System and method of enhancing storage array read performance using a spare storage array
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsSadiq Shaik, Ahmad Tawil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for enhancing read performance of at least one storage array using a spare storage array of coupled spare drives, wherein the at least one storage array includes coupled drives configured to store data according to a redundant storage methodology. Data is copied from at least one logical disk of data from the at least one storage array onto the spare storage array and read from the least busy array of the at least one storage array or the spare storage array.
Claims20
A method for enhancing read performance of at least one storage array using a spare storage array of coupled spare drives, wherein the at least one storage array includes coupled drives configured to store data according to a redundant storage methodology, comprising the steps of:
- copying at least one logical disk of data from the at least one storage array onto the spare storage array, and
- reading the data from either the at least one storage array or the spare storage array, wherein the data is read from the least busy storage array.
A storage array, comprising:
- at least one set of storage drives coupled together as at least one storage array that is configured to store data according to a redundant storage methodology;
- a set of spare storage drives coupled together as a spare storage array, wherein the set of spare storage drives contains a copy of a logical disk of data that is also stored in the at least one set of storage drives;
- and
- wherein, during normal operation of the at least one set of storage drives, data from the logical disk can be read from either the at least one storage array or spare storage array, such that the data are read from the least busy storage array.
A method for enhancing read performance of at least one storage array using a spare storage array of coupled spare drives after the at least one storage array has experienced failure of a drive, wherein the at least one storage array is configured to store data according to a redundant storage methodology, comprising the steps of:
- substituting a spare drive for the failed drive in the at least one storage array;
- monitoring the at least one storage array to determine when the failed drive returns to service;
- copying at least one logical disk of data from the at least one storage array to the spare storage array once the failed drive has returned to service;
- and
- reading the data from either the at least one storage array or the spare storage array, wherein the data is read from the least busy storage array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.