Multiple sourcing storage devices for ultra reliable mirrored storage subsystems
First Claim
1. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for configuring an array of storage devices to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the operations comprising:
- identifying all storage devices in a primary set of storage devices and a first mirror set of storage devices in the array of storage devices;
obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
determining if any of the storage devices in the primary set of storage devices has a vital characteristic that is the same as a vital characteristic of any of the storage devices in the first mirror set of storage devices;
and if so, indicating an array configuration error;
and if not, continuing the configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One aspect of the invention is a method for configuring an array of storage devices to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array. An example of this method includes identifying all storage devices in a primary set of storage devices and a first mirror set of storage devices in the array of storage devices. This example also includes obtaining data regarding each identified storage device. This example further includes determining if any of the storage devices in the primary set of storage devices has a vital characteristic that is the same as a vital characteristic of any of the storage devices in the first mirror set of storage devices, and if so, indicating an array configuration error, and if not, continuing the configuration.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for configuring an array of storage devices to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the operations comprising:
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identifying all storage devices in a primary set of storage devices and a first mirror set of storage devices in the array of storage devices;
obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
determining if any of the storage devices in the primary set of storage devices has a vital characteristic that is the same as a vital characteristic of any of the storage devices in the first mirror set of storage devices;
and if so, indicating an array configuration error;
and if not, continuing the configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for replacing a failed storage device in an array of storage devices having a plurality of sets of storage devices, to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the operations comprising:
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identifying a set of storage devices of which the failed storage device is a member;
identifying all storage devices in each set of storage devices in the array other than the set of storage devices of which the failed storage device is a member;
obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
identifying a vital characteristic of a potential replacement storage device;
determining if any identified storage device has a vital characteristic that is the same as the vital characteristic of the potential replacement storage device;
and if so, indicating a array configuration error;
and if not, configuring the array with the potential replacement storage device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computing system, comprising:
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a memory; and
a processing device coupled to the memory, wherein the processing device is programmed to perform operations for configuring an array of storage devices to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the operations comprising;
identifying all storage devices in a primary set of storage devices and a first mirror set of storage devices in the array of storage devices;
obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
determining if any of the storage devices in the primary set of storage devices has a vital characteristic that is the same as a vital characteristic of any of the storage devices in the first mirror set of storage devices;
and if so, indicating an array configuration error;
and if not, continuing the configuration.
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23. A computing system, comprising:
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a memory; and
a processing device coupled to the memory, wherein the processing device is programmed to perform operations for replacing a failed storage device in an array of storage devices having a plurality of sets of storage devices, to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the operations comprising;
identifying a set of storage devices of which the failed storage device is a member;
identifying all storage devices in each set of storage devices in the array other than the set of storage devices of which the failed storage device is a member;
obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
identifying a vital characteristic of a potential replacement storage device;
determining if any identified storage device has a vital characteristic that is the same as the vital characteristic of the potential replacement storage device;
and if so, indicating a array configuration error;
and if not, configuring the array with the potential replacement storage device.
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24. A computing system for configuring an array of storage devices to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the computing system comprising:
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means for identifying all storage devices in a primary set of storage devices and a first mirror set of storage devices in the array of storage devices;
means for obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
means for determining if any of the storage devices in the primary set of storage devices has a vital characteristic that is the same as a vital characteristic of any of the storage devices in the first mirror set of storage devices;
and if so, means for indicating an array configuration error;
and if not, means for continuing the configuration.
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25. A computing system for replacing a failed storage device in an array of storage devices having a plurality of sets of storage devices, to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the computing system comprising:
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means for identifying a set of storage devices of which the failed storage device is a member;
means for identifying all storage devices in each set of storage devices in the array other than the set of storage devices of which the failed storage device is a member;
means for obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
means for identifying a vital characteristic of a potential replacement storage device;
means for determining if any identified storage device has a vital characteristic that is the same as the vital characteristic of the potential replacement storage device;
and if so, means for indicating a array configuration error;
and if not, means for configuring the array with the potential replacement storage device.
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26. A method for configuring an array of storage devices to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the method comprising the following operations:
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identifying all storage devices in a primary set of storage devices and a first mirror set of storage devices in the array of storage devices;
obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
determining if any of the storage devices in the primary set of storage devices has a vital characteristic that is the same as a vital characteristic of any of the storage devices in the first mirror set of storage devices;
and if so, indicating an array configuration error;
and if not, continuing the configuration.
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27. A method for replacing a failed storage device in an array of storage devices having a plurality of sets of storage devices, to reduce the probability of data loss due to clustered storage device failures in the array, the method comprising the following operations:
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identifying a set of storage devices of which the failed storage device is a member;
identifying all storage devices in each set of storage devices in the array other than the set of storage devices of which the failed storage device is a member;
obtaining data regarding each identified storage device;
identifying a vital characteristic of a potential replacement storage device;
determining if any identified storage device has a vital characteristic that is the same as the vital characteristic of the potential replacement storage device;
and if so, indicating a array configuration error;
and if not, configuring the array with the potential replacement storage device.
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Specification