Hardware and software RAID solutions

• US 20060200626A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gabryjelski, Henry P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1092 Rebuilding, e.g. when physically replacing a failing disk
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1096 Parity calculation or recalculation after configuration or reconfiguration of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/1083 Reserve area on a disk of a RAID system

Abstract

Systems and methodologies that enable restoration of data by software solutions and in the absence of a hardware RAID adapter, via encapsulation of a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent/or Inexpensive Disks) format, by employing a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) Partition Table (GPT). Third party vendors can employ proprietary data recovery software to access the raw data in case of malfunction of an associated RAID adapter. Moreover, the subject invention can facilitate inter-operability among a plurality of RAID adapters, to move array sets from one controller type to another.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates data recovery in RAID array configurations, comprising:

a RAID storage medium that includes a Globally Uniquely Identifier Partition Table (GPT) entity, the GPT entity references an encapsulated RAID format; and

a data recovery component that employs the encapsulated RAID format to programmatically access raw data stored on the RAID storage medium, in absence of hardware RAID adapter(s).

2. The system of claim 1, the RAID storage medium further comprises a predetermined partition that defines a proprietary format.

3. The system of claim 1, the RAID storage medium is at least one of a RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 2, RAID 3, RAID 4, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 7.

4. The system of claim 1, the RAID storage medium further comprises a GUID Partition Table Header that defines logical block addresses for disk(s) associated therewith.

5. The system of claim 4, the GUID Partition Table Header resides on a first sector of the disk(s).

6. A computer implemented method of facilitating data recovery for a RAID array comprising:

identifying a segment on a RAID configuration; and

encapsulating a RAID format within a partition referenced by a GPT entity associated with the RAID configuration, to facilitate data restoration via software solutions.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising marking the segment as “

in use”

for identifying the segment to an Operating System (OS).

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing compatibility among a plurality of RAID adapters.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising employing a predetermined GUID to define proprietary data.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising programmatically accessing data in a raw format.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising employing the RAID format by third party software vendors.

12. The method of claim 6 further comprising automatically identifying the partition to an Operating System.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising facilitating a recovery of data via the encapsulation act when an associated RAID adapter fails.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising encoding a definition of RAID encapsulation into a further adapter.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising defining the partition based on a respective RAID type.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising unplugging a data RAID array from a RAID adapter that has malfunctioned.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising migrating or transferring the data RAID array to an operational adapter that supports the RAID format.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising accessing the data RAID array via the operational adapter.

19. A system that facilitates data recovery in RAID array configurations, comprising:

means for encapsulating a RAID format as part of a RAID array; and

means for recovering data in a raw format via the means for encapsulating.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising means for interoperating the RAID array among a plurality of RAID adapters.