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Disk drive memory

  • US 4,989,206 A
  • Filed: 01/11/1990
  • Issued: 01/29/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A disk memory system for storing data files for associated data processing devices comprising:

  • a plurality of disk drives;

    means for assigning a subset of said plurality of disk drives into two or more parity groups, each parity group consisting of two or more disk drives;

    means responsive to the receipt of a data file from said associated data processing devices for selecting one of said parity groups to store said data file thereon;

    means for writing said received data file and parity data associated with said received data file in segments across said two or more disk drives in said selected parity group;

    means for reserving one or more of said plurality of disk drives as backup disk drives, which backup disk drives are shared in common by said two or more parity groups;

    means for identifying one of said disk drives in said subset that fails to function; and

    means responsive to said identifying means for switchably connecting one of said backup disk drives in place of said identified failed disk drive;

    means responsive to said identified failed disk drive being removed from said disk memory system and a new disk drive being substituted therein for placing said new disk drive in a pool of said plurality of disk drives that are presently unassigned by said assigning means and said reserving means.

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