Apparatus and method for controlling multi-actuator hard disk drives

Abstract

A method for writing data to a dual-actuator disk drive includes providing a multi-actuator disk drive having a first actuator communicating with first disk platters and a second actuator communicating with second disk platters, receiving in a storage controller coupled to the disk drive a data stream including groups of blocks of data to be written to the multi-actuator disk drive, alternately distributing from a disk controller in the disk drive sequential ones of the groups of blocks of data from the data stream to the first actuator and the second actuator as defined by commands from the storage controller, and simultaneously writing from the first actuator to the at least one first disk platter ones of the groups of blocks of data routed to the first actuator and writing from the second actuator to the at least one second disk platter ones of the groups of blocks of data routed to the second actuator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.