Methods and structure for RAID level migration within a logical unit
US6275898A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 14, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2211/1004
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and structures for defining partitions within a RAID storage system LUN such that each partition is managed in accordance with RAID management techniques independent of the other partitions. The total data storage of the LUN is subdivided and mapped into a plurality of partitions also referred to as partitions. Initially, each partition is configured and mapped to run as a RAID level 1 mirrored storage area. As performance and storage capacity needs as measured for each partition dictate, a partition of a LUN may be reconfigured to use a different RAID level (i.e., level 3 or 5) to reduce overhead storage needs at the cost of decreased write performance. A partition may later be returned to RAID level 1 as performance needs so indicate. Each partition is therefore managed in accordance with its own RAID level of management. The partitions of a LUN may expand to incorporate unused space in an adjacent partition or unused space in the LUN may be compacted and consolidated in one area of the LUN such that the partitions are moved to fill holes in the LUN storage capacity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.