Device sequencing and placement protection using a digital signature
First Claim
1. A method for testing the sequential integrity of individual logical volumes organized in a sequential group of logical volumes in a magnetic disk storage system comprising the steps of:
- A) defining a dedicated storage area in each logical volume, B) defining a configuration file for storing configuration data for each logical volume that defines predetermined characteristics of each logical volume that includes a field that states whether a logical volume is in the group and additional data concerning first characteristics of the logical volume in that group, C) storing a unique signature in the dedicated storage area for each logical volume wherein the unique signature includes characteristics corresponding to the first characteristics, and D) analyzing, for a selected logical volume, the signature in the dedicated storage area and the first characteristics of the configuration data common to the dedicated storage area and the configuration file to confirm that the logical volume possesses all the first characteristics forth in the configuration file as a condition precedent for access to the data in the organized group of logical volumes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for verifying the organization of a magnetic disk storage system in which individual storage logical volumes are grouped in sequence as components of a meta device. Data concerning the organization of the meta device is stored in each storage logical volume in a dedicated storage area and in a global memory accessible to the data processing system. Whenever the integrity of the meta device is tested, the data in the configuration file and the data in the dedicated storage area are analyzed and compared. If identity exists, integrity is assumed. If identity does not exist various errors are generated to prevent use of the storage logical volume until the problem is resolved.
60 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for testing the sequential integrity of individual logical volumes organized in a sequential group of logical volumes in a magnetic disk storage system comprising the steps of:
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A) defining a dedicated storage area in each logical volume, B) defining a configuration file for storing configuration data for each logical volume that defines predetermined characteristics of each logical volume that includes a field that states whether a logical volume is in the group and additional data concerning first characteristics of the logical volume in that group, C) storing a unique signature in the dedicated storage area for each logical volume wherein the unique signature includes characteristics corresponding to the first characteristics, and D) analyzing, for a selected logical volume, the signature in the dedicated storage area and the first characteristics of the configuration data common to the dedicated storage area and the configuration file to confirm that the logical volume possesses all the first characteristics forth in the configuration file as a condition precedent for access to the data in the organized group of logical volumes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for testing the integrity of a meta device comprising a plurality of storage logical volumes distributed over a plurality of disk drives, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) upon formatting of each storage logical volume, defining a dedicated storage area therein on the corresponding disk drive, B) defining a configuration file for storing configuration data for each storage logical volume that defines predetermined characteristics of that storage logical volume, C) storing a unique signature in the dedicated storage area of each storage logical volume on the disk drive wherein the unique signature comprises certain of the configuration data for the storage logical volume, and D) analyzing, for a selected storage logical volume and as a condition precedent to access to data stored in the meta device, the signature in the dedicated storage area and the configuration data common to the dedicated storage area and the configuration file to confirm that the storage logical volume possesses all characteristics forth in the configuration file. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for testing the sequential integrity of individual logical volumes organized in a sequential group of logical volumes in a magnetic disk storage system comprising:
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A) a dedicated storage area in each logical volume, B) a configuration file for storing configuration data for each logical volume that defines predetermined characteristics of each logical volume and that includes a field that states whether a logical volume is in the group and additional data concerning first characteristics of the logical volume in that group, C) a unique signature in said dedicated storage area for each logical volume wherein the unique signature comprises certain of the configuration data for the logical volume including characteristics corresponding to the first characteristics, and D) means for analyzing, for a selected logical volume, the signature in said dedicated storage area and the first characteristics of the configuration data common to said dedicated storage area and said configuration file to confirm that the logical volume possesses all characteristics forth in said configuration file as a condition precedent for access to the data in the organized group of logical volumes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Apparatus for testing the integrity of a meta device comprising a plurality of storage logical volumes distributed over a plurality of disk drives, said apparatus comprising:
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A) a dedicated storage area in each storage logical volume on the corresponding disk drive, B) a configuration file for storing configuration data for each storage logical volume that defines predetermined characteristics of that storage logical volume, C) means for storing a unique signature in the dedicated storage area of each storage logical volume on the disk drive wherein the unique signature comprises certain of the configuration data for the storage logical volume, and D) means for analyzing, for a selected storage logical volume and as a condition precedent to access to data stored in the meta device, the signature in said dedicated storage area and said configuration data common to said dedicated storage area and the configuration file to confirm that the storage logical volume possesses all characteristics forth in said configuration file. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification