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 metadata copy location identifying one of a plurality of storage devices and a copy location within the storage device, wherein each copy location contains one copy of the metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information;
storing a copy of the signature data with copies of the metadata in the storage devices indicated in the metadata copy locations of the signature data;
using the signature data to determine a copy location of valid metadata;
reading one copy of the valid metadata from the determined copy location in one of the storage devices to obtain system configuration information from the valid metadata to use to operate;
initiating an operation to alter the copy locations of the metadata copies in the storage devices storing the metadata;
determining new copy locations in the storage devices for the metadata;
updating each copy location of the signature data to indicate the new copy locations for the metadata; and
copying metadata and the updated signature data to any of the new copy locations that do not already include metadata and 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.
41 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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generating signature data indicating a plurality of metadata copy locations, each metadata copy location identifying one of a plurality of storage devices and a copy location within the storage device, wherein each copy location contains one copy of the metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information; storing a copy of the signature data with copies of the metadata in the storage devices indicated in the metadata copy locations of the signature data; using the signature data to determine a copy location of valid metadata; reading one copy of the valid metadata from the determined copy location in one of the storage devices to obtain system configuration information from the valid metadata to use to operate; initiating an operation to alter the copy locations of the metadata copies in the storage devices storing the metadata; determining new copy locations in the storage devices for the metadata; updating each copy location of the signature data to indicate the new copy locations for the metadata; and copying metadata and the updated signature data to any of the new copy locations that do not already include metadata and signature data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of storage devices; a processing system having a system storage and in communication with the storage devices; and a computer readable medium including code executed by the processing system to perform operations comprising; generating signature data indicating a plurality of metadata copy locations, each metadata copy location identifying one of a plurality of storage devices and a copy location within the storage device, wherein each copy location contains one copy of the metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information; storing a copy of the signature data with copies of the metadata in the storage devices indicated in the metadata copy locations of the signature data; using the signature data to determine a copy location of valid metadata; reading one copy of the valid metadata from the determined copy location in one of the storage devices to obtain system configuration information from the valid metadata to use to operate; initiating an operation to alter the copy locations of the metadata copies in the storage devices storing the metadata; determining new copy locations in the storage devices for the metadata; updating each copy location of the signature data to indicate the new copy locations for the metadata; and copying metadata and the updated signature data to any of the new copy locations that do not already include metadata and signature data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. 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 operations to be performed, the operations comprising:
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generating signature data indicating a plurality of metadata copy locations, each metadata copy location identifying one of a plurality of storage devices and a copy location within the storage device, wherein each copy location contains one copy of the metadata, wherein the metadata includes system configuration information; storing a copy of the signature data with copies of the metadata in the storage devices indicated in the metadata copy locations of the signature data; using the signature data to determine a copy location of valid metadata; reading one copy of the valid metadata from the determined copy location in one of the storage devices to obtain system configuration information from the valid metadata to use to operate; initiating an operation to alter the copy locations of the metadata copies in the storage devices storing the metadata; determining new copy locations in the storage devices for the metadata; updating each copy location of the signature data to indicate the new copy locations for the metadata; and copying metadata and the updated signature data to any of the new copy locations that do not already include metadata and signature data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification