Patent · US Expired

Upgrading firmware on disks of the raid storage system without deactivating the server

US6728833B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
4References
81Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 28, 2002
Grant dateApr 27, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2211/1035
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for updating firmware in a disk in a disk array in a RAID storage system without deactivating a server coupled to the disk array. Upon selecting the disk whose firmware is to be updated, the selected disk may enter a degrade mode of operation where a RAID controller coupled to the RAID storage system may prevent requests from reaching the selected disk thereby suppressing activity on the selected disk to allow the firmware to be updated. During the updating of the firmware, any stripes updated may be tracked. Upon completion of the firmware update, the stripe units in the selected disk associated with the stripes updated may be rebuilt. In this manner, firmware may be updated on a disk in a RAID storage system without deactivating the server thereby allowing the server to continuously stay active.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.