a disk array including a plurality of disk drives and a disk array controller coupled to the disk array, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the disk array according to a first configuration; the disk array controller determining that a first disk drive failure has occurred, wherein one or more of the drives comprising said drive array remain functioning properly after said disk drive failure; and the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring one or more of the one or more functioning drives comprising said drive array into a second configuration in response to said first disk drive failure being determined to have occurred in said step of determining.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first configuration incorporates greater data redundancy than said second configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said first configuration comprises a RAID 1 configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of reconfiguring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 4 configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of reconfiguring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 5 configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first configuration comprises a full RAID 1 configuration and said plurality of drives comprising said array are configured as mirrored pairs, wherein said disk drive failure involves a disk drive in one of said mirrored pairs, wherein said step of reconfiguring comprises combining the remaining disk drive from said mirrored pair where said disk drive failure occurred with another mirrored pair to form a three drive set using said second configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: replacing the first failed disk drive with an operational drive; and the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring said one or more of the drives comprising said drive array from the second configuration to the first configuration using said operational drive after said step of replacing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining if a second disk drive failure has occurred; and reconfiguring one or more of the drives comprising said drive array into a third configuration if a second disk drive failure was determined to have occurred in said step of second disk drive failure determining.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said third configuration includes less data redundancy than said second configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining if said disk array is in a configuration of a third type after said step of determining that a disk drive failure has occurred; wherein said step of reconfiguring is performed only if said disk array is not in said third type of configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said third type of configuration comprises a pure RAID 4 configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said third type of configuration comprises a pure RAID 5 configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising: replacing the second failed disk drive with an operational drive; and the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring said one or more of the drives comprising said drive array from the third configuration to the second configuration using said operational drive after said step of replacing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising: replacing the first and second failed disk drives with operational drives; and the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring said one or more of the drives comprising said drive away from the third configuration to the first configuration using said operational drives after said step of replacing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
A disk drive array system which supports compound configurations, comprising: a disk drive array having a first configuration; and a disk drive array controller coupled to said disk array, comprising: disk drive failure detection logic which detects when a drive failure occurs; and reconfiguration logic coupled to said disk drive failure logic and said disk drive array which reconfigures one or more disk drives in said disk drive array according to a second configuration if said disk drive failure detection logic detects a drive failure; wherein said reconfiguration logic reconfigures one or more disk drives in said disk drive array each time after said disk drive failure detection logic detects a drive failure for a plurality of times.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
A disk drive array system which supports compound configurations, comprising: a disk drive array having a first configuration; and a disk drive array controller coupled to said disk array, comprising: disk drive failure detection logic which detects when a drive failure occurs; and reconfiguration logic coupled to said disk drive failure logic and said disk drive array which reconfigures one or more disk drives in said disk drive array according to a second configuration if said disk drive failure detection logic detects a drive failure; wherein said reconfiguration logic reconfigures one or more disk drives in said disk drive array each time after said disk drive failure detection logic detects a drive failure for a plurality of times.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The disk drive array system of claim 15, wherein said first configuration includes greater data redundancy than said second configuration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The disk drive array system of claim 16, wherein said first configuration comprises a RAID 1 configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The disk drive array system of claim 15, wherein said reconfiguration logic reconfigures one or more of said drives according to a RAID 4 configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The disk drive array system of claim 15, wherein said reconfiguration logic reconfigures one or more of said drives according to a RAID 5 configuration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The disk drive array system of claim 15, wherein said reconfiguration logic reconfigures one or more disk drives in said disk drive array to a configuration having less redundancy each time after said disk drive failure detection logic detects a drive failure for a plurality of times.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The disk drive array system of claim 15, wherein said reconfiguration logic reconfigures said one or more disk drives in said disk drive array from the second configuration to the first configuration if the failed disk drive is replaced.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for supporting compound configurations in a disk array system comprising a disk array including a plurality of disk drives and a disk array controller coupled to the disk array, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the disk array according to a first configuration; the disk array controller determining if a disk drive failure has occurred, wherein one or more of the drives comprising said drive array remain functioning properly after said disk drive failure; and. the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring one or more of the one or more functioning drives comprising said drive array into a configuration having less redundancy than said first configuration if a disk drive failure is determined to have occurred in said step of determining; and the disk controller repeatedly performing said steps of determining and reconfiguring for a plurality of disk drive failures.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for supporting compound configurations in a disk array system comprising a disk array including a plurality of disk drives and a disk array controller coupled to the disk array, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the disk array according to a first configuration; the disk array controller determining if a disk drive failure has occurred, wherein one or more of the drives comprising said drive array remain functioning properly after said disk drive failure; and. the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring one or more of the one or more functioning drives comprising said drive array into a configuration having less redundancy than said first configuration if a disk drive failure is determined to have occurred in said step of determining; and the disk controller repeatedly performing said steps of determining and reconfiguring for a plurality of disk drive failures.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said step of reconfiguring reconfigures one or more of the drives comprising said drive array into a configuration having less redundancy than the configuration of said one or more drives when said disk drive failure occurred.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said first configuration comprises a RAID 1 configuration.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said step of reconfiguring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 4 configuration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said step of reconfiguring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 5 configuration.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said first configuration comprises a full RAID 1 configuration and said plurality of drives comprising said array are configured as mirrored pairs, wherein said disk drive failure involves a disk drive in one of said mirrored pairs, wherein said step of reconfiguring comprises combining the remaining disk drive from said mirrored pair where said disk drive failure occurred with another mirrored pair to form a three drive set using said less redundant configuration.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising: replacing a failed disk drive with an operational drive; and the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring said one or more of the drives comprising said drive array from a less redundant configuration to a more redundant configuration using said operational drive after said step of replacing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising: determining if said disk array is in a configuration of a second type after said step of determining if a disk drive failure has occurred; wherein said step of reconfiguring is performed only if said disk array is not in said second type of configuration.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said second type of configuration comprises a pure RAID 4 configuration.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said second type of configuration comprises a pure RAID 5 configuration.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for supporting compound configurations in a disk array system comprising a disk array including a plurality of disk drives and a disk array controller coupled to the disk array, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the disk array according to a first configuration, wherein said first configuration comprises a full RAID 1 configuration and said plurality of drives comprising said array are configured as mirrored pairs; determining that a first disk drive failure has occurred, wherein said disk drive failure involves a disk drive in one of said mirrored pairs; and reconfiguring one or more of the drives comprising said drive array into a second configuration in response to said first disk drive failure, wherein said step of reconfiguring comprises combining the remaining disk drive from said mirrored pair where said disk drive failure occurred with another mirrored pair to form a three drive set using said second configuration.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for supporting compound configurations in a disk array system comprising a disk array including a plurality of disk drives and a disk array controller coupled to the disk array, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the disk array according to a first configuration, wherein said first configuration comprises a full RAID 1 configuration and said plurality of drives comprising said array are configured as mirrored pairs; determining that a first disk drive failure has occurred, wherein said disk drive failure involves a disk drive in one of said mirrored pairs; and reconfiguring one or more of the drives comprising said drive array into a second configuration in response to said first disk drive failure, wherein said step of reconfiguring comprises combining the remaining disk drive from said mirrored pair where said disk drive failure occurred with another mirrored pair to form a three drive set using said second configuration.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of line 32, wherein said step of configuring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 4 configuration.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of line 32, wherein said step of configuring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 4 configuration.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of line 32, wherein said step of configuring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 5 configuration.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of line 32, wherein said step of configuring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 5 configuration.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 32, further comprising: replacing a failed disk drive with an operational drive; and the disk array controller automatically reconfiguring said one or more of the drives comprising said drive array from a less redundant configuration to a more redundant configuration using said operational drive after said step of replacing.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for supporting compound configurations in a disk array system comprising a disk array including a plurality of disk drives and a disk array controller coupled to the disk array, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the disk array according to a first configuration; determining if a first disk drive failure has occurred; reconfiguring one or more of the drives comprising said drive array into a second configuration if a first disk drive failure is determined to have occurred in said step of determining; determining if a second disk drive failure has occurred; and reconfiguring one or more of the drives comprising said drive array into a third configuration if a second disk drive failure was determined to have occurred in said step of second disk drive failure determining.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for supporting compound configurations in a disk array system comprising a disk array including a plurality of disk drives and a disk array controller coupled to the disk array, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the disk array according to a first configuration; determining if a first disk drive failure has occurred; reconfiguring one or more of the drives comprising said drive array into a second configuration if a first disk drive failure is determined to have occurred in said step of determining; determining if a second disk drive failure has occurred; and reconfiguring one or more of the drives comprising said drive array into a third configuration if a second disk drive failure was determined to have occurred in said step of second disk drive failure determining.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 31, wherein said second configuration incorporates less data redundancy than said first configuration, wherein said third configuration includes less data redundancy than said second configuration.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 37, wherein said first configuration comprises a RAID 1 configuration.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 31, wherein one or more of said steps of reconfiguring comprises reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 4 configuration.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 31, wherein one or more of said steps of reconfiguring comprise reconfiguring one or more of said drives according to a RAID 5 configuration.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 31, further comprising: replacing the second failed disk drive with an operational drive; and reconfiguring said one or more of the drives comprising said drive array from the third configuration to the second configuration using said operational drive after said step of replacing.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 41, further comprising: replacing the first failed disk drive with an operational drive; and reconfiguring said one or more of the drives comprising said drive array from the second configuration to the first configuration using said operational drive after said step of replacing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5265098A
Cited
US5301297A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-25 | 1999-06-26 | 1999-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-25 | 2003-06-26 | 2003-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-25 | 2007-06-26 | 2007-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |