DISK PRESERVATION AND FAILURE PREVENTION IN A RAID ARRAY

• US 20160239390A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: MYERS, Richard C., STIARWALT, Randolph E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,360,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1088 Reconstruction on already foreseen single or plurality of spare disks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1662 the resynchronized component or unit being a persistent storage device re-synchronization of failed mirror storage G06F11/2082; rebuild or reconstruction of parity RAID storage G06F11/1008
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2284 by power-on test, e.g. power-on self test [POST]
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/0409 Online test
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/765 in solid state disks

Abstract

Methods, computer systems, and computer program products for configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array by a processor device, include, within a RAID array, configuring spare failover disks to run as cold spares, such that the cold spare disks stay in a powered-down standby mode, wherein each cold spare disk is powered on individually at predetermined intervals, tested, and powered back down to standby mode.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array, by a processor device, comprising:

within a RAID array, configuring spare failover disks to run as cold spares, such that the cold spare disks stay in a powered-down standby mode, wherein each cold spare disk is powered on individually at predetermined intervals, tested, and powered back down to standby mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further including powering up and provisioning for replacement at least one cold spare disk during a disk failure or imminent disk failure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the powering up and powering down of cold spare disks is controlled by a controlling entity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling entity is a storage controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined intervals are pursuant to a schedule matrix.

6. The method of claim 1, further including powering on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals, running a self-test, and powering back down to standby mode.

7. The method of claim 7, further including powering on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals under test controlled by the controlling entity, and powering back down to standby mode.

8. A system for configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array, comprising:

a processor device, wherein the processor device;

within a RAID array, configures spare failover disks to run as cold spares, such that the cold spare disks stay in a powered-down standby mode, wherein each cold spare disk is powered on individually at predetermined intervals, tested, and powered back down to standby mode.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor device powers up and provisions for replacement at least one cold spare disk during a disk failure or imminent disk failure.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the powering up and powering down of cold spare disks is controlled by a controlling entity.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controlling entity is a storage controller.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined intervals are pursuant to a schedule matrix.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor device powers on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals, running a self-test, and powering back down to standby mode.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor device powers on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals under test controlled by the controlling entity, and powering back down to standby mode.

15. A computer program product for configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array by a processor device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion that;

within a RAID array, configures spare failover disks to run as cold spares, such that the cold spare disks stay in a powered-down standby mode, wherein each cold spare disk is powered on individually at predetermined intervals, tested, and powered back down to standby mode.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further including a second executable portion that powers up and provisions for replacement at least one cold spare disk during a disk failure or imminent disk failure.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the powering up and powering down of cold spare disks is controlled by a controlling entity.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the controlling entity is a storage controller.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the predetermined intervals are pursuant to a schedule matrix.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further including a second executable portion that powers on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals, running a self-test, and powering back down to standby mode.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, further including a third executable portion that powers on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals under test controlled by the controlling entity, and powering back down to standby mode.