Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201604 | Kernel Error Recovery Disablement and Shared Recovery Routine Footprint Areas - A method, computer program product, and data processing system for providing optional failure recovery features in operating system kernel code are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a segment of mainline code may designate a recovery routine for that segment by calling a kernel service provided for that purpose. The kernel service allocates a “footprint” region on the recovery stack for storing state information arising from the execution of the recovery-enabled code. In the event of an exception, a recovery manager routine uses information from the recovery stack to recover from the exception. Recovery may be disabled altogether for performance purposes by way of boot-time patching to disable the use of the recovery stack and to allow state information to be written to a static “scratchpad” area, which unlike the recovery stack, is allowed to be overwritten, its contents being ignored. | 08-21-2008 |
20080209259 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING RELIABILITY OF DATA STORED IN RAID - A system and method for testing reliability of RAID data storage is proposed, which is designed for use with a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) unit for testing its reliability of data storage operations, and which is characterized by the provision of three testing procedures, namely a redundant data storage testing procedure, a disk reduction procedure and a disk addition procedure. The proposed testing method and system can be used to comprehensively test, for example, the reliability of the mirroring in RAID Level 1 mode. | 08-28-2008 |
20080209260 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING EMBEDDED DATABASES OF APPLICATIONS IN A FAILOVER CLUSTER - A method and computer program product in accordance with the invention includes identifying, by an application upon startup, redundant applications running in a failover cluster. Each of the application and redundant applications includes an embedded database for storing data. The application determines which embedded database of the applications contains the most recent version of data, retrieves the most recent version of data, and writes this version to its embedded database. The application then notifies the other applications and waits for the other applications to complete replication to their embedded databases. The application may then commence operation, replicate changes to its embedded database to the other applications, and generate a timestamp indicating the time the changes are made. | 08-28-2008 |
20080209261 | Data repair and synchronization method of dual flash read only memory - A data repair and synchronization method of dual flash ROM is provided, which includes a first flash ROM and a second flash ROM that store the same system data, wherein one of the first flash ROM and the second flash ROM is used to perform a data repair on the other flash ROM with damaged data and perform a data synchronization between the two flash ROMs, thereby ensuring that once the data in one flash ROM is damaged during the system operation, the complete system data stored in the other flash ROM is used to recover the damaged operating system and the files in the system. Meanwhile, through performing the data synchronization periodically, important configuration files in the system stored in the two flash ROMs are kept to be updated and completed. | 08-28-2008 |
20080209262 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OUT-OF-BAND BOOTING OF A COMPUTER - The present invention is directed to systems and methods for remotely booting a server computer system. A boot request is received from the server computer. An access request is transmitted to a boot management system via a secondary communication channel in response to the received boot request. An access response is received from the boot management system. The access response includes boot data from a boot image accessible via the boot management system and compatible with the server computer. In response to the received access response, the boot data is extracted from the access response and forwarded to the server computer for processing and booting. Multiple responses may be required in certain instances to accumulate the entirety of the boot image. | 08-28-2008 |
20080209263 | REBUILDLING A FAILED DISK IN A DISK ARRAY - Provided are a method for operating a disk array, a disk array, and a rebuilding process. The disk array comprises a plurality of data disks and a parity disk. A failed data disk in the disk array is detected and the failed data disk is isolated from the disk array. A rebuild is initiated of the data in the failed data disk to a spare data disk from data in surviving data disks comprising the at least one of the data disks that did not fail and the parity disk in the disk array. An error is detected in one of the surviving data disks. Data is read from the failed data disk. The rebuild of the failed data disk is completed using the surviving data disks, the parity disk, and the data read from the failed data disk. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215912 | System and Method for Raid Recovery Arbitration in Shared Disk Applications - A RAID controller is provided for each host sharing a RAID. Each RAID controller can determine whether another host is sharing the RAID and assume a master or slave status with respect to rebuild operations for the shared disk. The master controller may then manage any rebuild operations on rebuild disks within the RAID. | 09-04-2008 |
20080222449 | System and Method for Information Handling System Error Recovery - An information handling system recovers from memory errors associated with a memory unit that supports operation of an SMI handler by using another memory unit to support operation of the SMI handler. For example, if an SMI handler detects an error associated with a DIMM that supports operation of the SMI handler, then an SMI handler location module moves the SMI handler to another DIMM. For instance, a jump command is activated to jump to a pre-existing copy of the SMI handler stored at another DIMM. As another example, a relocation of the SMI handler to another DIMM is performed by changing address information used by the chipset and CPUs to run the SMI handler. | 09-11-2008 |
20080244309 | DISK ARRAY DEVICE, OPERATING METHOD THEREOF AND PROGRAM-STORING MEDIUM - Even if failure probabilities are different for hard disks due to the individual specificity such as a hard disk manufacturer, model number or the like, a disk with high failure probability is reliably determined and removed from the operating RAID to be kept in a standby state as a hot spare disk, thereby keeping a low failure probability of the disk array device. In order to realize this, the disk array device includes a disk controlling unit for, based on S.M.A.R.T. information of each of the hard disks read by a S.M.A.R.T. information reading unit, assigning a predetermined number of hard disks to the hot spare disk in descending order of failure probability of the hard disks. | 10-02-2008 |
20080250269 | System and Method for Improving Rebuild Speed Using Data in Disk Block - A fast rebuild mechanism by which a RAID controller is made aware of what blocks are actually in use so that only those blocks are rebuilt after a disk drive failure. The fast rebuild mechanism uses data stored in the disk metadata to indicate whether a virtual disk supports a fast rebuild and on every block to indicate whether the block has valid user data. The fast rebuild mechanism also includes functionality for an IO controller (such as storage controller) to detect whether a block has stored data to indicate that the block has valid data when the block is accessed. | 10-09-2008 |
20080250270 | Memory management system and method - A memory system and method of operating the same is described, where the memory system is used to store data in a RAIDed manner. The stored data may be retrieved, including the parity data so that the stored data is recovered when the first of either the stored data without the parity data, or the stored data from all but one memory module and the parity data, has been received. The writing of data, for low write data loads, is managed such that only one of the memory modules of a RAID stripe is being written to, or erased, during a time interval. | 10-09-2008 |
20080256386 | Raid configuration indication in network attached storage - In one embodiment a network attached storage device comprises at least one storage media, a storage controller to manage input/output requests directed to the at least one storage media, and a RAID interrogation module to receive a RAID configuration query, wherein the RAID configuration query includes a volume identifier that identifies a storage volume, accesses a RAID configuration table in a memory module coupled to the network attached storage device, and presents RAID configuration data obtained from the RAID configuration table. | 10-16-2008 |
20080270824 | PARALLEL INSTRUCTION PROCESSING AND OPERAND INTEGRITY VERIFICATION - A method includes storing a first data to a first portion of a storage location of a storage component of a processing device in association with a first store operation and obtaining a second data from the storage location, the second data being stored at the storage location prior to the first data. The method further includes determining whether the storage location has a bit error at second portion of the storage location different from the first portion based on the second data obtained from the storage location. The method additionally includes storing a third data to a second portion of the storage location in response to determining the storage location has a bit error at the second portion, wherein the third data is to correct the bit error. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270825 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FAILOVER OF GUEST OPERATING SYSTEMS IN A VIRTUAL MACHINE ENVIRONMENT - A system and method provides for failover of guest operating systems in a virtual machine environment. During initialization of a computer executing a virtual machine operating system, a first guest operating system allocates a first memory region within a first domain and notifies a second guest operating system operating in a second domain of the allocated first memory region. Similarly, the second guest operating system allocates a second region of memory within the second domain and notifies the first operating system of the allocated second memory region. In the event of a software failure affecting one of the guest operating systems, the surviving guest operating system assumes the identity of the failed operating system and utilizes data stored within the shared memory region to replay to storage devices to render them consistent. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270826 | REDUNDANT MEMORY TO MASK DRAM FAILURES - A method comprises detecting a defective area in a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The method further comprises establishing a redundant memory buffer at a per-memory module level. The method still further comprises loading the redundant memory buffer with a copy of data from the defective area. The method additionally comprises substituting data from the redundant memory buffer for data stored in the defective area upon a memory access to the defective area. | 10-30-2008 |
20080276122 | RESTORING THE FIRMWARE AND ALL PROGRAMMABLE CONTENT OF AN OPTICAL DRIVE - After an update of an optical drive with a new firmware or after any other event that changed content of non-volatile memory means of the optical drive it is possible that the user for any reason wants to restore the original operational condition of the optical drive. However, even after a re-flash with the old firmware there may arise the problem, that the original operational condition is not successfully restored. This in many cases is due to the fact, that a new firmware can also reprogram other programmable content in the optical drive which remains in the updated state, even after a re-flash. | 11-06-2008 |
20080276123 | AUTOMATION OF BARE METAL RECOVERIES - Completely recovering data stored on a hard disk or other computer-readable media of a computing system from scratch in an automated manner. Recovery information and post-restore customization data are stored on the backup medium that stores the backup of the computer-readable media of the computing system (e.g., operating system, application programs, user data, application data, etc.). The computing system is rebooted into a recovery environment where a recovery script automates the recovery of the backup. The recovery information and post-restore customization data are applied to the offline, recovered backup to ensure continuity. The computing system is rebooted into the recovered backup. | 11-06-2008 |
20080276124 | INCOMPLETE WRITE PROTECTION FOR DISK ARRAY - The embodiments of the invention provide methods of protecting data blocks while writing to a storage array, wherein storage units in the storage array include write logs. The data protection level of the write logs is equal to or greater than the data protection level of the storage units. Moreover, the write logs have metadata describing contents of the write logs, wherein the metadata include a sequence number identifying the age of the metadata. Each of the data blocks is a member of a parity group having addressable data blocks and first parity blocks. The addressable data blocks have at least one host data block and at least one associated data block. | 11-06-2008 |
20080282105 | DATA INTEGRITY VALIDATION IN STORAGE SYSTEMS - Data validation systems and methods are provided. Data is recorded in N data chunks on one or more storage mediums. A first validation chunk independently associated with said N data chunks comprises first validation information for verifying accuracy of data recorded in said N data chunks. The first validation chunk is associated with a first validation appendix comprising second validation information, wherein the first validation appendix is stored on a first storage medium independent of said one or more storage mediums. | 11-13-2008 |
20080282106 | DATA STORAGE WITH INCREMENTAL REDUNDANCY - A method for operating a memory includes encoding input data with an Error Correction Code (ECC) to produce input encoded data including first and second sections, such that the ECC is decodable based on the first section at a first redundancy, and based on both the first and the second sections at a second redundancy that is higher than the first redundancy. | 11-13-2008 |
20080294934 | Semiconductor memory device having an error correction function and associated method - A semiconductor memory device may include a parity generating circuit, a memory cell array, an error calculating circuit and an error corrector. The parity generating circuit generates parities having different number of bits according to types of a partial array self-refresh mode, and selects one of the parities to output a first parity. The error calculating circuit calculates an error based on a first data corresponding to the input data and a second parity corresponding to the first parity and outputs a first error data. The error corrector corrects the first data based on the first data and the first error data. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294935 | DATA STRUCTURE FOR FLASH MEMORY AND DATA READING/WRITING METHOD THEREOF - A data structure for a flash memory and data reading/writing method thereof are disclosed. A 512 bytes data and a redundant code derived from the data encoded with a 6-bit error correcting code scheme are stored in a first sector and a second sector with sequential address in a block of the flash memory respectively. A logic block address information of this block is divided into two parts that are stored in the first sector and the second sector respectively. | 11-27-2008 |
20080301492 | STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COPYING DATA TO PLURALITY OF SITES - A storage system of the present invention carries out remote copying among a plurality of sites, detects a new copy path when a failure occurs, and resumes remote copying. The storage system comprises a plurality of sites. Each site comprises a host and a storage controller. The controller of each site comprises a copy controller, a failure detector, a candidate detector, and a resume controller. The failure detector detects a failure that occurs in a remote copy configuration. The candidate detector detects a candidate for a copy path. The resume controller resumes remote copying using any one copy path from among copy path candidates detected in the respective sites. | 12-04-2008 |
20080301493 | STORAGE SYSTEM AND STORAGE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT METHOD - A management server in a storage system manages a table that stores, as a change history, at least configuration change and a change time for plural volumes; acquires specification of a recovery-target volume and of a recovery time, and acquires, from the table, information on the specified volume and the specified recovery time; shows, in a user interface, a point of difference between a current configuration of the specified volume and a configuration of the specified volume as of at the specified time in a manner distinguishing it from the other parts in display based on the acquired information and current information on the specified volume; and recovers the specified volume to its state as of at the specified time based on backup data and journal data after acquisition of an instruction to recover the specified volume to its state as of at the specified time based on the display. | 12-04-2008 |
20080301494 | Remote Copy Synchronization in Disaster Recovery Computer Systems - A method, storage system, and machine-readable medium for resynchronizing data stored among a first storage element and a second storage element of a remote copy pair of storage elements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method is provided which includes detecting a reestablishment of a remote copy relationship between the first and second storage elements and performing a resynchronization operation in response to this detection. Performing the resynchronization operation comprises transmitting data of a second change record associated with the second storage element to the first storage element, combining the second change record with a first change record associated with the first storage element, identifying a data segment of the second storage element utilizing the combined change record, and overwriting data of the first storage element with data of the identified data segment. | 12-04-2008 |
20080307252 | Method and Apparatus for Implementing Redundant Memory Access Using Multiple Controllers on the Same Bank of Memory - A method and apparatus implement redundant memory access using multiple controllers on the same bank of memory. A first memory controller uses the memory as its primary address space, for storage and fetches. A second redundant controller is also connected to the same memory. System control logic is used to notify the redundant controller of the need to take over the memory interface. The redundant controller initializes if required and takes control of the memory. The memory only needs to be initialized if the system has to be brought down and restarted in the redundant mode. This invention allows the system to continue to stay up and continue running during a memory controller or link failure. | 12-11-2008 |
20080307253 | Method and Apparatus for Implementing Redundant Memory Access Using Multiple Controllers on the Same Bank of Memory - A method and apparatus implement redundant memory access using multiple controllers on the same bank of memory, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides is provided. A first memory controller uses the memory as its primary address space, for storage and fetches. A second redundant controller is also connected to the same memory. System control logic is used to notify the redundant controller of the need to take over the memory interface. The redundant controller initializes if required and takes control of the memory. The memory only needs to be initialized if the system has to be brought down and restarted in the redundant mode. This invention allows the system to continue to stay up and continue running during a memory controller or link failure. | 12-11-2008 |
20080313493 | PROGRAMMING ERROR CORRECTION CODE INTO A SOLID STATE MEMORY DEVICE WITH VARYING BITS PER CELL - Memory devices that, in a particular embodiment, receive and transmit analog data signals representative of bit patterns of two or more bits such as to facilitate increases in data transfer rates relative to devices communicating data signals indicative of individual bits. Programming error correction code (ECC) and metadata into such memory devices includes storing the ECC and metadata at different bit levels per cell based on an actual error rate of the cells. The ECC and metadata can be stored with the data block at a different bit level than the data block. If the area of memory in which the block of data is stored does not support the desired reliability for the ECC and metadata at a particular bit level, the ECC and metadata can be stored in other areas of the memory array at different bit levels. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313494 | MEMORY REFRESH SYSTEM AND METHOD - A refresh scheduler is configured to refresh memory cells of a memory device according to a plurality of refresh intervals. The various refresh intervals are determined in response to refresh errors. | 12-18-2008 |
20090006888 | Fast primary cluster recovery - A cluster recovery process is implemented across a set of distributed archives, where each individual archive is a storage cluster of preferably symmetric nodes. Each node of a cluster typically executes an instance of an application that provides object-based storage of fixed content data and associated metadata. According to the storage method, an association or “link” between a first cluster and a second cluster is first established to facilitate replication. The first cluster is sometimes referred to as a “primary” whereas the “second” cluster is sometimes referred to as a “replica.” Once the link is made, the first cluster's fixed content data and metadata are then replicated from the first cluster to the second cluster, preferably in a continuous manner. Upon a failure of the first cluster, however, a failover operation occurs, and clients of the first cluster are redirected to the second cluster. Upon repair or replacement of the first cluster (a “restore”), the repaired or replaced first cluster resumes authority for servicing the clients of the first cluster. This restore operation preferably occurs in two stages: a “fast recovery” stage that involves preferably “bulk” transfer of the first cluster metadata, following by a “fail back” stage that involves the transfer of the fixed content data. Upon receipt of the metadata from the second cluster, the repaired or replaced first cluster resumes authority for the clients irrespective of whether the fail back stage has completed or even begun. | 01-01-2009 |
20090013212 | System and Method for Computer Data Recovery - The invention consists of a method of data recovery for a computer system, the steps comprising: a) initializing hardware associated with the computer system, the hardware including a hard drive, and a minimum of 32 MB of RAM; b) initializing network devices and connections associated with the computer system; c) scanning and identifying partitions on any hard drives connected to the computer system; d) recovering data from the hard drives by making all the data on the computer system available over the network as a network share resembling a file server; and e) copying the recovered data over the network connection to a recovery hard drive. | 01-08-2009 |
20090024871 | Failure management method for a storage system - Provided is a method of performing backup and recovery of data by using journaling, and performing management upon occurrence of a failure. The method includes: a first step of setting a recovery point indicative of the given time; a second step of creating an information of correspondence between the snapshot and the journal data which is required to restore data at the set recovery point time; a third step of detecting the occurrence of failure of the disk drive; and a fourth step of detecting the recovery point at which data cannot be restored due to the failure of the disk drive. | 01-22-2009 |
20090031167 | Storage control system and storage control method - Unique information including a logical type name is stored in a user data area of a management area as a media of the alternative disk drive to become an alternative of the storage device. Upon using the alternative disk drive, a disk controller reads the unique information of the alternative disk drive, and determines that copy back is unnecessary when the rotating speed and capacity belonging to the unique information of the alternative disk drive are the same as the rotating speed and capacity of the failed disk drive belonging to RAID, and otherwise determines that copy back is necessary. | 01-29-2009 |
20090044043 | System and method to support background initialization for controller that supports fast rebuild using in block data - A fast rebuild mechanism that includes a background initialization mechanism. The fast rebuild mechanism allows a RAID controller to be made aware of what blocks are actually in use so that only those blocks are rebuilt after a disk drive failure. The fast rebuild mechanism also includes functionality for an IO controller (such as storage controller) to detect whether a block has stored data to indicate that the block has valid data when the block is accessed. | 02-12-2009 |
20090044044 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CORRECTING ERRORS IN A SYSTEM HAVING AT LEAST TWO EXECUTION UNITS HAVING REGISTERS - A device for correcting errors in a system having at least two execution units having registers is presented, the registers being designed for recording data. The device has comparison device(s) that are set up such that through a comparison of data that are provided for storage in the registers, a deviation and thus an error may be ascertained. Furthermore, at least one shadow register that is set up such that data concerning the data of the registers may be stored therein, and device(s) are provided for restoring error-free data in at least one register on the basis of the data in the at least one shadow register when an error is detected. This device may be used to improve the safety of a multicore processor. | 02-12-2009 |
20090044045 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND REDUNDANCY METHOD THEREOF - A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a main memory cell array, redundancy memory cell array, memory macro and repair information transferring circuit. A repair information analyzing circuit fetches repair information of transferred unit repair information therein, outputs the repair information to the memory macro having a redundancy repair mechanism and subjects the memory macro to a redundancy repair process by the redundancy repair mechanism of the memory macro in a case where memory identification information of the transferred unit repair information coincides with memory identification information stored in a nonvolatile memory element. | 02-12-2009 |
20090044046 | METHOD FOR ROLLING BACK FROM SNAPSHOT WITH LOG - High speed differential copy can be implemented in the fail-back after disaster recovery when the data of the primary site is protected safely. When a restore command is issued, the common snapshots of the snapshots of the primary site and the secondary site are extracted as the base snapshot by comparing the log tables of the primary site and secondary site. The volume of the primary site is rolled back with the extracted snapshots. The latest snapshot of the volume of the secondary site is transmitted to the primary site and it is applied to the volume of the primary site to synchronize the volumes of the primary site and the secondary site. | 02-12-2009 |
20090055681 | INTRA-DISK CODING SCHEME FOR DATA-STORAGE SYSTEMS - Exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise a method for the use of an intra-disk redundancy storage protection operation for the scrubbing of a disk. The method comprises initiating a disk scrubbing operation upon each disk of a plurality of disks that are comprised within a storage disk array, issuing a disk scrubbing command for a predetermined segment of the disks that are comprised within the storage disk array at a predetermined time interval, and identifying an unrecoverable segment on a disk. The method further comprises determining if unrecoverable sectors comprised within the unrecoverable segment can be reconstructed, and reconstructing the unrecoverable sectors of the unrecoverable segment and relocating the segment to a spare storage location on the disk in the event that the segment cannot be reconstructed within its original storage location. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055682 | Data storage systems and methods having block group error correction for repairing unrecoverable read errors - Data storage systems and methods perform error correction on a single physical storage disk. The technique includes arranging a plurality of addressable blocks on the single physical storage disk into error correction groups, wherein each error correction group includes N data blocks and M coding blocks. M is determined in accordance with a desired failure tolerance of the error correction groups and an error-correcting code. For each error correction group, error-correcting code data is computed across the N data blocks in the error correction group. The computed error-correcting coding data is stored in the M coding blocks in the error correcting group. The arranging, computing and storing steps are performed by a hardware or software component external to the single physical storage disk. | 02-26-2009 |
20090070625 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A NON-VOLATILE MEMORY WITH MULTIPLE BITS ERROR CORRECTION AND DETECTION FOR IMPROVING PRODUCTION YIELD - A method and system for a non-volatile memory (NVM) with multiple bits error correction are provided and may include detecting bit errors in a memory element, of a NVM array integrated within a chip, which remain uncorrected after forward error correction. A redundant memory element may be utilized when the errors may be detected utilizing a cyclic redundancy check, may be within the NVM array, and may include secure information. Access to the secure information and/or the chip may be disabled when the errors are detected. The FEC operation may include one or both of an error location operation and a correction operation. The errors may be corrected when a location may be known to include the errors. The NVM array may be partitioned into regions. At least one of the redundant memory elements may be substituted in place of the memory element based on a substitution priority. | 03-12-2009 |
20090077416 | METHOD FOR MANAGING A DATA STORAGE SYSTEM - A RAID storage system is provided with a plurality of disk drive modules in communication with a processor through a RAID controller. Tools and processes are provided for managing failure of individual modules in the RAID, identifying and managing excess spare modules, and migrating modules among array sites to produce uniform or near-uniform array sites. | 03-19-2009 |
20090089612 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF REDUNDANTLY STORING AND RETRIEVING DATA WITH COOPERATING STORAGE DEVICES - A system and method for data storage in an array. A system includes a client coupled to a storage subsystem. The storage subsystem comprises data storage locations addressable as rows and columns in an array. Each column comprises a separate storage device. Each row includes redundant data. For a given row, a coordinating storage device receives data from the client, coordinates computation and storage of redundant data, and forwards data to other storage devices. In response to receiving data targeted for storage in a given storage location, a non-volatile, temporary storage device that is associated with the separate storage device that includes the given storage location buffers the received data. The coordinating storage device conveys a write completion message to the client in response to detecting that the data has been buffered in the non-volatile, temporary storage devices. At least two storage devices are coordinating storage devices in separate rows. | 04-02-2009 |
20090094479 | METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING XOR BASED RAID ALGORITHMS - An interpretive script language that provides an abstraction layer between redundant array of independent disks (RAID) algorithms and RAID hardware architecture. The interpretive script language provides greater flexibility and performance over conventional RAID processors. The interpretive script language may be used with any RAID hardware architecture, is not dependent on a specific RAID algorithm, and enables efficient communication to a RAID processor from any entity that desires RAID services. The entity requesting RAID services sends a command to a RAID processor, which includes pointers to a script entry point for scripts stored in a table memory in the RAID processor, and pointers to the data and parity (for example, in a buffer memory) on which to perform exclusive OR (XOR) operations. | 04-09-2009 |
20090106583 | STORAGE CONTROLLER, AND STORAGE DEVICE FAILURE DETECTION METHOD - Even when a failure incapable of being detected by a single guarantee code occurs in data, a storage controller of the present invention can detect and restore this failure. The controller, upon receiving a write command from a host, establish a first data guarantee code in the write data, and establish a second data guarantee code in the parity related to the write data. Upon receiving a read command from the host, the controller determines the correctness of the data based on the first data guarantee code, and also detects the presence or absence of a failure by comparing the first data guarantee code with the second data guarantee code. When a failure is detected, the controller restores the failure on the basis of RAID technology. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106584 | STORAGE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Provided is a storage apparatus that can dramatically shorten the time for recovery from a fault in a storage device. In a storage apparatus provided with one or more storage devices and a method for controlling the storage apparatus, when a fault occurs in the storage device, whether or not the fault is a predetermined specific fault is judged, and the storage device is rebooted if the fault is the predetermined specific fault. As a result, recovery from the fault can be achieved in a dramatically shorter amount of time than the time required for replacement of the storage device. Accordingly, the time for recovery from the fault in the storage device can be shortened dramatically. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106585 | STORAGE SYSTEM - One code (a compressed redundant code) is created based on a plurality of first redundant codes, each created on the basis of a plurality of data units, and this compressed redundant code is written to a nonvolatile storage area. This compressed redundant code is used to restore either a data element constituting a multiple-failure data, or a first redundant code corresponding to the multiple-failure data, which is stored in an unreadable sub-storage area of a partially failed storage device, and to restore the data element constituting the multiple-failure data which is stored in a sub-storage area of a completely failed storage device, based on the restored either data element or first redundant code, and either another data element constituting the multiple-failure data or the first redundant code corresponding to the multiple-failure data. | 04-23-2009 |
