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Disk array system having special parity groups for data blocks with high update activity

  • US 5,490,248 A
  • Filed: 12/27/1994
  • Issued: 02/06/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An improved digital information storage disk array system of the type wherein data blocks are stored on a plurality of disks by a disk controller and parity blocks are derived from said data blocks and stored for use in recovering lost data blocks in the event of a disk failure, said improvement comprising:

  • means for dividing said data blocks into a group of high update activity data blocks and a group of low update activity data blocks based upon anticipated write activity to each of said data blocks;

    means for defining high update activity parity groups for said high update activity data blocks and for defining low update activity parity groups for said low update activity data blocks;

    a high update activity parity block being derived for each said high update activity parity group from said high update activity data blocks in said each high update activity parity group;

    a low update activity parity block being derived for each said low update activity parity group from said low update activity data blocks in said each low update activity parity group; and

    means for storing said high update activity parity blocks in said disk controller and for storing said low update activity parity blocks on said disks,whereby updates to said high update activity parity blocks can be made by said disk controller without accessing said disks, thereby reducing disk access activity.

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