System and method for raid configuration
First Claim
1. A method for updating configuration information associated with a RAID system, the RAID system including a RAID controller, one or more disk drives associated therewith, and a storage site for configuration information, the configuration information identifying a data storage relationship among the one or more disk drives, wherein at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is a site distinct from the RAID controller, wherein at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is distinct from the one or more disk drives, wherein an input device is coupled to the RAID system, the method comprising:
- identifying the one or more storage sites of configuration information;
comparing the configuration information stored in the one or more storage sites;
configuring the RAID system if two or more sites contain equivalent configuration information; and
prompting a user to input data in response to the configuration information if two or more sites do not contain equivalent configuration information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for storing and updating RAID configuration information in a storage site separate from both the RAID controller and RAID disk drives is disclosed. The configuration information in the storage sites are compared and the configuration of the RAID system is automatically without user intervention. The method may be used in any computer or information handling system.
87 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for updating configuration information associated with a RAID system, the RAID system including a RAID controller, one or more disk drives associated therewith, and a storage site for configuration information, the configuration information identifying a data storage relationship among the one or more disk drives, wherein at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is a site distinct from the RAID controller, wherein at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is distinct from the one or more disk drives, wherein an input device is coupled to the RAID system, the method comprising:
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identifying the one or more storage sites of configuration information;
comparing the configuration information stored in the one or more storage sites;
configuring the RAID system if two or more sites contain equivalent configuration information; and
prompting a user to input data in response to the configuration information if two or more sites do not contain equivalent configuration information.
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2. The method of 1 wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a backplane, the backplane is coupled to the RAID system.
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3. The method of 1, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a system board, the RAID controller is located on an adapter card, and the adapter card is coupled to the system board.
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4. The method of 1, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a first system board, the RAID controller is located on a second system board, the first system board is coupled to the second system board.
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5. The method of 1, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is a non-volatile storage sites.
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6. The method of 5, wherein the non-volatile memory storage site is non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), read only memory (ROM), CD-ROM, or a hard disk drive.
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7. The method of 1, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is the RAID controller.
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8. The method of 1, wherein at least one of the storage sites is associated with the RAID controller.
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9. The method of 1, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is at least one or more of the RAID disk drives.
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10. A method for updating configuration information associated with a RAID system, the RAID system including a RAID controller, one or more disk drives associated therewith, and a storage site for configuration information, the configuration information identifies a data storage relationship among the one or more disk drives, wherein at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is a site distinct from the RAID controller, wherein at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is distinct from the one or more disk drives, wherein an input device is coupled to the RAID system, the method comprising:
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identifying the one or more sites of configuration information;
comparing the configuration information stored in the one or more storage sites;
configuring the RAID system if all sites contain equivalent configuration information; and
prompting a user to input data in response to the configuration information if all sites do not contain equivalent configuration information.
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11. The method of 10 wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a backplane, the backplane is coupled to the RAID system.
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12. The method of 10, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a system board, the RAID controller is located on an adapter card, and the adapter card is coupled to the system board.
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13. The method of 10, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a first system board, the RAID controller is located on a second system board, the first system board is coupled to the second system board.
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14. The method of 10, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is a non-volatile storage sites.
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15. The method of 14, wherein the non-volatile memory storage site is non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), read only memory (ROM), CD-ROM, or a hard disk drive.
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16. The method of 10, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is the RAID controller.
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17. The method of 10, wherein at least one of the storage sites is associated with the RAID controller.
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18. The method of 10, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is at least one or more of the RAID disk drives.
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19. An information handling system, the information handling system comprising:
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at least one memory;
a processing unit;
a RAID system including a RAID controller, one or more disk drives associated therewith, a storage site for configuration information;
whereinthe configuration information identifies a storage relationship among the one or more disk drives, at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is a site distinct from the RAID controller; and
at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is distinct from the one more disk drives.
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20. The method of 19 wherein
one or more sites of configuration information are identified; -
the configuration information stored at the one or more sites are compared;
the RAID system is configured if two or more sites contain equivalent configuration information; and
the user is prompted to input data in response to the configuration information if two or more sites do not contain equivalent configuration information.
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21. The method of 19 wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a backplane, the backplane is coupled to the RAID system.
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22. The method of 19, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a system board, the RAID controller is located on an adapter card, and the adapter card is coupled to the system board.
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23. The method of 19, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is located on a first system board, the RAID controller is located on a second system board, the first system board is coupled to the second system board.
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24. The method of 19, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is a non-volatile storage sites.
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25. The method of 24, wherein the non-volatile memory storage site is non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), read only memory (ROM), CD-ROM, or a hard disk drive.
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26. The method of 19, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is the RAID controller.
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27. The method of 19, wherein at least one of the storage sites is associated with the RAID controller.
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28. The method of 19, wherein at least one of the one or more storage sites is one or more of the RAID disk drives.
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29. A method for updating configuration information associated with a RAID system, the RAID system including a RAID controller, one or more disk drives associated therewith, and a storage site for configuration information, the configuration information identifying a data storage relationship among the one or more disk drives, wherein at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is a site distinct from the RAID controller, wherein at least one of the storage sites for configuration information is distinct from the one or more disk drives, wherein an input device is coupled to the RAID system, the method comprising:
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identifying the one or more storage sites of configuration information;
comparing the configuration information stored in the one or more storage sites;
configuring the RAID system if two or more sites contain equivalent configuration information; and
two or more sites do not contain equivalent configuration information; and
prompting a user to input data in response to the configuration information if two or more sites do not contain equivalent configuration information.
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Specification