Method for regenerating and streaming content from a video server using RAID 5 data striping
First Claim
1. A method for streaming content striped in RAID 5 format from an array of disk drives to a plurality of subscribers to minimize disruptive service from a disk drive failure, said method comprising:
- accessing content data striped in said RAID 5 format, on an extent-by-extent basis, from a plurality of disk drives configured in an array without reading the parity extents;
streaming the content data to the plurality of subscribers on an extent-by-extent basis, sequentially, from the plurality of disk drives;
detecting an actual disk drive failure; and
transitioning to a stream regeneration mode of operation comprising;
reading the content contemporaneously from all extents in a parity group associated with a failed disk drive;
regenerating a failed portion of the content data from a failed extent in the parity group corresponding to the failed disk drive; and
streaming the content data in the parity group to the plurality of subscribers, extent-by-extent, immediately following the regenerating of the content data from the failed extent in the parity group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for streaming content striped in RAID 5 format from an array of disk drives to subscribers to minimize disruptive service from a disk drive failure. The method includes accessing content data on an extent-by-extent basis from a plurality of disk drives in an array and streams the content data to the subscribers on an extent-by-extent basis, sequentially, from the plurality of disk drives. Upon detection of an actual disk drive failure the method transitions to a stream regeneration mode of operation, which includes reading the content data substantially simultaneously from all extents in a parity group and regenerating a failed portion of the content data from a failed extent in the parity group corresponding to the failed disk drive. The content data in the parity group is streamed to the subscribers, extent-by-extent, immediately following the regenerating of the content data from the failed extent in the parity group.
93 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for streaming content striped in RAID 5 format from an array of disk drives to a plurality of subscribers to minimize disruptive service from a disk drive failure, said method comprising:
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accessing content data striped in said RAID 5 format, on an extent-by-extent basis, from a plurality of disk drives configured in an array without reading the parity extents; streaming the content data to the plurality of subscribers on an extent-by-extent basis, sequentially, from the plurality of disk drives; detecting an actual disk drive failure; and transitioning to a stream regeneration mode of operation comprising; reading the content contemporaneously from all extents in a parity group associated with a failed disk drive; regenerating a failed portion of the content data from a failed extent in the parity group corresponding to the failed disk drive; and streaming the content data in the parity group to the plurality of subscribers, extent-by-extent, immediately following the regenerating of the content data from the failed extent in the parity group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 29)
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17. A method for streaming content striped in RAID 5 format from an array of disk drives to a plurality of subscribers to minimize disruptive service from a disk drive failure, said method comprising:
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accessing content data striped in said RAID 5, on an extent-by-extent basis, from a plurality of disk drives configured in an array without reading the parity extents; streaming the content data to the plurality of subscribers on an extent-by-extent basis, sequentially, from the plurality of disk drives; predicting a disk drive failure; writing content data from a the disk drive predicted to fail to spare extents on non-failed disk drives in the array; detecting at least one of an actual failure and removal of the disk drive predicted to fail; and transitioning, in response to the detecting step, a recovery-carousel-serving mode of operation comprising; streaming psuedo-sequentially, extent-by-extent, content data of each parity group to the plurality of subscribers, where the regenerated content data in a spare extent of each parity group is streamed out of sequence. wherein in an instance where the disk drive predicted to fail fails prior to said writing step, said method further comprises transitioning to a stream regeneration mode of operation comprising; reading the content data contemporaneously from all extents in a parity group; regenerating a failed portion of the content data from a failed extent in the parity group corresponding to the failed disk drive; and streaming the content data in the parity group to the plurality of subscribers, extent-by-extent, immediately following the regenerating of the content data from the failed extent in the parity group. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification