Data distribution in a disk array

• US 6,505,268 B1
• Filed: 04/08/1999
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Grant, David L., Schultz, Stephen M., Schmenk, David S., Flower, David L., Neufeld, E. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Peikari, B. James
• Application Number:
  US09/288,399
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 711/4, 711/114, 711/112, 711/111, 711/170, 711/172, 711/202, 360/69, 360/48
• US Class Current: 711/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems

Abstract

For use with a computer system having an intelligent mass storage disk array subsystem, including a microprocessor controller, a method for the distribution of data within the disk array based upon logical commands issued by the computer system. The disk controller reads a logical command and translates the commands into multiple drive specific commands, including drive physical parameter information such as head, sector and cylinder selection. The calculation of these physical parameters is based upon a number of factors including the operating system installed in the computer system, the type of interleave scheme, if any, specified by the computer system configuration, and disk specific parameters. The physical drive requests are then placed in a queue and executed by the microprocessor controller. The method also encompasses a method for creating a disk array configuration to be loaded on all disks within the array based on existing valid disk array information and configuration information maintained by the computer system.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a central processing unit; and

a disk array subsystem, comprising;

a plurality of disk drives forming a disk array; and

a disk array controller to receive a logical disk access request from the central processing unit, to create at least one disk drive specific access command from the logical disk access request, to develop the disk drive specific access command by calculating physical drive parameters including disk drive sector information to be used to access at least one disk drive within the disk array in response to the logical disk access request, to load the physical drive parameters into the disk drive specific access command after completing the calculation of the physical drive parameters, the calculation of the physical drive parameters being based on a disk array configuration and a data distribution scheme, the data distribution scheme including a logical address to physical address mapping scheme and a fault tolerant mode, and to queue the disk drive specific access command for execution by the disk array controller.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is independent of physical configuration of the disk array.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the disk array controller comprises a monolithic circuit-based platform.

4. A computer system, comprising:

a central processing unit; and

a disk array subsystem, comprising;

a plurality of disk drives forming a disk array; and

a disk array controller to receive a logical disk access request from the central processing unit, to create at least one disk drive specific access command from the logical disk access request, to develop the disk drive specific access command by calculating physical drive parameters including disk drive sector information from a permanent location on each disk drive within the disk array to be used to access at least one disk drive within the disk array in response to the logical disk access request, to load the physical drive parameters into the disk drive specific access command after completing the calculation of the physical drive parameters, the calculation of the physical drive parameters being based on a disk array configuration and a data distribution scheme, the data distribution scheme including a logical address to physical address mapping scheme and a fault tolerant mode, and to queue the disk drive specific access command for execution by the disk array controller.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the central processing unit is independent of physical configuration of the disk array.

6. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the disk array controller comprises a monolithic circuit-based platform.

7. A disk array controller of a computer system including a central processing unit and a disk array subsystem, the disk array subsystem including a plurality of disk drives forming a disk array, the disk array controller comprising:

a means for reading reserved sectors including individual drive information from each disk drive of the disk array upon initialization of the computer system;

a means for receiving a logical disk access request from the central processing unit;

a means for selecting a logical address to physical address mapping scheme and a fault tolerant mode of the disk array; and

a means for converting the logical disk access request into a plurality of disk drive specific access commands based on the individual drive information, the logical address to physical address mapping scheme and the fault tolerant mode.