Method to synchronize a replacement controller's firmware version to the native configuration database version on a simplex array
First Claim
1. A method to synchronize firmware of a replacement simplex array controller with firmware of an original simplex array controller comprising:
- creating and storing by said original simplex array controller on a firmware repository storage device an original controller firmware code image that contains an original controller revision of firmware that is running on said original simplex array controller and original controller firmware revision information about said original controller revision of firmware, said firmware repository storage device being comprised of at least one storage device of an array of storage devices controlled by said original simplex array controller;
replacing said original simplex array controller with said replacement simplex array controller;
determining by said replacement simplex array controller that said replacement simplex array controller is running different firmware than said original simplex array controller was running by comparing replacement controller firmware revision information of firmware currently running on said replacement simplex array controller with said original controller firmware revision information stored in said original controller firmware code image; and
replacing said currently running revision of firmware on said replacement simplex array controller with said original controller revision of firmware stored in said original controller firmware code image.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are a method and a simplex array controller device that synchronize firmware revisions between an original, native, storage array controller in a single controller storage array system (i.e., a simplex array controller) and a replacement storage array controller that replaces the original, native, storage array controller. An embodiment may create and store an original firmware code image containing a copy of the firmware revision information running on an original simplex array controller along with controller and firmware revision identification off-board of the original array controller on a firmware repository storage device. The firmware repository storage device may be one of the storage devices selected from the array of storage devices controlled by the original array controller. When the original array controller is replaced by the replacement array controller, such as when the original array controller has failed, the replacement array controller may compare the firmware revision information of the firmware currently running on the array controller with the firmware revision information stored in the original firmware code image, and, if the revision information does not match, replace/overwrite the firmware revision on the replacement controller with the firmware revision stored in the firmware code image.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method to synchronize firmware of a replacement simplex array controller with firmware of an original simplex array controller comprising:
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creating and storing by said original simplex array controller on a firmware repository storage device an original controller firmware code image that contains an original controller revision of firmware that is running on said original simplex array controller and original controller firmware revision information about said original controller revision of firmware, said firmware repository storage device being comprised of at least one storage device of an array of storage devices controlled by said original simplex array controller; replacing said original simplex array controller with said replacement simplex array controller; determining by said replacement simplex array controller that said replacement simplex array controller is running different firmware than said original simplex array controller was running by comparing replacement controller firmware revision information of firmware currently running on said replacement simplex array controller with said original controller firmware revision information stored in said original controller firmware code image; and replacing said currently running revision of firmware on said replacement simplex array controller with said original controller revision of firmware stored in said original controller firmware code image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A simplex array storage controller that synchronizes firmware between a replacement simplex array controller with firmware of an original simplex array controller for a storage array controlled by simplex array controller comprising:
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a firmware code image creation and storage sub-system that creates and stores on a firmware repository storage device an original controller firmware code image that contains an original controller revision of firmware of firmware that is running on said simplex array controller when said simplex array controller is determined to be operating as said original simplex array controller and original controller firmware revision information about said original controller revision of firmware running on said simplex array controller when said simplex array controller is determined to be operating as said original simplex array controller, said firmware repository storage device being comprised of at least one storage device of an array of storage devices controlled by said simplex array controller; a synchronize and update firmware sub-system that determines that said simplex array controller, when said simplex array controller is determined to be operating as said replacement simplex array controller, is running different firmware than said original simplex array controller was running when said original controller firmware image was created and stored by comparing replacement controller firmware revision information of firmware currently running on said replacement simplex array controller when said simplex array controller is determined to be operating as said replacement simplex array controller with said original controller firmware revision information stored in said original controller firmware code image, and that replaces said currently running revision of firmware on said simplex array controller when said simplex array controller is determined to be operating as said replacement simplex array controller with said original controller revision of firmware stored in said original controller firmware code image. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification