SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR HARDENING DATA STORED ON A SOLID STATE DISK

• US 20100250830A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Stenfort, Ross John
• Application Number:
  US12/413,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250830A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/143 Detection of memory cassette insertion or removal; Continuity checks of supply or ground lines; Detection of supply variations, interruptions or levels G11C5/148 takes precedence; Switching between alternative supplies G11C5/141 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/144 Detection of predetermined disconnection or reduction of power supply, e.g. power down or power standby

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for hardening data stored on a solid state disk. In operation, it is determined whether a solid state disk is to be powered off. Furthermore, data stored on the solid state disk is hardened if it is determined that the solid state disk is to be powered off.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a solid state disk is to be powered off; and

hardening data stored on the solid state disk, if it is determined that the solid state disk is to be powered off.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein hardening the data stored on the solid state disk includes issuing a command to harden the data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the command to harden the data includes a flush cache command.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the command to harden the data includes a sleep command.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the command to harden the data includes a standby immediate command.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein it is determined that the solid state disk is to be powered off as part of power cycling.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the power cycling is a result of an error recovery.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a bridge issues the command to harden the data.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising performing the power cycling, after the bridge issues the command to harden the data.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a command to the solid state disk to test one of a super capacitor or battery associated with the solid state disk.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the command to test the one of the super capacitor or battery associated with the solid state disk is sent by an initiator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the command to test the one of the super capacitor or battery associated with the solid state disk is sent by a bridge.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information from the solid state disk.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information includes a status indicating a last time one of a super capacitor or battery associated with the solid state disk was tested.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the solid state disk sends the status indicating the last time the one of the super capacitor or battery-associated with the solid state disk was tested.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the information includes results of a test of one of a super capacitor or battery associated with the solid state disk.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the results indicate a success or failure of the test of the super cap.

18. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for determining whether a solid state disk is to be powered off; and

computer code for hardening data stored on the solid state disk, if it is determined that the solid state disk is to be powered off.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a device for determining whether a solid state disk is to be powered off and for hardening data stored on the solid state disk, if it is determined that the solid state disk is to be powered off.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the device includes a bridge.