US5961652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Read checking for drive rebuild
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 1997-06-23
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Granted: 1999-10-05
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Expires: 2017-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A new and improved apparatus and method for rebuilding a replacement disk of a fault tolerant, mass storage drive array subsystem of a computer system. The method calls for a microprocessor to check a stripe for consistency. If the stripe is inconsistent, the microprocessor rebuilds a predetermined number of stripes. If the checked stripe is inconsistent, then the microprocessor checks a next stripe and repeats the above-described process. Because the drive array subsystem receives both system requests and rebuild requests, the present invention allows a user to select the drive array subsystem's priority in processing system requests versus rebuild requests, thereby allowing greater system access to the drive array subsystem during peak times of system requests.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark J. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/08; G06F11/10; G06F11/1076; G06F11/1092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
For use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage drive array subsystem having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives, a method for rebuilding a replacement disk drive within the array, said method comprising the steps of: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; rebuilding the data in the portion of said first stripe of said replacement disk drive if said first stripe is not consistent; and repeating said steps of reading, checking and rebuilding until said replacement disk drive is rebuilt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
For use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage drive array subsystem having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives, a method for rebuilding a replacement disk drive within the array, said method comprising the steps of: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; rebuilding the data in the portion of said first stripe of said replacement disk drive if said first stripe is not consistent; and repeating said steps of reading, checking and rebuilding until said replacement disk drive is rebuilt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the fault tolerance method is parity-based and wherein the step of rebuilding utilizes an XOR parity technique of the information from the disks drives in the plurality of disk drives other than the replacement disk drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of disk drives includes a rebuild drive and a mirror drive, and wherein the fault tolerance method is mirroring and wherein the step of rebuilding copies information from the mirror drive in the plurality of disk drives.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of rebuilding further includes rebuilding the data in the portion of a plurality of consecutive stripes of said replacement disk drive after said first stripe without determining the consistency of said plurality of consecutive stripes if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said method is performed by said drive array subsystem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
For use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage drive array subsystem having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives, a logical volume being formed by a plurality of stripes, a method for rebuilding a replaced portion of a logical volume within the drive array subsystem, said method comprising the steps of: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; rebuilding the data in said replaced portion of said first stripe of said logical volume if said first stripe is not consistent; and repeating said steps of reading, checking and rebuilding until said logical volume is rebuilt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
For use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage drive array subsystem having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives, a logical volume being formed by a plurality of stripes, a method for rebuilding a replaced portion of a logical volume within the drive array subsystem, said method comprising the steps of: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; rebuilding the data in said replaced portion of said first stripe of said logical volume if said first stripe is not consistent; and repeating said steps of reading, checking and rebuilding until said logical volume is rebuilt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the fault tolerance method is parity-based and wherein the step of rebuilding utilizes an XOR parity technique of the information from th e remaining portions of the logical volume other than the replaced portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the logical volume has a replace portion and a mirror portion, and wherein the fault tolerance method is mirroring and wherein the step of rebuilding copies information from the mirror portion of the logical volume.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of rebuilding further includes rebuilding the data in the replaced portion of a plurality of consecutive stripes of said logical volume after said first stripe if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said method is performed by said drive array subsystem.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A disk array controller for use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a replacement disk drive, said disk array controller comprising: a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of such code: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding the data in the portion of said first stripe of said replacement disk drive if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
A disk array controller for use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a replacement disk drive, said disk array controller comprising: a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of such code: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding the data in the portion of said first stripe of said replacement disk drive if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The disk array controller of claim 11, wherein the disk drive array uses parity-based fault tolerance and wherein said local processor rebuildes utilizing an XOR parity technique of the information from disk drives in the plurality of disk drives other than the replacement disk drive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The disk array controller of claim 11, wherein the plurality of disk drives including a rebuild drive and mirror drive, and wherein the disk drive array uses mirror-based fault tolerance and wherein said local processor rebuilds copies information from the mirror drive in the plurality of disk drives.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The disk array controller of claim 11, wherein said local processor rebuilding further rebuilds the data in the portion of a plurality of consecutive stripes of the replacement disk drive after the first stripe without determining the consistency of said plurality of consecutive stripes if the first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
A disk array controller for use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a logical volume being formed by a plurality of stripes, the logical volume having a replaced portion, the disk array controller comprising: a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of such code: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding the replaced portion of said first stripe of said logical volume if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
113 words
A disk array controller for use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a logical volume being formed by a plurality of stripes, the logical volume having a replaced portion, the disk array controller comprising: a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of such code: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding the replaced portion of said first stripe of said logical volume if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The disk array controller of claim 15, wherein the disk drive array uses parity-based fault tolerance and wherein said local processor rebuilds utilizing an XOR parity technique of the information from the remaining portions of the logical volume other than the replaced portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The disk array controller of claim 15, wherein the logical volume has a rebuild portion and a mirror portion, and wherein the disk drive array uses mirror-based fault tolerance and wherein said local processor rebuilds copies information from the mirror portion of the logical volume.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The disk array controller of claim 15, wherein said local processor rebuilds the data in the replaced portion of a plurality of consecutive stripes of the logical volume after said first stripe if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system comprising: a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a replacement disk drive; a disk array controller having a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of such code: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding the data in the portion of said first stripe of said replacement disk drive if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system comprising: a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a replacement disk drive; a disk array controller having a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of such code: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding the data in the portion of said first stripe of said replacement disk drive if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said disk drive array uses parity-based fault tolerance and wherein said local processor rebuilds utilizing an XOR parity technique of the information from disk drives in the plurality of disk drives other than the replacement disk drive.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of disk drives including a rebuild drive and a mirror drive, and wherein said disk drive array uses mirror-based fault tolerance and wherein said local processor rebuilds copies information from the mirror drive in the plurality of disk drives.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said local processor rebuilding further rebuilds the data in the portion of a plurality of consecutive stripes of the replacement disk drive after the first stripe without determining the consistency of said plurality of consecutive stripes if the first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
101 words
A computer system comprising: a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a logical volume being formed by a plurality of stripes, the logical volume having a replaced portion; a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of such code: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding the replaced portion of said first stripe of said logical volume if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
101 words
A computer system comprising: a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a logical volume being formed by a plurality of stripes, the logical volume having a replaced portion; a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of such code: reading a first stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding the replaced portion of said first stripe of said logical volume if said first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer system of claim 23, wherein said disk drive array uses parity-based fault tolerance and wherein said local processor rebuilds utilizing an XOR parity technique of the information from disk drives in the plurality of disk drives other than the replacement disk drive.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer system of claim 23, wherein the disk drive array uses parity-based fault tolerance and wherein said local processor rebuilds utilizing an XOR parity technique of the information from the remaining portions of the logical volume other than the replaced portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer system of claim 23, wherein said local processor rebuilding further rebuilds the data in the portion of a plurality of consecutive stripes of the replacement disk drive after the first stripe without determining the consistency of the plurality of consecutive stripes if the first stripe is not consistent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
133 words
A disk controller for use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a logical volume being formed by a plurality of stripes, the logical volume having a replaced portion, the plurality of disk drives including a replacement drive, the disk controller comprising: a processor; and said processor executing the following steps under control of an instruction code: reading a stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said stripe is consistent; rebuilding the data in the portion of said stripe of said replacement disk drive if said stripe is not consistent; and repeating said steps of reading, checking, and rebuilding until said replacement drive is rebuilt.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
133 words
A disk controller for use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage disk drive array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that include a logical volume being formed by a plurality of stripes, the logical volume having a replaced portion, the plurality of disk drives including a replacement drive, the disk controller comprising: a processor; and said processor executing the following steps under control of an instruction code: reading a stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique by determining if said stripe is consistent; rebuilding the data in the portion of said stripe of said replacement disk drive if said stripe is not consistent; and repeating said steps of reading, checking, and rebuilding until said replacement drive is rebuilt.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disk controller of claim 27, wherein said processor rebuilds the data in portions of a plurality of consecutive stripes of said replacement disk drive after said stripe if said stripe is not consistent.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
120 words
A disk array controller for use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage disk array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that includes replacement stripes, the plurality of disk drives including a replacement drive, the disk drive array controller comprising: a processor; and said processor executing the following steps under control of an instruction code: reading a stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing XOR parity technique by determining if said stripe is consistent; rebuilding the data in a portion of said stripe if the replacement disk drive and said stripe is not consistent; and repeating said steps of reading, checking, and building until said replacement disk drive is rebuilt.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
120 words
A disk array controller for use with a computer system having a fault tolerant, mass storage disk array having data stored in stripes across a plurality of disk drives that includes replacement stripes, the plurality of disk drives including a replacement drive, the disk drive array controller comprising: a processor; and said processor executing the following steps under control of an instruction code: reading a stripe; checking said first stripe for unused sectors utilizing XOR parity technique by determining if said stripe is consistent; rebuilding the data in a portion of said stripe if the replacement disk drive and said stripe is not consistent; and repeating said steps of reading, checking, and building until said replacement disk drive is rebuilt.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
The disk array controller of claim 29, wherein said processor rebuilds said the data in portions of a plurality of consecutive stripes of said replacement disk drive after said stripe without determining the consistency of the plurality of consecutive stripes if said stripe is not consistent.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of rebuilding a replacement disk drive within a drive array of a computer system, comprising the steps of; determining if a first stripe is consistent by checking for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique; determining if a next stripe is consistent if the first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding a first set of a predetermined number of stripes if the first stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of rebuilding a replacement disk drive within a drive array of a computer system, comprising the steps of; determining if a first stripe is consistent by checking for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique; determining if a next stripe is consistent if the first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding a first set of a predetermined number of stripes if the first stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of: determining if a stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent; determining if a stripe following the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent if the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent; and rebuilding a second set of a predetermined number of stripes if the stripe following the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is inconsistent.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of: rebuilding a second set of a predetermined number of stripes if the next stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of: determining if a stripe following the next stripe is consistent if the next stripe is consistent.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
81 words
A disk array controller for rebuilding a replacement disk drive within a drive array of a computer system, comprising: a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of the code: determining if a first stripe is consistent by checking for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique; determining if a next stripe is consistent if the first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding a first set of a predetermined number of stripes if the first stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
81 words
A disk array controller for rebuilding a replacement disk drive within a drive array of a computer system, comprising: a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under control of the code: determining if a first stripe is consistent by checking for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique; determining if a next stripe is consistent if the first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding a first set of a predetermined number of stripes if the first stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
94 words
The disk array controller of claim 35, the local processor performing the further steps of: determining if a stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent; determining if a stripe following the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent if the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent; and rebuilding a second set of a predetermined number of stripes if the stripe following the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is inconsistent.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
The disk array controller of claim 35, the local processor performing the further step of: rebuilding a second set of a predetermined number of stripes if the next stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
The disk array controller of claim 35, the local processor performing the further step of: determining if a stripe following the next stripe is consistent if the next stripe is consistent.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer system, comprising: a drive array including a replacement disk drive; and a disk array controller, comprising: a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under the control of the code: determining if a first stripe is consistent by checking for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique; determining if a next stripe is consistent if the first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding a first set of a predetermined number of stripes if the first stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer system, comprising: a drive array including a replacement disk drive; and a disk array controller, comprising: a local processor executing code and performing the following steps under the control of the code: determining if a first stripe is consistent by checking for unused sectors utilizing an XOR parity technique; determining if a next stripe is consistent if the first stripe is consistent; and rebuilding a first set of a predetermined number of stripes if the first stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
93 words
The computer system of claim 39, the local processor performing the further steps of: determining if a stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent; determining if a stripe following the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent if the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is consistent; and rebuilding a second set of a predetermined number of stripes if the stripe following the stripe following the first set of a predetermined number of stripes is inconsistent.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer system of claim 39, the local processor performing the further step of: rebuilding a second set of a predetermined number of stripes if the next stripe is inconsistent.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer system of claim 39, the local processor performing the further step of: determining if a stripe following the next stripe is consistent if the next stripe is consistent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-04 | 2011-04-05 | 2011-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |