Priority management of a disk array
First Claim
1. A method for managing requests in a disk array having a number of disks, the method comprising:
- associating priorities with respective requests;
working the requests by the disks;
determining a maximum priority for certain requests received;
comparing the priority of a new request to the priority for the certain requests;
selecting between i) categorizing the new request as a foreground disk operation and ii) categorizing the new request as a background disk operation, responsive to the comparison; and
selecting between i) working the new request on at least one of the disks and ii) placing the new request in a queue, responsive to the comparison.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a first form, a method for managing requests in a disk array having a number of disks includes associating priorities with respective requests. A new request is processed, which includes determining a maximum priority for at least certain ones of requests received and comparing the priority of the new request to the maximum priority. Responsive to the comparison, a selection is made between i) categorizing the new request as a foreground disk operation and ii) categorizing the new request as a background disk operation. A selection is also made between i) working the new request on at least one of the disks and ii) placing the new request in a queue.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for managing requests in a disk array having a number of disks, the method comprising:
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associating priorities with respective requests;
working the requests by the disks;
determining a maximum priority for certain requests received;
comparing the priority of a new request to the priority for the certain requests;
selecting between i) categorizing the new request as a foreground disk operation and ii) categorizing the new request as a background disk operation, responsive to the comparison; and
selecting between i) working the new request on at least one of the disks and ii) placing the new request in a queue, responsive to the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product for use in managing requests in a disk array having a number of disks, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform:
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associating priorities with respective requests;
working the requests by the disks;
determining a maximum priority for certain requests received;
comparing the priority of a new request to the priority for the certain requests;
selecting between i) categorizing the new request as a foreground disk operation, and ii) categorizing the new request as a background disk operation, responsive to the comparison; and
selecting between i) working the new request on at least one of the disks and ii) placing the new request in a queue, responsive to the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor;
a disk array having a number of disks and at least one queue, the at least one queue being external to the disks; and
a memory having instructions operable with the processor for managing requests in the disk array to perform;
associating priorities with respective requests;
working the requests by the disks;
determining a maximum priority for certain requests received;
comparing the priority of a new request to the priority for the certain requests;
selecting between i) categorizing the new request as a foreground disk operation and ii) categorizing the new request as a background disk operation, responsive to the comparison; and
selecting between i) working the new request on at least one of the disks and ii) placing the new request in a queue, responsive to the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An storage controller comprising:
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means for associating priorities with respective requests for a disk array, wherein the disk array has a number of disks;
means for sending the requests for working by the disks;
means for determining a maximum priority for certain requests received;
means for comparing the priority of a new request to the priority for the certain requests;
means for selecting between i) categorizing the new request as a foreground disk operation and ii) categorizing the new request as a background disk operation, responsive to the comparison; and
means for selecting between i) working the new request on at least one of the disks and ii) placing the new request in a queue external to the disks, responsive to the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification