Data integrity device providing heightened error protection in a data processing system
First Claim
1. A data processing system comprising:
- a host computer system;
an interconnect coupled to the host computer system;
a storage array coupled to the interconnect and configured to store data received from the host computer system over the interconnect; and
a data integrity device coupled to the interconnect and comprising at least one processor, wherein the data integrity device is configured to be enabled and disabled;
wherein if the data integrity device is disabled, the host computer system and the storage array provide a first level of error protection for the data;
wherein if the data integrity device is enabled, the at least one processor is configured to perform a first data integrity operation on the data in order to provide a second level of error protection for the data in addition to the first level of error protection provided by the host computer system and the storage array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of systems and methods of providing heightened data integrity in a data processing system are disclosed. A data processing system may include a host computer system, an interconnect coupled to the host computer system, and a storage array coupled to the interconnect and configured to store data received from the host computer system over the interconnect. A data integrity device including at least one processor may be coupled to the interconnect. The data integrity device is configured to be enabled and disabled. If the data integrity device is disabled, the data processing system may provide a base level of error protection for the data. If the data integrity device is enabled, the processor is configured to perform a first data integrity operation on the data in order to provide a heightened level of error protection for the data.
94 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A data processing system comprising:
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a host computer system;
an interconnect coupled to the host computer system;
a storage array coupled to the interconnect and configured to store data received from the host computer system over the interconnect; and
a data integrity device coupled to the interconnect and comprising at least one processor, wherein the data integrity device is configured to be enabled and disabled;
wherein if the data integrity device is disabled, the host computer system and the storage array provide a first level of error protection for the data;
wherein if the data integrity device is enabled, the at least one processor is configured to perform a first data integrity operation on the data in order to provide a second level of error protection for the data in addition to the first level of error protection provided by the host computer system and the storage array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A data processing system comprising:
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a host computer system;
a storage array;
an interconnect coupled to the host computer system and the storage array and configured to transfer data between the host computer system and the storage array; and
a data integrity device coupled to the interconnect and comprising a plurality of processors configured to be individually enabled or disabled by the host computer system, wherein each processor is configured to perform a data integrity operation on the data being transferred over the interconnect when that processor is enabled;
wherein a number of the processors enabled by the host computer system corresponds to a user-selected level of error protection.
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40. A method of performing a data integrity operation comprising:
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initiating a data transfer between a host computer system and a storage array;
a plurality of processors in a data integrity device each performing a data integrity operation on the data to generate a result in response to said initiating if the data integrity device is enabled; and
if the processors'"'"' results are equal and indicate that the data is erroneous, providing an indication that the data is erroneous to the host computer system. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method comprising:
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performing a first data transfer between a host computer system and a storage array, wherein a data integrity device is disabled during said performing;
subsequent to said performing, enabling the data integrity device;
initiating a second data transfer between a host computer system and a storage array;
in response to said enabling and said initiating, one or more processors comprised in the data integrity device performing a data integrity operation on data transferred in the second data transfer. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65)
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66. A data integrity device comprising:
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an interface configured to receive data being transferred in a storage system; and
one or more processors coupled to receive the data from the interface and configured to perform a data integrity operation on the data;
wherein at least one of the one or more processors is configured to provide an indication if an error is detected in the data; and
wherein the one or more processors are configured to be enabled and disabled.
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67. A data processing system comprising:
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host computing means for processing data;
storage means for storing the data;
communication means for communicating the data from the host computing means to the storage means, wherein the communication means are coupled to the host computing means and the storage means;
means for performing a data integrity operation on the data communicated on the communication means and responsive to various settings, wherein one of the settings disables the means for performing the data integrity operation;
wherein if the means for performing the data integrity operation are disabled, the host computing means and the storage means provide a first level of error protection for the data;
wherein if the means for performing the data integrity operation are enabled, the means perform the data integrity operation on the data in order to provide a second level of error protection for the data in addition to the first level of error protection provided by the host computing means and the storage means.
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Specification