20090113235 | RAID WITH REDUNDANT PARITY - Methods and apparatus of the present invention include storing redundant parity information in storage devices that are configured in a RAID array. Conventional hard disk drives are configured to store data in RAID 3 or RAID 4 data layouts. A storage controller is configured to generate the parity information for the data written to the hard disk drives. One or more of the devices storing the parity information may be a flash storage device. | 04-30-2009 |
20090113236 | DISK MANAGEMENT METHOD, DISK MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND STORAGE SYSTEM - A disk management method for managing a disk management device for writing and reading data to and from a disk drive in which a recording medium is managed in a first control unit. The disk management method includes an error checking operation for checking an error on the recording medium in the first control unit, an error correction operation for correcting the error detected in the error, an error correcting operation for correcting the error detected in the error checking operation after converting data including the error to the second control unit, a data loss registration operation for registering a region in which data are lost due to an inconsistency between the first control unit and second control unit in a data loss region table, and a data loss recovery operation for recovering the loss of data with reference to the data loss region table. | 04-30-2009 |
20090119538 | Storage Handling for Fault Tolerance in Virtual Machines - A fault-tolerant virtualized computer system comprises a primary host executing a primary virtual machine (VM) and a backup host executing a backup VM. In one embodiment, each VM includes a virtual disk mapped to a shared disk image on physical disk accessible to both hosts. A virtual disk IO request is received by virtualization software executing on the backup host from a backup VM. When the virtual disk IO request is a read request, the virtual disk IO request is mapped to a physical read IO request of a virtual disk image stored on a physical disk, the physical read IO request is issued to the physical disk. However, when the virtual disk IO request is a write request, it is assumed to be completed without mapping the virtual disk IO request or issuing a mapped physical IO request to the physical disk. | 05-07-2009 |
20090125753 | HANDLING OF DATA STORAGE WITHIN A FLASH MEDIA DEVICE - A flash memory device can be subdivided into smaller areas (called chunks) that can written independently over a extended periods of time even though each sector must be erased as a single unit. It may be determined which chunks of data within a sector are valid or invalid and the valid data can be recovered. When errors are detected, the retrieved data may be retrieved from an earlier stored memory chunk in another sector. The type of data stored within a chunk is flagged within that chunk. Each chunk can be date and/or time stamped. Each chunk can also be given a unique, but increasing, sequence number. These values can be used to determine the latest chunk of a particular type. | 05-14-2009 |
20090132851 | PARALLEL REED-SOLOMON RAID (RS-RAID) ARCHITECTURE, DEVICE, AND METHOD - The parallel RS-RAID data storage architecture can aggregate that data and checksums within each cluster into intermediate or partial sums that are transferred or distributed to other clusters. The use of intermediate data symbols, intermediate checksum symbols, cluster configuration information on the assignment of data storage devices to clusters and the operational status of data storage devices, and the like, can reduce the computational burden and latency for the error correction calculations while increasing the scalability and throughput of the parallel RS-RAID distributed data storage architecture. | 05-21-2009 |
20090138754 | Memory Errors - The present invention provides a method of protecting against errors in a boot memory, the method comprising initiating booting of a processor by executing primary boot code from a primary boot memory, and based on the execution of the primary boot code: accessing a data structure comprising a plurality of redundant portions of boot information stored on a secondary boot memory; performing an error check on a plurality of the portions to determine whether those portions contain errors and, based on the error checks, to identify a valid portion; and booting the processor using the valid portion of boot information. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138755 | VIRTUAL DISK DRIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc., remote data storage, and data progression, etc. | 05-28-2009 |
20090144582 | ANTI-VIRUS METHOD BASED ON SECURITY CHIP - An anti-virus method based on a security chip according to the present invention is provided. The method comprises the following steps: a hash value obtained by a hashing operation for a computer key file and a system control program are stored in a memory of the security chip, and a backup file of the computer key file is stored in a backup storage area. When power up, the integrity of the system control program is verified by using the hash value of the system control program stored in the memory of the security chip. If the system control program is integral, a control is executed by the system control program, and the system control program verifies the integrity of the computer key file using the hash value of the computer key file stored in the memory of the security chip. If all the computer key files are integral, the operating system is started; on the contrary, if any of the computer key file is not integral, it will be restored using the backup file of the computer key file stored in the backup storage area. | 06-04-2009 |
20090150720 | ERROR DETECTOR IN A CACHE MEMORY USING CONFIGURABLE WAY REDUNDANCY - A data processing system includes a processor having a multi-way cache which has a first and a second way. The second way is configurable to either be redundant to the first way or to operate as an associative way independent of the first way. The system may further include a memory, where the processor, in response to a read address missing in the cache, provides the read address to the memory. The second way may be dynamically configured to be redundant to the first way during operation of the processor in response to an error detection signal. In one aspect, when the second way is configured to be redundant, in response to the read address hitting in the cache, data addressed by an index portion of the read address is provided from both the first and second way and compared to each other to determine if a comparison error exists. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150721 | Utilizing A Potentially Unreliable Memory Module For Memory Mirroring In A Computing System - Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for utilizing a potentially unreliable memory module for memory mirroring in a computing system, the computing system including at least two memory modules, that includes: retrieving error information from an error log stored in non-volatile memory, the error information describing an occurrence of a correctable memory error on one of the memory modules; determining whether a memory mirroring mode is enabled for the computing system, the memory mirroring mode specifying that memory contents are mirrored on the two memory modules; and utilizing, in dependence upon the error information, the memory module on which the correctable memory error occurred to mirror the memory contents if the memory mirroring mode is enabled. | 06-11-2009 |
20090158085 | POWER SAFE TRANSLATION TABLE OPERATION IN FLASH MEMORY - Systems and/or methods that provide for the accuracy of address translations in a memory system that decouples the system address from the physical address. Address-modifying transactions are recorded in a non-volatile write buffer to couple the last-in-time translation physical address/location with the current translated physical location/address. In addition, integrity check protection may be applied to the translation and to the written data to limit the amount of data that may be lost in the event of a failure/error occurring during the write operation. Transaction recording and integrity check protection allows for recovery of write operations that may not have fully completed due to the failure/error. | 06-18-2009 |
20090158086 | Embedded system and method of recovering flash memory - The present invention provides an embedded system and method for recovering the file system of flash memory when damage has occurred to the file system of the flash memory. The embedded system is equipped with NOR flash memory. The embedded system includes boot Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) and a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The boot PROM stores a normal state check value for a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), and performs the recovery of the NOR flash memory if it is determined that a failure has occurred in the NOR flash memory through failure detection. The CPU is set such that it jumps to the boot PROM at the time of startup of the embedded system. | 06-18-2009 |
20090158087 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH MEMORY REPAIR CIRCUIT - A semiconductor integrated circuit which can perform repair of at least one memory circuit in RAM, etc. and can promote improvement in the degree of integration is provided. The encoding circuit | 06-18-2009 |
20090164836 | ERROR CORRECTION IN FLASH MEMORY ARRAY - Systems and/or methods that facilitate that facilitate error correction of data stored in memory components, such as flash memory devices are presented. An optimized correction component can be used to break data into two or more data blocks. The optimized correction component can facilitated creating one or two redundancy blocks that can be associated with the data blocks, wherein data blocks and the redundancy blocks can be assembled into a data stripe that can be stored in three or more of the memory components. Upon retrieval of the data stripe, the optimal correction component, an error correction code (ECC) component or a combination thereof can correct data blocks that contain errors wherein the decision whether the optimized correction component or the error correction code (ECC) component corrects the errors can be based in part on a predetermined criteria. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164837 | Reliable memory for memory controller with multiple channels - One embodiment of the invention includes a memory RAS mode whereby a multi-channel memory controller utilizes both memory mirroring and memory sparing to form more complete memory redundancy loss protection. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164838 | Microprocessor Memory Management - A memory for an electronic brake control system is divided into portions that are classified as critical and non-critical. Each portion is periodically tested for faults. Upon detection of a fault, the memory is reconfigured with any operations of the brake system associated with a critical memory portion permanently disabled and any operations of the brake system associated with a non-critical memory portion temporarily disabled. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164839 | STORAGE CONTROL APPARATUS AND STORAGE CONTROL METHOD - A storage control apparatus monitors whether or not one or more storage management apparatuses are properly operating. A recovery target extraction unit extracts a recovery target storage area when the existence of a malfunctioning storage management apparatus is detected, the recovery target storage area being a storage area that has been duplexed with a storage area of the malfunctioning storage management apparatus. A duplexing control unit performs control so that, if the recovery target storage area has no data stored therein, the recovery target storage area is duplexed with a storage area that has no data stored therein and that is unused. If the recovery target storage area has data stored therein, the recovery target storage area is duplexed with a non-duplexed storage area and the data stored in the recovery target storage area is copied into the non-duplexed storage area. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164840 | System and Method For Managing Root File System - There is provided a system including a cluster | 06-25-2009 |
20090164841 | System And Method For Improving The Yield of Integrated Circuits Containing Memory - A system and method for increasing the yield of integrated circuits containing memory partitions the memory into regions and then independently tests each region to determine which, if any, of the memory regions contain one or more memory failures. The test results are stored for later retrieval. Prior to using the memory, software retrieves the test results and uses only the memory sections that contain no memory failures. A consequence of this approach is that integrated circuits containing memory that would have been discarded for containing memory failures now may be used. This approach also does not significantly impact die area. | 06-25-2009 |
20090172466 | NAND power fail recovery - Techniques to recover data from an indirected non-volatile memory system after unexpected power failure, as, e.g., NAND memory in electronic devices are disclosed. | 07-02-2009 |
20090172467 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - An information processing apparatus includes: a nonvolatile memory that has a start block for storing a boot program and a spare block for storing a spare of the boot program; and a system controller that reads out the boot program from the start block and executes start-up process in accordance with the boot program, the system controller exclusively performs error correction and detection on the nonvolatile memory, wherein when the boot program is read out from the start block and a read error that cannot be corrected based on an error correction code occurs, the system controller performs recovery process for recovering the start block using the spare of the boot program stored in the spare block. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177916 | STORAGE SYSTEM, CONTROLLER OF STORAGE SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD OF STORAGE SYSTEM - A storage system includes: an interface that connects the storage system to a higher-level device; a first storage unit that stores data which is transferred from the higher-level device through the interface; a second storage unit onto which data stored in the first storage unit is copied; a management table that manages the progress of the copy operation; a monitoring section that monitors the operating state of the first storage unit; a determination section that determines, in the case where the monitoring section detects occurrence of a failure in the first storage unit, that the access destination in the first storage unit specified by the higher-level device is accessible or not; and a selection section that selects the access destination specified by the higher-level device based on the determination result of the determination section and progress managed by the management table. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177917 | PROCESS, APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM FOR SYSTEM MANAGEMENT - In a system management apparatus, a failure detection unit detects a readout failure in one of blocks constituting distributed data stored in a first RAID disk array. A request unit requests a computer to supplement one of the blocks of the distributed data stored in the first RAID disk array in which a readout failure irrecoverable by use of only the data stored in the first RAID disk array occurs, where the computer has a second RAID disk array storing a duplicate of the distributed data stored in the first RAID disk array. And an overwriting unit receives data corresponding to the one of the blocks from the computer, and overwrites the one of the blocks with the received data. | 07-09-2009 |
20090193289 | Reducing data loss and unavailability by integrating multiple levels of a storage hierarchy - A method for reducing data loss and unavailability by integrating multiple levels of a storage hierarchy is provided. The method includes receiving a read request. In addition, the method includes recognizing a data failure in response to the read request. The method further includes locating an alternate source of the data to be read in response to recognizing the data failure. The alternate source includes data cached at devices in the storage hierarchy, data in a backup system, and cumulative changes to the data since the last backup. Moreover, the method includes responding to the read request with data from the alternate source. | 07-30-2009 |
20090199041 | STORAGE CONFIGURATION RECOVERY METHOD AND STORAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - When failure occurs in a virtualization apparatus in storage network circumstances in which the virtualization apparatus is operated, a storage management server judges volume position information, cache configuration information and pair configuration information which are configuration information of the virtualization apparatus and external storage collectively to decide candidates of recovery methods of volume and candidates of recovery methods of data in the volume, so that construction of a physical volume and a pair and recovery of data are performed and an access path is then changed to the recovered physical primary volume. Consequently, change to the system configuration in which operation is performed without passing through the virtualization apparatus can be made in a short time and continuous operation can be attained. | 08-06-2009 |
20090204846 | Automated Full Stripe Operations in a Redundant Array of Disk Drives - A system and method are provided for automating full stripe operations in a redundant data storage array. In a redundant storage device controller, a parity product is accumulated that is associated with an information stripe. The parity product is stored in controller memory in a single write operation. A stored parity product is then written in a storage device. The parity product may be accumulated in a RAID controller, stored in a RAID controller memory, and written in a RAID. For example, the controller may receive n data stripelets for storage. The parity product is accumulated by creating m parity stripelets, and the m parity stripelets are written into the controller memory in a single write operation. Alternately, the controller may receive (n+m−x) stripelets from a RAID with (n+m) drives, recover x stripelets, and write x stripelets into controller memory in a single write operation. | 08-13-2009 |
20090210742 | Methods, systems and media for data recovery using global parity for multiple independent RAID levels - Implementations described herein generally provide methods, systems and media for recovering data from disk failures. One method generally includes calculating a global parity for a group of disks comprising multiple independent RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) arrays; determining if a two disk failure has occurred within a single RAID array; and if so, recovering from the two disk failure using the global parity and data from the RAID arrays. | 08-20-2009 |
20090217085 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCREMENTAL RESTORE - An embodiment relates generally to a method of restoring data in storage systems. The method includes providing for a current snapshot of a primary storage system at a secondary storage system and mounting an empty volume in the primary storage system. The method also includes receiving a request for a selected block of data in the primary storage system and retrieving a restore block from the secondary storage system, where the restore block encompasses the selected block of data. The method further includes writing the restore block to the empty volume in the primary storage system as an incremental restore process. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222689 | MEMORY DEVICE INTERNAL PARAMETER RELIABILITY - Embodiments herein may store redundant copies of an operational parameter associated with an internal operation of a memory device. The redundant copies and associated parity bits may be stored in sets of writeable, non-volatile storage cells. A working area of the memory device may subsequently be populated with one or more redundant copies of the operational parameter, with a flag associated with the operational parameter, or with both. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 09-03-2009 |
20090235114 | DATA WRITING METHOD - According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for controlling a controller connected to a plurality of storage units storing data, the controller including a cache and a buffer, the method comprising the steps of: storing data in the cache; generating parity data corresponding to the data and storing the parity data in the buffer; writing the data and the parity data into the plurality of the storage units; comparing the parity data stored in the buffer with the parity data written into and read out from at least one of the storage unit; deleting, when the parity data stored in the buffer is different from the parity data read out from the storage unit, the parity data from the buffer; and regenerating parity data from data stored in the cache and rewriting the regenerated parity data into at least one of the storage unit. | 09-17-2009 |
20090240977 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR HARD ERROR DETECTION - An error detection system is provided. The system includes a data array that includes one or more data entries. A copy datastore selectively stores a copy of a first single data entry of the data array. An index generator selectively increments an index that references the data array. A first comparator compares the copy with a second single data entry from the data array based on the index. An error generator generates an error signal based on a result from the first comparator. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240978 | INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM PROCESSING APPARATUS - An information storage medium according to one embodiment of the invention includes a card main body embedded with a module, in which the module includes a communication control unit for interpreting received data, and selectively executing normal processing for returning response data to a transmission source of the received data based on a determination result indicating that the received data is correct data complying with a predetermined communication protocol, and error processing for returning an error to the transmission source of the received data based on a determination result indicating that the received data is error data. | 09-24-2009 |
20090249116 | MANAGING WRITES RECEIVED TO DATA UNITS THAT ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO A SECONDARY STORAGE AS PART OF A MIRROR RELATIONSHIP - Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for managing writes received to data units that are being transferred to a secondary storage as part of a mirror relationship. Synchronization information indicates data units to transfer from a primary storage to a secondary storage, wherein the synchronization information data is updated to indicate the transfer of one of the data units from the primary storage to the secondary storage. A storage controller receives a write request having an update to a target data unit comprising one of the data units indicated in the synchronization information that has not been transferred from the primary storage to the secondary storage. The write request is allowed to apply the update to the target data unit in response to transferring the data in the target data unit to a network adapter of the storage controller and before the data in the target data unit is transferred to the secondary storage. | 10-01-2009 |
20090249117 | APPARATUS MAINTENANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An apparatus maintenance system and method are provided. The apparatus maintenance system includes an apparatus including a first control part, and a second control part connected to the first control part and a maintenance-data management server managing maintenance data about the apparatus. The second control part downloads the maintenance data from the maintenance-data management server to transfer the downloaded maintenance data to the first control part and transmits a maintenance result transferred from the first control part to the maintenance-data management server. | 10-01-2009 |
20090249118 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESTORE MANAGEMENT - A restore management apparatus comprising a restore performing unit which performs restoration of a data and stores the data in a restore disk which is distinct from a backed up disk, a management unit that manages progress of the restoration performed by the restore performing unit, and an access controlling unit that references the progress of the restoration managed by the management unit, makes the restore performing unit preferentially perform the restoration of data that includes a region where the restoration is not completed in response to a data access request to the region, and accesses the region of the restore disk after the restoration is completed. | 10-01-2009 |
20090254776 | Flash Memory System Startup Operation - Multiple copies of firmware code for controlling operation of a non-volatile flash memory system are stored at different suitable locations of the flash memory of a memory system. A map of addresses of these locations is also stored in the flash memory. Upon initialization of the memory system, boot code stored in the memory controller is executed by its microprocessor to reference the address map and load one copy of the firmware from the flash memory into a controller memory, from which it may then be executed by the microprocessor to operate the memory system to store and retrieve user data. An error correction code (ECC) is used to check the data but the best portions of the two or more firmware copies stored in the flash memory are used to reduce the need to use ECC. The firmware code may be stored in the flash memory in two-states when user data is stored in the same memory in more than two-states. | 10-08-2009 |
20090265578 | Full Stripe Processing for a Redundant Array of Disk Drives - A system and method are provided for automating full stripe operations in a redundant data storage array. In a redundant storage device controller, a parity product is accumulated that is associated with an information stripe. The parity product is stored in controller memory in a single write operation. A stored parity product is then written in a storage device. The parity product may be accumulated in a RAID controller, stored in a RAID controller memory, and written in a RAID. For example, the controller may receive n data stripelets for storage. The parity product is accumulated by creating m parity stripelets, and the m parity stripelets are written into the controller memory in a single write operation. Alternately, the controller may receive (n+m−x) stripelets from a RAID with (n+m) drives, recover x stripelets, and write x stripelets into controller memory in a single write operation. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271656 | STREAM DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND FAILURE DETECTION METHOD - Provided are a stream distribution system and a failure detection method capable of easily identifying the cause of quality loss in stream distribution. This stream distribution system includes a first server for communicating with a client terminal via a router and sending stream data, and a second server configured as a redundant server of the first server and connected to the first server. The first server has a communication status notification unit for sending a connection management table concerning the communication with the client terminal to the second server. The second server has a packet recording unit for acquiring a mirror packet, which is a copy of a packet sent to the first server, from the router, and a network failure monitoring unit for detecting a failure in a network between the first server and the client terminal based on the connection management table and a packet buffer. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271657 | Drive health monitoring with provisions for drive probation state and drive copy rebuild - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for monitoring drive health. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271658 | NO DATA LOSS IT DISASTER RECOVERY OVER EXTENDED DISTANCES - Systems and methods operating over extended distances provide for recovery of data and operational continuity of computer applications accessing data within an information technology system if an event occurs effecting access to the data. In one embodiment, an extended distance data recovery system ( | 10-29-2009 |
20090287956 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND REPLACING FAILED DATA STORAGE - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting and replacing failed data storage. A read module reads data from an array of memory devices. The array includes two or more memory devices and one or more extra memory devices storing parity information from the memory devices. An ECC module determines, using an error correcting code (“ECC”), if one or more errors exist in tested data and if the errors are correctable using the ECC. The tested data includes data read by the read module. An isolation module selects a memory device in response to the ECC module determining that errors exists in the data read by the read module and that the errors are uncorrectable using the ECC. The isolation module also replaces data read from the selected memory device with replacement data and available data wherein the tested data includes the available data combined with the replacement data. | 11-19-2009 |
20090300411 | Implementing Redundant Memory Access Using Multiple Controllers for Memory System - A method and apparatus implement redundant memory access using multiple controllers for a memory system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A first memory controller uses a first memory and a second memory controller uses the second memory as its respective primary address space, for storage and fetches. The second memory controller is also connected to the first memory. The first memory controller is also connected to the second memory. The first memory controller and the second memory controller, for example, are connected together by a processor communications bus. When one of the first memory controller or the second memory controller fails, then the other memory controller is notified. The other memory controller takes control of the memory for the failed controller, using the direct connection to that memory, and maintains coherence of both the first memory and second memory. | 12-03-2009 |
20090300412 | VIRTUAL DISK DRIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc., remote data storage, and data progression, etc. | 12-03-2009 |
20090307523 | System Performance Through Invalidation of Speculative Memory Scrub Commands - A memory controller and a method for improved computer system performance invalidates (i.e., cancels or does not allow for execution of) speculative or unnecessary scrub write commands as part of the periodic execution of the overall scrub command upon the occurrence of certain events, such as if the error checking and correction (ECC) operation indicates that the data were received without error or if the ECC operation indicates that the data received have an uncorrectable error. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307524 | DUPLICATION COMBINATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, DUPLICATION COMBINATION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, AND DUPLICATION COMBINATION MANAGEMENT METHOD - A simultaneous failure occurrence degree calculation section calculates a simultaneous failure occurrence degree a value of which becomes smaller with an increase in a difference between numeric values indicative of manufacture date information on a computer which performs a process on the basis of a duplication combination management program. A combination pattern generation section then combines two of a plurality of storage apparatus and generates a plurality of combination patterns. A simultaneous failure occurrence degree adding section then calculates a total of simultaneous failure occurrence degrees corresponding to combinations of storage apparatus for each of the plurality of combination patterns. A duplication combination pattern determination section then determines that a combination pattern for which the total of simultaneous failure occurrence degrees is the smallest is a duplication combination pattern. | 12-10-2009 |
20090313498 | CONTROL METHOD AND STORAGE DEVICE - A control method includes the steps of storing data in a cache; generating parity data corresponding to the data stored in the cache and storing the parity data in a buffer; writing the data stored in the cache and the parity data stored in the buffer into a plurality of the storage units; reading the data and the parity data from the plurality of storage units; checking error over the read out data by using the read out parity data; storing, if an error is detected in the read out data and the read out parity data, data for reading a plurality of data constituting a stripe in each of the plurality of storage units in the buffer, regenerating parity data by using the plurality of data readout from the storage units; and overwriting the plurality of data and the parity data into the plurality of the storage units. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313499 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECONSTRUCTING LOST DATA IN A STORAGE SYSTEM - A system (and method) for determining reconstruction formulas for partial strip reconstruction in a storage system in which a plurality of lost strips have been detected, includes using a combination of a direct reconstruction method and a sequential reconstruction method. | 12-17-2009 |
20090327801 | Disk array system, disk controller, and method for performing rebuild process - In a disk array system, when a failure occurs in a disk unit under control, a disk controller performs a rebuild process for rebuilding data stored on the faulty disk unit on a spare disk unit (HS). When a rebuild control section accepts an I/O request from a host before completing the rebuild process in all target areas, the rebuild control section specifies a management unit area including a target area of the I/O request and determines whether the rebuild process is completed in the management unit area. If the rebuild process is not completed in the management unit area, the rebuild control section performs the rebuild process in the management unit area by a rebuild process section and rebuilds data on the HS. After that, an I/O request handling section handles the I/O request. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327802 | STORAGE CONTROL DEVICE, DATA RECOVERY DEVICE, AND STORAGE SYSTEM - When data in one semiconductor memory device is corrupted during a padding process by a padding unit and the data cannot be recovered even by using an error correcting code for correcting a data error, a storage control device issues a data recovery request to a data recovery device. The data recovery device reads the data from other semiconductor memory device in response to the data recovery request to recover the data, and returns a recovery result to the padding unit in the storage control device to perform the padding process. | 12-31-2009 |
20100011239 | STORAGE SYSTEM AND DATA RESTORATION METHOD THEREOF - This storage system includes a first storage sub system having a first logical volume where a first data area is dynamically allocated to each prescribed area, and which stores data transmitted from a host computer in the first data area, and a second storage sub system having a second data area for backing up the first logical volume; wherein the first storage sub system includes: a first management unit for managing the status of the first data area allocated to each of the areas of the first logical volume; a transfer unit for transferring the data stored in the first data area allocated to each of the areas of the first logical volume to the second storage sub system; and a restoration unit for restoring the first logical volume based on the status of the first data area managed by the first management unit and/or the data transferred from the second storage sub system. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017649 | Data storage system with wear-leveling algorithm - The present invention discloses a data storage system employing a plurality of electrical memory devices, preferably non-volatile memory cards or sub-modules, whereby user data or application software codes or OS software codes are protected by RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks) architecture, and wear-leveling algorithms are uniquely arranged to extend the life cycles of such data storage system. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017650 | NON-VOLATILE MEMORY DATA STORAGE SYSTEM WITH RELIABILITY MANAGEMENT - A non-volatile memory data storage system, comprising: a host interface for communicating with an external host; a main storage including a first plurality of flash memory devices, wherein each memory device includes a second plurality of memory blocks, and a third plurality of first stage controllers coupled to the first plurality of flash memory devices; and a second stage controller coupled to the host interface and the third plurality of first stage controller through an internal interface, the second stage controller being configured to perform RAID operation for data recovery according to at least one parity. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017651 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENT DETECTION AND RESTORATION OF DATA STORAGE ARRAY DEFECTS - The system and method are for efficient detection and restoration of data storage array defects. The system may include a data storage subsystem, wherein the data storage subsystem includes a data storage array, read-write logic coupled to the data storage array, a parity generator for producing and storing check data during write operations to the data storage array and generating check data during read operations on the data storage array, and a parity checker for verifying the stored check data with generated check data and identifying defective data read-write elements during read operations on the data storage array. The subsystem may further include a Built-in Self Test (BIST) generator operating only on the identified defective data read-write elements for determining defective data storage elements in the defective data read-write elements, and a restoration mechanism for restoring the valid operation of data access elements containing the defective data storage elements in the data storage array. | 01-21-2010 |
20100031080 | VIRTUAL TAPE LIBRARY BACKUP SYSTEMS, AND A METHOD OF HARD DISK DRIVE POWER CONTROL - The present invention discloses a virtual tape library (VTL) backup system, and a method of hard disk drive (HDD) power control in VTL devices. In the VTL backup system, a disk control module (DCM) is added to the VTL device and an agent module is added to the backup server. When a backup or disaster recovery (DR) operation is triggered, the agent module in the backup server can inform the disk control module (DCM) in the VTL device to trigger the VTL device to power on all the HDDs before the operation starts, and to power off all the HDDs after the operation ends. Power saving in the VTL device is achieved through power control over the HDDs. | 02-04-2010 |
20100031081 | Data Storage System and Control Method Thereof - Hard discs constituting a disc array system are arranged at locations far from one another so as to eliminate their simultaneous damage due to a local disaster and concentration of the processing load thereby suppressing the recovery time upon hard disc failure. It is possible to realize continuous operation without system down even when the other disasters have occurred. | 02-04-2010 |
20100037091 | LOGICAL DRIVE BAD BLOCK MANAGEMENT OF REDUNDANT ARRAY OF INDEPENDENT DISKS - Methods and systems for bad data block management of redundant array of independent disks (RAID) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for managing a bad data block for a RAID includes filling a first logical block address (LBA) of a first disk having a media error using signature data, filling a second LBA of a second disk offlined from the RAID using the signature data, wherein the second LBA and the first LBA are on a same stripe of the RAID, storing the first LBA and the second LBA to a table in a disk data format (DDF) area associated with the first disk and the second disk, and computing and storing parity values for the stripe of the RAID associated with the first LBA and the second LBA based on data across the stripe. | 02-11-2010 |
20100037092 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BACKUP, REBOOT, AND RECOVERY - The invention makes it possible to restart and effectively use a computer by connecting a machine readable backup device which is recognized by the computer as a bootable drive. The device includes an emergency operating system executable from the backup medium in the event the computer's internal storage drive (hard disk) or operating system crashes and without using data from the computer's hard disk or other internal storage (which may be affected by the crash), data backup and recovery applications, data generated by the backup and recovery applications, and a productivity suite. The productivity suite includes a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a slide presentation application, an Internet browsing application, and/or an email handling application. The emergency operating system and productivity application make it possible to regain much of the computer's functionality and to provide access to files backed-up by the invention, even if it is not possible to access data or programs stored on the computer's internal storage drive. | 02-11-2010 |
20100050014 | DUAL INDEPENDENT NON VOLATILE MEMORY SYSTEMS - Disclosed is a method, system, and computer readable medium for restoring a failed non-volatile memory (NVM) system in a wireless device having a primary NVM system and a secondary NVM system. The method does not require a reboot of the wireless device. A NVM manager application detects a failure in either of the NVM systems and determines which NVM system has failed. If the primary NVM system has failed then the NVM manger switches the wireless device to operate using the secondary NVM system, restores the primary NVM system using data from the secondary NVM system, then switches the wireless device back to the primary NVM system once it has been restored. If the secondary NVM system has failed then the NVM manager restores the secondary NVM system using data from the primary NVM system. | 02-25-2010 |
20100050015 | TRIPLE PARITY TECHNIQUE FOR ENABLING EFFICIENT RECOVERY FROM TRIPLE FAILURES IN A STORAGE ARRAY - A method for recovering from three failed data storage devices is disclosed. A plurality of data storage devices hold data, and a row parity storage device holds row parity for them. The data storage devices and the row parity storage device form a set of storage devices. A diagonal parity storage device and an anti-diagonal parity storage device hold parity computed diagonally over the set of storage devices. In the event of a failure of three data storage devices of the set of storage devices, a first failed storage device is chosen for first restoration. A missing block of the first failed storage device is computed by using the remaining set of storage devices, and the diagonal parity storage device, and the anti-diagonal parity storage device. The remaining two failed storage devices are restored by a diagonal parity restoration technique. | 02-25-2010 |
20100064168 | TRANSACTIONAL FAILOVER OF DATA SETS - A network storage server implements a method to perform transactional failover of data sets. Multiple storage objects are organized into primary and secondary data sets, and a disaster recovery policy is configured for failing-over a primary data set to a secondary data set. A failover operation is defined for the disaster recovery policy. The failover operation includes multiple failover actions. During a failover situation, the failover operation is invoked to fail-over the primary data set. The failover operation is transactionally processed to ensure that all failover actions of the failover operation are performed in a single transaction. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064169 | Network storage appliance with integrated server and redundant storage controllers - A network storage appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a chassis enclosing a backplane, and a server enclosed in the chassis and coupled to the backplane. The appliance also includes storage controllers enclosed in the chassis, each coupled to the backplane, which control transfer of data between the server and storage devices coupled to the storage controllers. The storage controllers also control transfer of data between the storage devices and computers networked to the appliance and external to the appliance. The storage controllers and the server comprise a plurality of hot-replaceable blades. Any one of the plurality of blades may be replaced during operation of the appliance without loss of access to the storage devices by the computers. In one embodiment, the server executes storage application software, such as backup software for backing up data on the storage devices, such as to a tape device networked to the server. | 03-11-2010 |
20100070800 | AUTOMATIC HARDWARE-BASED RECOVERY OF A COMPROMISED COMPUTER - In general, techniques are described for hardware-based detection and automatic restoration of a computing device from a compromised state. Moreover, the techniques provide for automatic, hardware-based restoration of selective software components from a trusted repository. The hardware-based detection and automatic restoration techniques may be integrated within a boot sequence of a computing device so as to efficiently and cleanly replace only any infected software component. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070801 | MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS FOR MULTI-LEVEL DATA STORAGE CELLS - Systems and methods, including computer software, for reading data from a flash memory cell involve detecting voltages from a group of memory cells. The group of memory cells have associated metadata for error detection, and each memory cell stores a voltage representing a data value selected from a plurality of possible data values. Each possible data value corresponds to one range of multiple non-overlapping ranges of analog voltages. Memory cells having uncertain data values are identified based on the detected voltages. Alternative data values for the memory cells having the uncertain data values are determined. A combination of alternative data values is selected, and an error detection test is performed using the metadata associated with the memory cells and the selected combination of alternative data values. | 03-18-2010 |
20100077252 | Systems and Methods for Detection, Isolation, and Recovery of Faults in a Fail-in-Place Storage Array - Systems and methods for recovering from a fault in an array of data storage devices are provided. Fault recovery includes determining that a first data storage device of the array of data storage devices is more likely to fail that other storage devices of the array of data storage devices. A second data storage device in the array of data storage devices is selected to be used in recovering from a failure of the first data storage device. Data from the first data storage device is stored at the second storage device. In the event of a failure at the first data storage device, data storage operations are performed using the second storage device. | 03-25-2010 |
20100083039 | REDUNDANT ARRAY OF INDEPENDENT DISKS-RELATED OPERATIONS - In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided that may include circuitry to generate, at least in part, and/or receive, at least in part, at least one access request involving a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) storage. The storage may be capable of accessing, in response, at least in part, to the at least one request an encryption and/or parity information. The encryption may be of at least one portion of the data and/or the parity information. The encryption may be stored in (1) encrypted disk stripes in the storage such that the data is unrecoverable based solely upon remaining unencrypted portion of the data and the parity information stored in the storage, and/or (2) one or more respective disk stripes having a number that is determined based at least in part upon one or more encryption levels, if any, associated with at least one characteristic of the data. | 04-01-2010 |
20100088541 | FAILURE INFORMATION MONITORING APPARATUS AND FAILURE INFORMATION MONITORING METHOD - According to an aspect of the embodiment, an area control unit refers to usage information of an area management table based on a determined type of an extracted failure information, determines whether the extracted failure information can be stored in a identified lower storage areas, determines a storage location for the extracted failure information in the identified lower storage areas when the extracted failure information can be stored in the identified lower storage areas, and determines a storage location for the extracted failure information in the upper storage areas other than an upper storage area including the identified lower storage areas based on the area management table when the extracted failure information cannot be stored in the identified lower storage areas. | 04-08-2010 |
20100095148 | LINK TABLE RECOVERY METHOD - A link table recovery method for a flash memory having a plurality of blocks is provided. The method includes: selecting one block from the blocks; selecting a last page containing data of the selected block; checking the last page to determine whether the last page has errors; moving the correct data in the selected block to one of the spare blocks when the last page of the selected block detects errors; and updating a link table of the flash memory. | 04-15-2010 |
20100095149 | DATA STORAGE METHOD AND DEVICE, AND SYSTEM THEREFOR - A method of storing data in a data storage device including a hard disk drive (HDD) and a non-volatile memory (NVM) includes analyzing an access command to access the NVM and transmitting data included in the access command to the HDD based on the analysis result. | 04-15-2010 |
20100095150 | Raid-group converting apparatus and method - A RAID-group converting apparatus converts two RAID groups into one RAID group. The RAID-group converting apparatus includes: a data-reading unit that reads at least non-parity data from data including the non-parity data and parity data, for each stripe from a plurality of recording media belonging to the two RAID groups; a parity-generating unit that generates two parities using the data belonging to a same stripe read by the data-reading unit; and a parity-writing unit that writes the two parities generated by the parity-generating unit into a parity storage area belonging to the same stripe. | 04-15-2010 |
20100100763 | FLASH MEMORY CONTROLLER HAVING CONFIGURING UNIT FOR ERROR CORRECTION CODE (ECC) CAPABILITY AND METHOD THEREOF - A flash memory controller having a configuring unit of error correction code (ECC) capability and method thereof are described. The flash memory controller includes a control unit, a buffer, an ECC module, and a configuring unit. The flash memory has a data area for storing the data content and a first spare area for storing a first ECC value corresponding to the data content. The ECC module utilizes the data content for generating a second ECC value and comparing the second ECC value with the first ECC value to determine whether the data content comprises a plurality of errors based on the compared result of the first ECC value and the second ECC value. The configuring unit computes the amount of the errors if the data content has the errors to determine whether the amount of the errors exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the amount of the errors exceeds the predetermined threshold, the configuring unit configures the data area of the flash memory via the control unit for assigning a portion of the data area to be a second spare area, and the storage capacity of the first spare area and the second spare area is associated with the ECC capability to allow the ECC module to correct the errors. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100764 | REDUNDANCY INFORMATION FOR ADJUSTING THRESHOLD FOR COMPONENT FAILURE IN A MULTI-LAYER SYSTEM - A first unit and a second unit are provided in a multi-layer computing system, wherein the first unit is at a higher layer than the second unit in the multi-layer computing system, and wherein the first unit is a higher level unit and the second unit is a lower level unit. The higher level unit sends to the lower level unit, information to adjust a threshold for failure of components coupled to the lower level unit, wherein the higher level unit has more information on a degree of redundancy in the multi-layer computing system than the lower level unit. The lower level unit adjusts the threshold for the failure of the components, by using the information sent from the higher level unit. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100765 | ESTIMATING DATA AVAILABILITY ON MANAGED STORAGE DEVICES - This disclosure describes methods, systems and software that can be used to calculate the estimated mean time to data loss for a particular configuration of a disk group. For example, a system can be used to evaluate a plurality of configurations, and/or to select (and/or allow a user to select) an optimal configuration of the disk group, based, in some cases, on the relative estimated mean times to data loss of the various configurations. This can allow, if desired, the configuration of the disk group to minimize the likelihood of data loss in the disk group. | 04-22-2010 |
20100107003 | Fast Data Recovery From HDD Failure - A storage system comprises a first storage device having a first plurality of hard disk drives and a first controller. The first controller stores data in the first plurality of hard disk drives by stripes. Each stripe includes M data and N parity data allocated to M+N hard disk drives of the first plurality of hard disk drives. A first hard disk drive includes data or parity data of both a first stripe of the stripes and a second stripe of the stripes, while a second hard disk drive includes data or parity data of only one of the first stripe or the second stripe. During data recovery involving failure of one of the first plurality of hard disk drives, the data in the failed hard disk drive is recovered for each stripe by calculation using data and parity data in other hard disk drives for each stripe. | 04-29-2010 |
20100107004 | METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY RETRIEVING COLUMN REDUNDANCY DATA IN MEMORY DEVICE - Column redundancy data is selectively retrieved in a memory device according to a set of storage elements which is currently being accessed, such as in a read or write operation. The memory device is organized into sets of storage elements such as logical blocks, where column redundancy data is loaded from a non-volatile storage location to a volatile storage location for one or more particular blocks which are being accessed. The volatile storage location need only be large enough to store the current data entries. The size of the set of storage elements for which column redundancy data is concurrently loaded can be configured based on an expected maximum number of defects and a desired repair probability. During a manufacturing lifecycle, the size of the set can be increased as the number of defects is reduced due to improvements in manufacturing processes and materials. | 04-29-2010 |
20100115330 | Redundant Memory Architecture Management Methods and Systems - A method for managing a redundant memory architecture for an information handling system (IHS) may include providing redundant memory for a portion of system memory wherein the redundant memory is configured to mirror data stored in the portion of system memory. The method may further include reporting a parameter associated with the portion of system memory to an operating system of the IHS and executing a program from the portion of system memory. | 05-06-2010 |
20100115331 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECONSTRUCTING RAID SYSTEM - A method for reconstructing a RAID system is disclosed. Plural disks are corresponded to plural pieces of unique recognition data, where each disk corresponds to one of the recognition data. A disk profile is generated according to the recognition data using a RAID system, wherein the disk profile comprises a logic section combined with the disks and the logic section respectively corresponds to the recognition data of different disks based on stored data in different disks. The disks are mounted to a computer device providing the RAID system. The mounted disks are mapped to correct disk mount addresses according to the disk profile to reconstruct the stored data of the disks in the computer device. | 05-06-2010 |
20100115332 | VIRTUAL MACHINE-BASED ON-DEMAND PARALLEL DISASTER RECOVERY SYSTEM AND THE METHOD THEREOF - Embodiments disclosed herein related to a virtual machine-based on-demand parallel disaster recovery system and a method thereof. By integrating context of processes of virtual machine, the system and method build a process tree related to applications and support the operation of freezing the context and intercept memory image consistent with the virtual machine environment, based on which, a method for on-demand parallel recovery is provided. In the method, while monitoring file system data that processes of virtual machine are to visit by a kernel intercept unit, recovery of related data blocks of the applications is conducted in the background in order to make applications and recovery procedure of the virtual machine run simultaneously. The recovery procedure is divided into two phases, recovering memory image first and then recovering file system or volume data. Through the procedure, applications can be recovered precisely to the running state when they are backup. The method realizes the scheduling of multiple backup tasks and recovery tasks in client and realizes the prefetching of the recovered data. The embodiments described herein consume less time for recovery, enhances the reliability of the protected applications, has a low cost and practical value; and it is transparent to users. | 05-06-2010 |
20100122114 | DATA PROTECTION METHOD FOR MEMORY - A data protection method is provided. The data protection method is adapted for a plurality of pages of a plurality of blocks in a memory. The data protection method records bit error weight values and erasing times of the blocks during routine operations of the memory. Therefore, when the system is in an idle status, the data of those blocks having higher bit error weight values can be recovered. Further, the data protection method moves data of those blocks having less erasing times to other blocks, so as to release the blocks having less erasing times from the data area for use. Then, the data protection method utilizes all blocks of the non-volatile memory in an average manner, so as to effectively protect the data saved in the memory and average the erasing operations. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125752 | SYSTEM FOR AUTO-OPERATING BACKUP FIRMWARE AND METHOD THEREOF - A system for auto-operating backup firmware I disclosed, which includes a baseboard management controller, a first BIOS ROM, a second BIOS ROM, and an inverter. The baseboard management controller has an I/O pin. The first BIOS ROM is electrically connected to the I/O pin of the baseboard management controller. The inverter is electrically connected to the I/O pin, and the second BIOS ROM is electrically connected to the inverter. A method for auto-operating backup firmware is also disclosed. | 05-20-2010 |
20100131794 | SYSTEM FOR DISASTER RECOVERY BACKUP AND A METHOD THEREOF - Embodiments disclosed herein related to a system used for disaster recovery backup. The system converts the operating system in the system preparing for disaster recovery into a virtualized system which will be disaster-recovery-ready. The system includes: a device to be converted on which a physical operating system is installed; a USB converting device which is coupled to the device to be converted, which includes a USB disc operating system, a converting unit and a virtual system, and which is used to convert the physical operating system in the device to be converted into a virtual system for making backup of the virtual system. Embodiments disclosed herein are further related to a method for disaster recovery backup and a method for installing the disaster recovery system. The disaster recovery system based on the virtualization technology may be deployed rapidly without making any changes to the physical operating system itself. After conversion, applications in the physical operating system are not influenced by the process of disaster recovery. In addition, because the running environment of virtual system after conversion and that of original physical operating system share the same physical machine, there is no unwanted influence on the virtual system after conversion caused by the difference of properties. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131795 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM - A data processing system has a plurality of storage systems. In this system, data replication is performed at high speed and efficiency while maintaining data integrity. In addition, when failure has occurred in a configuration element, the time necessary to resume the data replication is reduced. In accordance with an instruction from first host computer, updating of replication-target data and creation of a journal are performed in a storage system A; and updating of replication data and creation of a journal are performed in a storage system B. A storage system C retrieves a journal from the storage system B in asynchronization with the updating, and performs updating of replication data. When failure has occurred in the storage system B, a journal-retrieving end is altered to the storage system, and the replication data is updated in accordance with the retrieved journal. | 05-27-2010 |
20100138691 | REDUNDANT ARRAY OF INDEPENDENT DISKS LEVEL 5 (RAID 5) WITH A MIRRORING FUNCTIONALITY - A redundant array of independent disks level 5 (RAID 5) with a mirroring functionality is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for adding a mirroring functionality to a RAID 5 includes forming an array using at least three drives for storing data, creating multiple data blocks and a parity for the multiple data blocks based on the data for every (2N-1) | 06-03-2010 |
20100146330 | MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - An error correction module is disclosed whereby two bit cells are used to store a bit of information in a redundant manner so that a redundant error correction module can correct a sporadic data error at one of the two bits. | 06-10-2010 |
20100146331 | System and Method for Logging Operations - In a system for storing and retrieving a plurality of records, the plurality of records associated with a ledger, a client issues read and write requests associated with one of the plurality of records, a plurality of record servers responds to the requests received from the client, and a management server maintains and coordinates, between the client and the record servers, information associated with the ledger, records, and record servers. | 06-10-2010 |
20100146332 | DATA CORRECTION CIRCUIT AND SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A data correction circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to correct data stored in a non-rewritable nonvolatile memory. The correction circuit includes an address register configured to store an address indicating a correction point of the nonvolatile memory, a data register configured to store correction data for the nonvolatile memory, a comparator configured to compare a read address indicating a read position from the nonvolatile memory and the address stored in the address register, and to output a comparison result of the read address and the address stored in the address register, and a selector configured to select one of read data from the nonvolatile memory and the correction data stored in the data register, according to the comparison result, and to output the selected data. | 06-10-2010 |
20100153774 | DATA STORAGE SYSTEM, METHOD AND DATA STORAGE AND BACKKUP SYSTEM - A data storage system, method and a data storage and backup system are provided. The data storage method comprises defining a local storage of the data processing system as a journal vault; storing data in the journal vault by journaling; sending the data from the journal vault to a transmitter; and transmitting the data from the transmitter to a secondary storage. The present invention enhances a write function of a low performance storage device by journaling. In a case where the present invention is applied to a backup system, the performance of the whole backup system can be improved significantly, and the backup system can be extended to a remote site easily. When a storage of a production system fails, the storage system of the present invention can be switched to “production mode” and service resumes to be provided with the shortest downtime. | 06-17-2010 |
20100162039 | High Availability and Disaster Recovery Using Virtualization - There is disclosed apparatus and processes which address problems in the area of providing high availability and disaster recovery for computing systems and the data in them. These apparatus and processes can be used to provide high availability and disaster recovery for a computing system to be protected. The protected computing systems may be virtual computing systems. | 06-24-2010 |
20100162040 | MEMORY SYSTEM AND COMPUTER SYSTEM - A memory system according to the present invention includes, in addition to an computing device, a plurality of first blocks that are provided to store information including user information, and first physical addresses not overlapping one another are assigned to, respectively, and a plurality of second blocks that are provided to store first physical addresses of initial defect blocks out of the plurality of first blocks, respectively, wherein the computing device finds the first physical address corresponding a inputted given logical address, based on a given mirror logical address corresponding to the given logical address, and information stored in the second blocks. | 06-24-2010 |
20100169705 | BACKUP LINE ALLOCATION APPARATUS, MEMORY REPAIRING APPARATUS, BACKUP LINE ALLOCATION METHOD, MEMORY MANUFACTURING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - Provided is a backup line allocation apparatus that determines which fail lines, in a memory provided with a plurality of backup lines, to allocate the backup up lines to, comprising a bit counting section that, for each fail bit contained in each fail line, counts a number of orthogonal fail bits, which is a number of fail bits in a fail line that includes the each fail bit and has an orientation that differs from the orientation of the each fail line, and stores the number of orthogonal fail bits associated with the each fail bit; a weight calculating section that calculates a weighting coefficient for each fail line based on the number of orthogonal fail bits of the fail bits contained in the each fail line, and stores the weighting of the each fail line; and an allocating section that determines which of the fail lines to allocate the backup lines to, based on the relative sizes of the weighting coefficients calculated by the weight calculating section. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169706 | REMOTE DATA MIRRORING SYSTEM - A method for data protection includes accepting data for storage from one or more data sources ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100180153 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUNDANCY-PROTECTED AGGREGATES - The present invention provides a system and a method for utilizing a parity protection module to back up data on striped aggregates. Specifically, the system computes party data for data stored at a particular location of each of a plurality of constituent aggregates, and stores the parity on one of the constituent aggregates that is a parity owner for that particular location of data. In the event one of the constituent aggregates fails, new data may still be accessed by the system (the striped aggregates), both to write new data, and to read data stored on the failed aggregate. In particular, the parity protection module allows clients to read data from a failed aggregate by running a reverse parity computation, which may also be used to restore the data to the failed aggregate. | 07-15-2010 |
20100192007 | FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE - To update firmware on a consumer device intelligently, two or more application images are stored as firmware on the consumer device. If the primary application image is corrupt, the back-up application image is executed on the consumer device. The back-up application image can be updated based on the primary application image. User configuration files can be preserved during the update of an application image, or they can be overwritten. This firmware updating scheme can be advantageously implemented in a personal media broadcasting system. | 07-29-2010 |
20100192008 | USING VIRTUAL COPIES IN A FAILOVER AND FAILBACK ENVIRONMENT - Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for using virtual copies in a failover and failback environment. Updates are copied from a primary first storage at the primary site to a secondary first storage at the secondary site during system operations. A second storage is maintained at least one of the primary and secondary sites. A failover is performed from the primary site to the secondary site after a failure at the primary site. The at least one second storage is used after recovery of the primary site to synchronize the secondary site to the primary site. Only updates made to the secondary site during the failover are copied to or from the at least one second storage in response to the recovery at the primary site. | 07-29-2010 |
20100199125 | Systems and Methods for Storing and Recovering Controller Data in Non-Volatile Memory Devices - Systems and methods are disclosed for storing the firmware and other data of a flash memory controller, such as using a RAID configuration across multiple flash memory devices or portions of a single memory device. In various embodiments, the firmware and other data used by a controller, and error correction information, such as parity information for RAID configuration, may be stored across multiple flash memory devices, multiple planes of a multi-plane flash memory device, or across multiple blocks or pages of a single flash memory device. The controller may detect the failure of a memory device or a portion thereof, and reconstruct the firmware and/or other data from the other memory devices or portions thereof. | 08-05-2010 |
20100199126 | DISK ARRAY APPARATUS, DATA DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND DATA DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - A parity-data generating unit generates, in response to a write request containing update data, updated parity data in the parity group to which the update data belongs. A time-series-information generating unit generates time-series information indicating an anteroposterior relationship during writing between the update data and existing data stored in the unit storage area to which the update data is to be written. A time-series-information adding unit adds the time-series information, generated in response to the write request, to the update data as certification time-series information and that adds comparison time-series information to the updated parity data in association with the update data, the comparison time-series information having the same value as the certification time-series information. A writing unit distributes and writes, to the multiple storage devices, the update data to which the certification time-series information is added and the updated parity data to which the comparison time-series information is added. | 08-05-2010 |
20100199127 | SYNCHRONIZING REPLICAS OF A DATABASE - Replicas of a database are synchronized. A failure of update data is detected from a first replica to be applied to a second replica. A cause of the failure is determined. The cause of the failure is resolved. The replicas of the database are synchronized without requiring manual intervention. | 08-05-2010 |
20100205482 | MIRRORING CONTROLLER, STORAGE DEVICE, AND MIRRORING CONTROL METHOD - A mirroring controller includes a copy controller that selects one memory from among the plurality of memories as a copy source memory and copies data from the copy source memory to at least one copy target memory; and an I/O mirroring controller that copies, when a read request to the copy source memory is issued from an upper layer during copying by the copy controller, data from an area corresponding to the read request to the copy target memory, wherein, when processing corresponding to the read request to the copy source memory from the upper layer results in an error at the copy source memory during the copying by the copy controller, the copy controller controls the copy source memory so as to become unusable, and controls at least one copy target memory so as to act as a memory. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211821 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO MANAGE REDUNDANT NON-VOLATILE STORAGE BACKUP IN A MULTI-CLUSTER DATA STORAGE SYSTEM - An apparatus and method to manage redundant non-volatile storage (“NVS”) data backups in a data storage system comprising (n) clusters, wherein each cluster comprises a processor and a cache, and wherein each cache comprises a first NVS portion and a second NVS portion, wherein the method configures, for each value of (i), a primary NVS backup for an (i)th cluster, where that (i)th primary NVS backup comprises a first NVS portion of a cache disposed in an (i+1)th modulo (n) cluster, wherein (i) is greater than or equal to 0 and less than (n). The method further configures, for each value of (i), a secondary NVS backup for an (i)th cluster, where that (i)th secondary NVS backup comprises a second NVS portion of a cache disposed in an (i+2)th modulo (n) cluster. | 08-19-2010 |
20100218037 | Matrix-based Error Correction and Erasure Code Methods and Apparatus and Applications Thereof - A distributed data storage system breaks data into n slices and k checksums using at least one matrix-based erasure code based on matrices with invertible submatrices, stores the slices and checksums on a plurality of storage elements, retrieves the slices from the storage elements, and, when slices have been lost or corrupted, retrieves the checksums from the storage elements and restores the data using the at least one matrix-based erasure code and the checksums. In a method for ensuring restoration and integrity of data in computer-related applications, data is broken into n pieces, k checksums are calculated using at least one matrix-based erasure code based on matrices with invertible submatrices, and the n data pieces and k checksums are stored on n+k storage elements or transmitted over a network. If, upon retrieving the n pieces from the storage elements or network, pieces have been lost or corrupted, the checksums are retrieved and the data is restored using the matrix-based erasure code and the checksums. | 08-26-2010 |
20100218038 | STORAGE CONTROL DEVICE, STORAGE CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE CONTROL PROGRAM - A storage control device for managing data in a storage while maintaining redundancy of the data includes a formatting management table, a formatting processing section, a recovery management table and a recovery processing section. The formatting management table manages a formatted region and an unformatted region in a management target volume. The formatting processing section executes formatting of the unformatted region in the management target volume on the basis of the formatting management table. The recovery management table retains a content of the formatting management table at a point of occurrence of a redundancy restoration event when a redundancy restoration event has occurred during formatting. The recovery processing section executes recovery of a formatted region, which had been formatted at the point of occurrence of the redundancy restoration event, on the basis of the recovery management table in parallel with the formatting. | 08-26-2010 |
20100218039 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPLEMENTING SHARED DISK ARRAY MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS - Multiple Array Management Functions (AMFs) are connected to multiple redundancy groups over a storage area network (SAN), such as a fiber-channel based SAN. The multiple AMFs share management responsibility of the redundancy groups, each of which typically includes multiple resources spread over multiple disks. The AMFs provide concurrent access to the redundancy groups for associated host systems. When a host requests an AMF to perform an operation on a resource, the AMF synchronizes with the other AMFs sharing control of the redundancy group that includes the resource to be operated on, so as to obtain access to the resource. While performing the operation, the AMF send replication data and state information associated with the resource such that if the AMF fails, any of the other AMFs are able to complete the operation and maintain data reliability and coherency. | 08-26-2010 |
20100223495 | MINIMIZE DAMAGE CAUSED BY CORRUPTION OF DE-DUPLICATED DATA - An embodiment for minimizing damage caused by corruption of de-duplicated data is disclosed. One embodiment counts the number of references to a data segment indexed by a de-duplication index. When a reference count for the data segment reaches a first threshold a duplicate of the data segment is generated. In addition, the duplicate of the data segment is also stored to minimize damage of the de-duplicated data caused by a corruption of the data segment. | 09-02-2010 |
20100229031 | Systems and Methods for Recovering Information from a Defective Medium - Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data regeneration. For example, a system for regenerating data is disclosed. The system includes a media defect detector that is operable to identify a potential media defect associated with a medium from which an input signal is derived, an attenuation amplitude detector that generates an attenuation factor, and a data detector. The data detector includes a first data path and a second data path. The first data path includes a bank of two or more selectable noise prediction filters and the second data path includes a fixed noise prediction filter and the attenuation factor. The data detector processes a derivative of the input signal using the second data path when the potential media defect is indicated, and processes the derivative of the input signal using the first data path when a media defect is not indicated. | 09-09-2010 |
20100229032 | SOLID STATE DISK DEVICE AND RELATED DATA STORING AND READING METHODS - A solid state disk device comprises a plurality of nonvolatile memories and a controller. The plurality of nonvolatile memories are electrically connected to a plurality of channels, respectively. The controller controls storing, erasing and reading operations of the nonvolatile memories. The controller divides input data into a number of units corresponding to a number of the plurality of channels and stores the divided input data in the nonvolatile memories through the plurality of channels. | 09-09-2010 |
20100235678 | System and Method for Data Protection Against Power Failure During Sector Remapping - Disclosed herein is a technique to protect sector remapped boundary data from corruption due to catastrophic errors such as loss of power in storage disks including SATA (Serial ATA) drives. Specially, one method is provided for protecting the boundary sector data from power failure through a data recovery mechanism, namely, a boundary sector table in which the boundary sectors are pre-stored in case any power failure or loss occurs during the sector remapped write operations. In connection with the boundary sector table stored in a reserved region of the storage disk, a boundary sector information index is provided in a bridge coupled to the disk, which serves as a key to identify and retrieve the needed boundary sector data from the table for corrupted data recovery. | 09-16-2010 |
20100241898 | ARRAY-TYPE DISK APPARATUS PREVENTING DATA LOST AND PROVIDING IMPROVED FAILURE TOLERANCE - Disclosed is storage system, that is, an array-type disk apparatus which is provided with an error monitor section which monitors the status of error occurrence in a disk drive and instructs initiation of mirroring between the disk drive and a spare disk drive when the number of errors occurred of the disk drive exceeds a specified value, and a mirror section which performs mirroring between the disk drive and spare disk drive. Storage system, that is, the array-type disk apparatus may be provided with an error monitor section which monitors the status of error occurrence in a disk drive and gives such an instruction as to set the status of the disk drive in a temporary blocked state, and a data restoring section which executes data restoration by reading data from the temporary blocked disk drive when reading from another disk drive constituting a disk array group is not possible during data restoration. | 09-23-2010 |
20100251011 | DATA MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND DATA MANAGING METHOD - A data management device accessible to a plurality of memories includes a risk unit which determines risk of failure associated with each of the plurality of memories, a selection unit which selects a memory from among the plurality of memories on the basis of the determined risk and a transmitting unit which transmits a replication instruction to another memory of the plurality of memories. The replication instruction causes replication of the data to be replicated that is stored in the selected memory. | 09-30-2010 |
20100262861 | PRESERVING STATE INFORMATION OF A STORAGE SUBSYSTEM IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNICATION LOSS TO THE STORAGE SUBSYSTEM - A storage subsystem has a plurality of storage devices. An indication of failure of at least one of the plurality of storage devices is detected. In response to detecting the indication of failure, monitoring is performed for a further condition. According to the monitored further condition, it is determined whether the at least one storage device has failed or whether communication has been lost to the storage subsystem. In response to determining that communication has been lost, state information of the storage subsystem is preserved to enable restoration of the storage subsystem after communication to the storage subsystem is recovered. | 10-14-2010 |
20100268985 | DATA RECOVERY IN A SOLID STATE STORAGE SYSTEM - Methods for data recovery and memory systems are provided. According to at least one such method, when defective data is read from a memory location, the data is recovered by an XOR operation on the remaining good data and associated RAID data to reconstruct the defective data. The defective data is excluded from the XOR operation. | 10-21-2010 |
20100275055 | SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS CONTINUOUS DATA PROTECTION - A method, system, and computer program product for providing continuous data protection for write data supplied from a host incorporating a processor device to data storage in accordance with write input/output (I/O) of an owning application is provided. The write data is identified as one of a synchronous candidate and an asynchronous candidate. The write data identified as the one of the synchronous candidate and the asynchronous candidate is transferred to at least one sidefile. The write data transferred to the at least one sidefile is secured in a nonvolatile storage journal. The nonvolatile storage journal is preset with a timeout limit applicable to write data identified as the synchronous candidate. If the timeout limit is exceeded, a loss mitigation operation to safeguard the write data identified as the synchronous candidate is performed. | 10-28-2010 |
20100275056 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PAGE PROGRAM OPERATION FOR MEMORY DEVICES WITH MIRROR BACK-UP OF DATA - An apparatus and method of page program operation is provided. When performing a page program operation with a selected memory device, a memory controller loads the data into the page buffer of one selected memory device and also into the page buffer of another selected memory device in order to store a back-up copy of the data. In the event that the data is not successfully programmed into the memory cells of the one selected memory device, then the memory controller recovers the data from the page buffer of the other memory device. Since a copy of the data is stored in the page buffer of the other memory device, the memory controller does not need to locally store the data in its data storage elements. | 10-28-2010 |
20100281297 | Firmware recovery in a raid controller by using a dual firmware configuration - A system comprising a first memory, a second memory, and a controller. The first memory may be configured to store a first firmware. The second memory may be configured to store a second firmware similar to the first firmware stored on the first memory. The controller may be configured to (i) operate the first firmware stored on the first memory, (ii) discontinue operating the first firmware in response to a failure of the first firmware, and (iii) begin operating the second firmware after discontinuing operation of the first firmware. | 11-04-2010 |
20100287407 | Computer Storage Synchronization and Backup System - A computer data protection system comprises a primary computer storage medium, a backup computer storage medium and a storage management system. The storage management system, in response to a command to write data to a file in the primary computer storage medium, initiates storage of data in a file in the backup computer storage medium and a file in the primary computer storage medium. The storage management system delays returning acknowledgement of completion of an operation to write the data to the primary computer storage medium until completion of storage of the data in the file in the backup computer storage medium and the file in said primary computer storage medium. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287408 | MASS STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THEREOF - There are provided a mass storage system and a method of operating thereof. The method comprises: a) dividing the storage space into a first portion configured to be available to a client and a second portion configured to be unavailable to a client, thus giving rise, respectively to an available storage space and a spare storage space; b) distributing the available space and the spare space over the disk drives thus giving rise to available space and spare space allocated to each given disk drive; c) detecting underperformance of at least one disk drive among the plurality of disk drives; d) responsive to detecting underperformance, decreasing respective available space allocated to said at least one underperforming disk drive and respectively increasing spare space allocated to said at least one underperforming disk drive thus giving rise to a re-configured allocation of the available space; and e) transferring the stored data in accordance with said re-configured allocation of the available space. | 11-11-2010 |
20100299556 | GAMING MACHINE HAVING GAME PLAY SUSPENSION AND RESUMPTION FEATURES USING BIOMETRICALLY-BASED AUTHENTICATION AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A gaming machine includes a processor adapted to execute a program of a game; a biometric reader configured to capture first biometric data from the player, and a trusted cache. The trusted cache includes a nonvolatile memory that is configured to store the first biometric data; a context data save engine configured to save the context of the program to the nonvolatile memory and to associate the stored first biometric data with the saved context of the program upon the processor receiving a request from the player to suspend game play, and a context data recovery engine configured to recover the saved context from the nonvolatile memory and to cause continued execution of the program from the recovered saved context upon the biometric reader capturing second biometric data from the player that matches the stored first biometric data and receiving a request from the player to resume game play. | 11-25-2010 |
20100306577 | Systems and Methods for Managing End of Life in a Solid State Drive - Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing solid state drives. As an example, a storage system is described that include at least a first flash memory block and a second flash memory block, and a control circuit. The first flash memory block and the second flash memory block are addressable in the storage system. The control circuit is operable to identify the first flash memory block as partially failed, receive a write request directed to the first flash memory block; and direct the write request to the second flash memory block. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306578 | RANGE BASED REBUILDER FOR USE WITH A DISPERSED DATA STORAGE NETWORK - A message is generated by a computer operating on a dispersed data storage network indicating the inaccessibility of a plurality of data slices. A rebuilder application operates on the dispersed data storage grid and rebuilds inaccessible data slices, including those identified by the message. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306579 | NONVOLATILE MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD OF PROGRAMMING THE SAME - A nonvolatile memory device and its programming method includes a memory block having a number of memory cells, a page buffer unit coupled to the memory block and configured to temporarily store program data, to transmit the program data to the memory block, to perform a program operation for the program data, and to output the stored program in response to the memory block being treated as being a bad block, and a control unit configured to transmit the program data to the memory block, temporarily store the program data outputted from the page buffer unit, and transmit the stored program data to another page buffer unit coupled to another memory block. | 12-02-2010 |
20100313065 | OBJECT ORIENTED MEMORY IN SOLID STATE DEVICES - The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for object oriented memory in solid state devices. One embodiment of a method for object oriented memory in solid state devices includes accessing a defined set of data as a single object in an atomic operation manner, where the accessing is from a source other than a host. The embodiment also includes storing the defined set of data as the single object in a number of solid state memory blocks as formatted by a control component of a solid state device that includes the number of solid state memory blocks. | 12-09-2010 |
20100313066 | REMOTE BACKUP STORAGE - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a backup utility are described. One example system causes a backup utility to identify a remote device as local to a client device. Backup data may then be retained on the remote device identified by the backup utility as being local. | 12-09-2010 |
20100313067 | FAILURE RECOVERY MEMORY DEVICES AND METHODS - Memory devices and methods are described that include serially chained memory devices. In one or more of the configurations shown, a serial chain of memory devices includes a number of memory devices, and an error recovery device at an end of the chain. In one configuration shown, the serial chain of memory devices includes a chain of devices where each device is a stacked die memory device. Methods are described that show using the error recovery device in write operations and data recovery operations. | 12-09-2010 |
20100313068 | INFORMATION SYSTEM AND DATA TRANSFER METHOD - Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a computer is improved. First and second storage apparatuses execute remote copy of copying data written into a first primary volume from the computer to a second primary volume, at least one of the first and second storage apparatuses executes local copy of copying the data written into the first or second primary volume in a self-storage apparatus to the corresponding first or second secondary volume, and the computer switches the destination of a write request of the data from the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus in case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus. | 12-09-2010 |
20100318842 | CONTROLLER, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND INFORMATION CONTROL METHOD - According to one embodiment, a controller includes a receiver, an acquisition module, and a writer. The receiver receives information. The acquisition module acquires redundant information for correcting an error in the information. The writer writes the information to a first memory bank from a start address to a predetermined address of the first memory bank, and writes the redundant information to a second memory bank from the predetermined address to an end address of the second memory bank. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318843 | SHARED FUSE WRAPPER ARCHITECTURE FOR MEMORY REPAIR - A memory repair mechanism for the memories clustered across the multiple power domains and can be switched on and off independent of each other, thereby enabling low power operation. Enhancements in the shared Fuse Wrapper Architecture enable sharing of a plurality of parallel links connecting the memory blocks of each power domains to the Shared Fuse Wrapper architecture. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318844 | BACKUP METHOD AND DISK ARRAY APPARATUS - A backup method makes a backup of cache data to a nonvolatile memory by using a controller, the cache data being stored in the volatile memory. The backup method includes writing the cache data stored in the volatility memory in a selected area of the nonvolatile memory, generating party data by operating the parity operations between each of the predetermined parts of the cache data in the volatile memory, verifying whether an error found in the part of the cache data in the nonvolatile memory can be recovered by using the parity data, and rewriting the part of the cache data when the error found in the part of the cache data in the nonvolatile memory cannot be recovered by using the parity data in an area of the nonvolatile memory different from the selected area. | 12-16-2010 |
20100325478 | DISK CONTROLLER AND DISK CONTROL METHOD - A disk controller for controlling disk devices for storing redundant data distributed thereacross, the disk devices providing a logical volume, the disk devices including pool volumes allocatable to one of the logical volume. The disk controller includes a memory for storing information indicating a relationship between the pool volumes and the logical volume; and a processor for performing data reconstruction in accordance with a failure of the disk devices, a process of the data reconstruction, the processor being configured to detect an error in a part of the pool volumes included in the other disk devices when reading data from the pool volumes included in the other disk devices, determine whether the detected pool volume is allocated to the logical volume in reference to the information, and initialize the part of the detected pool volume when the detected pool volume is unallocated to the logical volume. | 12-23-2010 |
20100325479 | PROGRAM FAILURE RECOVERY - A program failure is detected during programming of a memory device. When the program failure is detected, a transfer of the contents of a register of the memory device to a first location of a memory of the memory device is stopped. First data that remains in the register after the program failure is detected is transferred to a second location of the memory. At the second location of the memory, the first data is combined with second data from the first location of the memory that remains in the first location of the memory after the program failure is detected to reconstruct third data that was originally intended to be programmed in the first location before the program failure was detected. | 12-23-2010 |
20100325480 | FAILOVER CONTROL OF DUAL CONTROLLERS IN A REDUNDANT DATA STORAGE SYSTEM - A redundant data storage system is provided comprising a first controller with top-level control of a first memory space and a second controller with top-level control of a second memory space different than the first memory space. The system is adapted for asynchronously reflectively writing state information by the first controller to the second memory space; alternatively the system is adapted for asynchronously reflectively writing state information by the second controller to the first memory space. A method is provided for operating the redundant data storage system by resolving any inconsistency between the existing state information and a modified state information associated with a state information change request, and for switching control in the redundant data storage system between the controllers. | 12-23-2010 |
20100332892 | HARD DISK DRIVE WITH DATA ERROR RECOVERY USING MULTIPLE READS AND DERIVED RELIABILITY INFORMATION - A hard disk drive with a disk that has a plurality of data bits. The drive includes a circuit that reads each data bit n times and selects a value for the bit based on a reliability factor. The circuit may select a bit based at least in part on the most frequent occurrence of one of a plurality of values. For example, if more 0s occurred than 1s the bit would be set to 0. The reliability factor may be a ratio of the occurrence of 0s to the occurrence of 1s. A bit can be not selected or deselected if the reliability factor exceeds a threshold value. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332893 | METHOD FOR MANAGING A DATA STORAGE SYSTEM - A RAID storage system is provided with a plurality of disk drive modules in communication with a processor through a RAID controller. Tools and processes are provided for managing failure of individual modules in the RAID, identifying and managing excess spare modules, and migrating modules among array sites to produce uniform or near-uniform array sites. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004786 | ANOMALY NOTIFICATION CONTROL IN DISK ARRAY - In a storage device incorporating a plurality of kinds of disk drives with different interfaces, the controller performs sparing on a disk drive, whose errors that occur during accesses exceed a predetermined number, by swapping it with a spare disk drive that is prepared beforehand. | 01-06-2011 |
20110016351 | ARRANGEMENT FOR RECOVERY OF DATA BY NETWORK NODES BASED ON RETRIEVAL OF ENCODED DATA DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE NETWORK NODES - Distributed data, having been stored in a distributed storage system as a collection of distributed data elements, is recovered based on connection of multiple user nodes, each user node having stored selected distributed data elements as a corresponding portion of the distributed data during replication of the distributed data elements throughout the distributed storage system. Each distributed data element is identifiable by a corresponding unique object identifier (OID). Each user node includes a discovery resource for discovering reachable user nodes, a local cache configured for identifying at least the corresponding portion of the distributed data based on the respective OIDs, and an identification service module configured for resolving a data object to a corresponding OID, via the corresponding local cache, or based on sending a query to the reachable user nodes. Hence, user nodes can recover distributed data based on exchanging resolution information and OID information. | 01-20-2011 |
20110022888 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF THE INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus connecting a plurality of hard disks rebuilds data stored in one hard disk of the plurality of hard disks to another hard disk of the plurality of hard disks. The information processing apparatus is controlled in such a manner that when the information processing started, the rebuild is not resumed immediately after the information processing apparatus is started, and the rebuild is resumed after a predetermined time has elapsed. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029808 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF WEAR-LEVELING IN FLASH STORAGE - A flash storage device tracks performs wear-leveling by tracking data errors that occur when dynamic data is read from a storage block of the flash storage device and moving the dynamic data to an available storage block of the flash storage device. Additionally, the flash storage device identifies a storage block containing static data and moves the static data to the storage block previously containing the dynamic data. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029809 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTED STORAGE INTEGRITY PROCESSING - A distributed storage integrity system in a dispersed storage network includes a scanning agent and a control unit. The scanning agent identifies an encoded data slice that requires rebuilding, wherein the encoded data slice is one of a plurality of encoded data slices generated from a data segment using an error encoding dispersal function. The control unit retrieves at least a number T of encoded data slices needed to reconstruct the data segment based on the error encoding dispersal function. The control unit is operable to reconstruct the data segment from at least the number T of the encoded data slices and generate a rebuilt encoded data slice from the reconstructed data segment. The scanning agent is located in a storage unit and the control unit is located in the storage unit or in a storage integrity processing unit, a dispersed storage processing unit or a dispersed storage managing unit. | 02-03-2011 |
20110041005 | Controller and Method for Providing Read Status and Spare Block Management Information in a Flash Memory System - The embodiments described herein provide a controller and method for providing status and spare block management information in a flash memory system, as well for managing spare block allocation in cooperation with a host. In one embodiment, a controller receives a command from a host, retrieves data from flash memory, analyzes the retrieved data for errors, and transmits status information to the host, wherein the status information comprises information based on a result of the error analysis, such as a read error. Alternatively, the controller stores the status information and transmits an error indicator to the host identifying that the status information regarding the error is available in memory. In another embodiment, the controller may be reselectably initialized to one of a plurality of spare block management modes, wherein in a split management mode, the controller may ask the host to return extra blocks available to the host. | 02-17-2011 |
20110047408 | Handling of hard errors in a cache of a data processing apparatus - A data processing apparatus and method are provided for handling hard errors. The data processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry for performing data processing operations, and cache storage having a plurality of cache records for storing data values for access by the processing circuitry when performing the data processing operations. A cache record error storage having at least one error record, and a hard error storage having at least one hard error record, are provided for keeping track of errors detected when accessing cache records of the cache storage. In particular, when an error is first detected for a particular cache record, one of the error records in the cache record error storage is allocated to store a cache record identifier for that cache record, and an associated count value is set to a first value. Further, if an error is detected when accessing a cache record, a correction operation is performed in respect of that currently accessed cache record, and access to that currently accessed cache record is then re-performed. Each time an error is detected for subsequent accesses to that cache record, the count value is incremented, and each time an error is not detected when that cache record is accessed, the count value is decremented. If the count value reaches a predetermined threshold value, then the cache record identifier is moved from the cache record error storage to an error record of the hard error storage. Any cache record whose cache record identifier is stored in the hard error storage is logically excluded from the plurality of cache records of the cache storage for the purposes of subsequent operation of the cache storage. Such an approach provides a hardware mechanism that automatically identifies and corrects hard and soft errors, but only masks from further use those cache records affected by hard errors. | 02-24-2011 |
20110047409 | STORAGE DEVICE SUPPORTING AUTO BACKUP FUNCTION - A storage device having an automatic backup function, which is connected to a host apparatus to store user data, is provided. The storage device includes a storage medium which stores the user data, and a controller which controls data writing and reading of the storage medium. The controller backs up at least a portion of the user data stored in the storage medium in an available region of the storage medium when the storage device is in an idle mode. | 02-24-2011 |
20110055624 | METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING CONTINUOUS DATA PROTECTION UTILIZING ALLOCATE-ON-WRITE SNAPSHOTS - The present disclosure is directed to a method for providing continuous data protection for a virtual volume (VV). The method may comprise conceptually dividing the VV into a plurality of same sized chunks; preserving contents of the VV at a specified time; creating a Point in Time (PiT) instance for the VV at the specified time, comprising: a PiT Temporary Virtual Volume (PTVV) for storing modifications to the VV subsequent to the specified time, wherein data stored in the PTVV is prohibited from been overwritten; a re-allocation table for providing read access to a most recent version of each of the plurality of chunks of the VV; and a Continuous Data Protection (CDP) log for providing read access to a historic version of a chunk stored in the PTVV; and updating the PiT instance when a chunk of the plurality of chunks of the VV is being modified. | 03-03-2011 |