Method, system, and program for storing and using metadata in multiple storage locations
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- generating signature data indicating a plurality of metadata copy locations, each location identifying one of a plurality of storage devices and a copy location within the storage device, wherein each location contains one copy of metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information, wherein each copy of the signature data includes a generation number wherein a first and second processing systems are capable of accessing the metadata and signature data in the storage devices, and wherein the first processing system and second processing system maintain a first and second copy of the signature data, respectively;
storing a copy of the signature data with each copy of the metadata in the storage devices;
reading one copy of the metadata from one of the storage devices to obtain system configuration information to use to operate;
incrementing the generation number in each copy of the signature data in response to changing the locations in which the copy of the metadata is included;
performing an initialization by the first processing system;
determining a valid copy of the signature data on one of the storage devices or processing system;
staying off line in response to determining that no signature data is valid; and
updating all accessible copies of the signature data in the metadata locations indicated in the determined valid copy of signature data and the first and second copies of the signature data with the validated copy of the signature data.
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Abstract
Provided are a method, system, and program for storing and using metadata in multiple storage location. Signature data is stored in a system storage indicating a plurality of metadata copy locations, each locating identifying a storage device and a copy location within the storage device. Each location contains one copy of the metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information. A copy of the signature data is stored with each copy of the metadata.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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generating signature data indicating a plurality of metadata copy locations, each location identifying one of a plurality of storage devices and a copy location within the storage device, wherein each location contains one copy of metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information, wherein each copy of the signature data includes a generation number wherein a first and second processing systems are capable of accessing the metadata and signature data in the storage devices, and wherein the first processing system and second processing system maintain a first and second copy of the signature data, respectively; storing a copy of the signature data with each copy of the metadata in the storage devices; reading one copy of the metadata from one of the storage devices to obtain system configuration information to use to operate; incrementing the generation number in each copy of the signature data in response to changing the locations in which the copy of the metadata is included; performing an initialization by the first processing system; determining a valid copy of the signature data on one of the storage devices or processing system; staying off line in response to determining that no signature data is valid; and updating all accessible copies of the signature data in the metadata locations indicated in the determined valid copy of signature data and the first and second copies of the signature data with the validated copy of the signature data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of storage devices a first processing system having a system storage and in communication with the storage devices; a second processing system, wherein both processing systems are capable of accessing metadata and signature data in the storage devices, and wherein each processing system has a local storage including a copy of the signature data; and a computer readable medium including code executed by the first processing system to perform operations comprising; generating signature data indicating a plurality of metadata copy locations, each location identifying one of a plurality of storage devices and a copy location within the storage device, wherein each location contains one copy of the metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information, wherein each copy of the signature data includes a generation number; storing a copy of the signature data with each copy of the metadata in the storage devices; reading one copy of the metadata from one of the storage devices to obtain system configuration information to use to operate; incrementing the generation number in each copy of the signature data in response to changing the locations in which the copy of the metadata is included; performing an initialization by the first processing system; determining a validity of one of the accessible signature data on the storage devices or processing system; staying off line in response to determining that no signature data is valid; and updating all accessible copies of the signature data in the metadata locations indicated in the validated signature data and the first and second copies of the signature data with the validated copy of the signature data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An article of manufacture comprising at least one of a hardware device having hardware logic and a computer readable storage medium having executable code to communicate with a plurality of storage devices and a system storage and to cause a first and second processing systems to perform operations, the operations comprising:
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generating signature data indicating a plurality of metadata copy locations, each location identifying one of a plurality of storage devices and a copy location within the storage device, wherein each location contains one copy of metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information, wherein each copy of the signature data includes a generation number, wherein the first and second processing systems are capable of accessing the metadata and signature data in the storage devices, wherein the first processing system and second processing system maintain a first and second copy of the signature data; storing a copy of the signature data with each copy of the metadata; reading one copy of the metadata from one of the storage devices to obtain system configuration information to use to operate; incrementing the generation number in each copy of the signature data in response to changing the locations in which the copy of the metadata is included; performing an initialization; determining a validity of one of the accessible signature data on the storage devices or processing system; staying off line in response to determining that no signature data is valid; and updating all accessible copies of the signature data in the metadata locations indicated in the validated signature data and the first and second copies of the signature data with the validated copy of the signature data. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification