RAID array auto-initialization (RAAI)
US7979773B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 13, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2211/1059
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method are provided for efficiently initializing a redundant array of independent disks (RAID). The method monitors host write operations and uses that information to select the optimal method to perform a parity reconstruction operation. The bins to which data access write operations have not occurred can be initialized using a zeroing process. In one aspect, the method identifies drives in the RAID array capable of receiving a ‘WriteRepeatedly’ command and leverages that capability to eliminate the need for the RAID disk array controller to provide initialization data for all disk array initialization transfers. This reduces the RAID array controller processor and I/O bandwidth required to initialize the array and further reduces the time to initialize a RAID array. In a different aspect, a method is provided for efficiently selecting a host write process for optimal data redundancy and performance in a RAID array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.