Apparatus and method to reconfigure a storage array disposed in a data storage system
First Claim
1. A method to reconfigure a storage array disposed in a data storage system, comprising the steps of:
- supplying a data storage system comprising a plurality of data storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of data storage devices is assigned to one of a plurality of data storage arrays, or is assigned as a spare data storage device;
detecting an unassigned data storage device;
determining if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array;
operative if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array, determining if said unassigned data storage device can be used to restore said degraded data storage array to optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency;
operative if said unassigned data storage device can be used restore said degraded array to an array comprising optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency, reconfiguring said degraded data storage array to comprise said unassigned data storage device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed to reconfigure a storage array disposed in a data storage system. The method supplies a data storage system comprising a plurality of data storage devices, wherein each of the plurality of data storage devices is assigned to one of a plurality of data storage arrays, or is assigned as a spare device. The method then detects an unassigned data storage device, and determines if any of the plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array. If the method determines that any of the plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array, then the method determines if the unassigned data storage device can be used to restore the degraded data storage array to optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency. If the method determines that the unassigned data storage device can be used restore the degraded array to an array comprising optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency, then the method reconfigures the degraded data storage array to comprise the unassigned data storage device.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method to reconfigure a storage array disposed in a data storage system, comprising the steps of:
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supplying a data storage system comprising a plurality of data storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of data storage devices is assigned to one of a plurality of data storage arrays, or is assigned as a spare data storage device;
detecting an unassigned data storage device;
determining if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array;
operative if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array, determining if said unassigned data storage device can be used to restore said degraded data storage array to optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency;
operative if said unassigned data storage device can be used restore said degraded array to an array comprising optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency, reconfiguring said degraded data storage array to comprise said unassigned data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An article of manufacture comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein to reconfigure a storage array disposed in a data storage system comprising a plurality of data storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of data storage devices is assigned to one of a plurality of data storage arrays, or is assigned as a spare data storage device, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:
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detecting an unassigned data storage device;
determining if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array;
operative if none of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array, designating said unassigned data storage device as a spare data storage device;
operative if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array, determining if said unassigned data storage device can be used to restore said degraded data storage array to optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency;
operative if said unassigned data storage device can be used restore said degraded array to an array comprising optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency, reconfiguring said degraded data storage array to comprise said unassigned data storage device;
operative if said unassigned data storage device cannot be used to restore a degraded array to optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency, determining if said unassigned data storage device can be used to increase the reliability, performance, or efficiency of a degraded data storage array;
operative if said unassigned data storage device can be used to increase the reliability, performance, or efficiency of said degraded data storage array, reconfiguring said degraded data storage array to comprise said unassigned data storage device;
operative if said unassigned data storage device cannot be used to increase the reliability, performance, or efficiency of said degraded data storage array, designating said unassigned data storage device as a spare data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having computer readable program code embodied therein to reconfigure a storage array disposed in a data storage system comprising a plurality of data storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of data storage devices is assigned to one of a plurality of data storage arrays, or is assigned as a spare data storage device, comprising:
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computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to detect an unassigned data storage device;
computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to determine if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array;
computer readable program code which, if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array, causes said programmable computer processor to determine if said unassigned data storage device can be used to restore said degraded data storage array to optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency;
computer readable program code which, if said unassigned data storage device can be used restore said degraded array to an array comprising optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency, causes said programmable computer processor to reconfigure said degraded data storage array to comprise said unassigned data storage device;
computer readable program code which, if said unassigned data storage device cannot be used to restore a degraded array to optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency, causes said programmable computer processor to determine if said unassigned data storage device can be used to increase the reliability, performance, or efficiency of a degraded data storage array;
computer readable program code which, if said unassigned data storage device can be used to increase the reliability, performance, or efficiency of said degraded data storage array, causes said programmable computer processor to reconfigure said degraded data storage array to comprise said unassigned data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification