Method and apparatus for preventing permanent data loss due to single failure of a fault tolerant array
First Claim
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1. A method of avoiding permanent data loss due to a defect in an information storage system, comprising:
- partitioning a first storage device into at least a first section that is used to store data, and a second section that contains metadata;
detecting a defective block on the first section of the first storage device; and
in response to detecting the defective block, reconstructing data that was stored at the defective block to a different block, wherein the data that was stored at the defective block is associated with a stripe of data comprising a number of blocks including at least one non-defective block and wherein the at least one non-defective block is not reconstructed.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for preventing permanent data loss due to a single failure in an array of storage devices are described. In particular, a defective memory block is detected and data that was on the now defective memory block is reconstructed using backup data in the array. The reconstructed data is stored in a replacement memory block, without requiring the rewriting of data in non-defective memory blocks. The information mapping the defective memory block to the replacement memory block may be stored as metadata on a storage device.
46 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of avoiding permanent data loss due to a defect in an information storage system, comprising:
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partitioning a first storage device into at least a first section that is used to store data, and a second section that contains metadata;
detecting a defective block on the first section of the first storage device; and
in response to detecting the defective block, reconstructing data that was stored at the defective block to a different block, wherein the data that was stored at the defective block is associated with a stripe of data comprising a number of blocks including at least one non-defective block and wherein the at least one non-defective block is not reconstructed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A storage device for use in an information storage system, comprising:
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a first section for storing data that is user accessible;
a second section for storing metadata that is not user accessible;
a third section for storing metadata, wherein metadata stored on the third section provides an indication of a relationship between a first memory block in at least one of the first and second section and a second memory block. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An information storage system, comprising:
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an array of storage means comprising at least a first and second storage means, wherein at least one of the at least a first and second storage means has a first section for storing data and a second section for storing metadata;
a means for controlling the array of storage means; and
wherein at least one of the at least a first and second storage means has a defective block, wherein data stored on the defective block is reconstructed by the controlling means from backup data on at least one of the at least a first and second storage means and stored on an alternate block on at least one of the at least a first and second storage means, wherein the data stored on the defective block is associated with a stripe of data comprising a number of blocks including at least one non-defective block and wherein the at least one non-defective block is not reconstructed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification