System and method for locating a failed storage device in a data storage system
First Claim
1. In a storage system having a plurality of storage devices communicatively connected by a ring-type communication network, a method of locating a failed device, comprising:
- (a) disabling network access for all devices on the communication network by transmitting a disable signal on a communication bus separate from the communication network;
(b) iteratively performing the following steps until communication on the ring-type network is restored;
(1) enabling network access for a subset of devices on the communication network, (2) testing commurucatlon on the communication network, and (3) if communication on the communication network fails, then disabling network access for the subset of devices; and
(c) if communication on the communication network is restored, then enabling network access for individual devices on the communication network until the addition of a device causes the communication network to fail.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for identifying a failed storage device in a storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices connected by a ring-type network is disclosed. In one embodiment, when a storage device fails, all storage devices on the ring-type network are disconnected to re-establish communication on the ring-type network. An iterative process of connecting a subset of storage devices to the ring-type network and testing communication on the ring-type network is performed until communication on the ring-type network is re-established. Then, individual storage devices are connected to the ring-type communication until the connection of a storage device causes communication on the ring-type network to fail, thereby identifying the failed storage device. In another embodiment, devices in a reporting group are tested on a shelf-by-shelf basis.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. In a storage system having a plurality of storage devices communicatively connected by a ring-type communication network, a method of locating a failed device, comprising:
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(a) disabling network access for all devices on the communication network by transmitting a disable signal on a communication bus separate from the communication network;
(b) iteratively performing the following steps until communication on the ring-type network is restored;
(1) enabling network access for a subset of devices on the communication network, (2) testing commurucatlon on the communication network, and (3) if communication on the communication network fails, then disabling network access for the subset of devices; and
(c) if communication on the communication network is restored, then enabling network access for individual devices on the communication network until the addition of a device causes the communication network to fail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for locating a failed device in a computer-based information storage system, the storage system including a plurality of storage devices communicatively connected by a ring-type communication network comprising:
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at least one controller connected to the communication network and connected to an input/output module for regulating access to the communication network by the storage devices;
a processor executing logic for generating a signal for disabling network access for all storage devices on the communication network and for transmitting the signal on a communication bus separate from the communication network;
a processor executing logic for iteratively performing the following steps until communication on the ring-type network is restored;
(1) generating a signal for enabling network access for a subset of devices on the communication network, (2) transmitting the signal to the Input/output module on a communication bus separate from the communication network, (3) testing communication on the communication network; and
(4) if communication on the ring-type network fails, then disabling network access for the subset of storage devices; and
a processor executing logic for enabling network access for individual devices on the ring-type network until the addition of a storage device causes the ring-type network to fail. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for locating a failed device in a computer-based information storage system, comprising:
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first instructions for disabling network access for all storage devices on the communication network by transmitting a disable signal on a communication bus separate from the communication network;
second instructions for iteratively performing the following steps until communication on the communication network is restored;
enabling network access for a subset of devices on the communication network;
testing communication on the communication network, and if communication on the communication network fails, then disabling network access for the subset of devices; and
third instructions for enabling network access for individual devices on the communication network until the addition of a device causes the communication network to fail.
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12. In a storage system comprising a plurality of devices residing in a plurality of enclosures and communicatively connected by a ring-type network, a method of locating a failed device comprising:
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sequentially, on an enclosure-by-enclosure basis, disabling network access for all devices in enclosures on the ring-type network until communication on the ring-type network is restored;
sequentially, on an enclosure-by-enclosure basis, enabling network access for individual devices on the ring-type network by transmitting an enable signal on a communication bus separate from the communication network until the addition of a device causes communication on the network to fail. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification