Control of multiple layer aggregation logical volume management data and boot record
US6636871B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0689
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for a multi-layer logical volume management (“LVM”) system which extends the single-layer logical volume model of current technology to handle multiple levels of aggregation more efficiently. Multiple levels of aggregation allows multiple types of aggregators, such as drive linking, mirroring, and software RAID, to be used together to bypass the limitations inherent in each individual aggregation technology. An LVM data area which stores information about the organization of the multi-layer logical volume is stored within the last partition of the logical volume. A fake EBR, which describes the logical volume as if it were a single disk drive, is located in the LVM data area of one of the partitions in the logical volume. A “bottom-to-top” control methodology is used to locate the LVM data area containing the fake EBR, including setting a special flag in the LVM data area containing the fake EBR. Aggregators search for this flag when creating aggregates, and set a flag in the LVM data area of the aggregate being created if any of the items being aggregated has this flag set. Thus, a path is built from the topmost aggregate to the partitio…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.