Method of managing a data storage array, and a computer system including a raid controller
First Claim
1. A method of managing a data storage array, comprising:
- providing a plurality of computer disks configured to store data;
configuring the plurality of computer disks as a RAID array;
coupling a controller to the RAID array;
measuring a rate at which the array is accessed using the controller; and
selectively moving blocks of data within the RAID array such that free space is created within the RAID array responsive to the measuring the rate using the controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of managing disk array includes providing a disk array and a RAID controller, receiving commands using the controller, accessing data within the array responsive to the commands, determining the amount of free space within the disk array, measuring a rate of data access; and selectively creating free space within the disk array responsive to the determining and the measuring. A computer disk system includes an array of computer disks, a RAID controller respectively coupled to the array and configured to access data within the array and to determine the amount of free space within the array, and a user interface coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to measure a rate at which the array is accessed and to selectively create free space within the array responsive to the determining and the measuring.
14 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of managing a data storage array, comprising:
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providing a plurality of computer disks configured to store data;
configuring the plurality of computer disks as a RAID array;
coupling a controller to the RAID array;
measuring a rate at which the array is accessed using the controller; and
selectively moving blocks of data within the RAID array such that free space is created within the RAID array responsive to the measuring the rate using the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of managing a RAID storage array, comprising:
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providing a RAID disk array having a RAID controller;
receiving a plurality of commands from a user using the controller;
accessing data within the disk array responsive to the plurality of commands using the controller;
determining the amount of free space within the disk array using the controller;
measuring a rate of the accessing using the controller; and
selectively creating free space within the disk array responsive to the determining the amount of free space and the measuring the rate of accessing using the controller. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer data storage system, comprising:
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a plurality of computer disks configured as an array;
a RAID controller respectively coupled to each of the computer disks within the array and configured to access data within the array and to determine the amount of free space within the array; and
a user interface coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to measure a rate at which the array is accessed by way of the user interface and to selectively create free space within the array responsive to the determining and the measuring, and wherein the controller is further configured to create the free space by selectively moving blocks of data to different RAID levels within the array, and wherein the controller is further configured to access data within the array responsive to a command received by way of the user interface simultaneous with at least a portion of the creating free space. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer data system, comprising:
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means for storing data;
means for determining a quantity of free space within the storage means;
means for reading and writing data within the storage means responsive to respective commands;
means for measuring a rate of the reading and writing the data; and
means for selectively moving the data within the storage means responsive to the quantity determined by the determining means and the rate measured by the measuring means, such that free space is created within the storage means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A data storage system, comprising:
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a plurality of data storage elements configured as an array;
a RAID controller respectively coupled to each of the storage elements within the array and configured to selectively read data from and write data to the array and to determine the amount of free space within the array; and
a user interface coupled to the controller and configured to selectively issue a plurality of different commands respectively reading data from and writing data to the array by way of the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to measure a rate at which the data is read from and written to the array by way of the user interface, and wherein the controller is further configured to create free space within the array from time to time responsive to the determining and the measuring, and wherein the creating the free space includes selectively moving blocks of data to different RAID levels within the array, and wherein the controller is further configured to read data from and write data to the array responsive to commands received by way of the user interface simultaneously with at least a portion of the creating the free space.
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Specification