Multi-volume disk array management method and system
First Claim
1. A multi-volume disk array management method for use on a multi-disk storage unit having a number of disks for the purpose of allowing the multi-disk storage unit to provide at least two logical volumes for storing data in the logical volumes with at least two levels of fault tolerance;
- the multi-volume disk array management method comprising;
(1) logically dividing the storage space of each of the disks in the multi-disk storage unit into a number of partitions;
(2) organizing at least two selected subgroups of partitions in the disks of the multi-disk storage unit into at least two logical volumes; and
(3) setting the storage property of each of the logical volumes in the multi-disk storage unit to a user-specified level of fault tolerance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-volume disk array management method and system is proposed, which is designed for use with a multi-disk storage unit, such as a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) unit, particularly a low-end RAID unit having a limited number of disks, for the purpose of allowing the low-end RAID unit to be nonetheless capable of providing two or more logical volumes for storing data of different levels of importance in different locations (i.e., different logical volume) with different levels of fault tolerance. This feature allows low-end RAID unit to be versatile in data storage.
53 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A multi-volume disk array management method for use on a multi-disk storage unit having a number of disks for the purpose of allowing the multi-disk storage unit to provide at least two logical volumes for storing data in the logical volumes with at least two levels of fault tolerance;
-
the multi-volume disk array management method comprising;
(1) logically dividing the storage space of each of the disks in the multi-disk storage unit into a number of partitions;
(2) organizing at least two selected subgroups of partitions in the disks of the multi-disk storage unit into at least two logical volumes; and
(3) setting the storage property of each of the logical volumes in the multi-disk storage unit to a user-specified level of fault tolerance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A multi-volume disk array management system for use with a multi-disk storage unit having a number of disks for the purpose of allowing the multi-disk storage unit to provide at least two logical volumes for storing data in the logical volumes with at least two levels of fault tolerance;
-
the multi-volume disk array management system comprising;
a user interface for receiving user-specified settings related to the management of the overall storage space of the multi-disk storage unit;
a storage-space partitioning module, which is capable of logically dividing the storage space of each of the disks in the multi-disk storage unit into a number of partitions based on the user-specified settings from the user interface;
a logical-volume organizing module, which is capable of organizing at least two selected subgroups of partitions in the disks of the multi-disk storage unit into at least two logical volumes based on the user-specified settings from the user interface; and
a storage-property setting module, which is capable of setting the storage property of each of the logical volumes in the multi-disk storage unit to a user-specified level of fault tolerance based on the user-specified settings from the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification