Programmable disk array controller having n counters for n disk drives for stripping data where each counter addresses specific memory location by a count n

A programmable disk array controller for distributing data from a host processor across a plurality of disk drives, said controller comprising:

• a plurality of device port means;
• a set of disk drives connected to each said device port means;
• a plurality of buffer memory means, each for receiving and storing data segments from said host processor and connected to a said device port means;
• a programmable controller means associated with each said buffer memory means, for accessing a sequence of data segments from a said associated buffer memory means, and for causing said sequence of data segments to be fed for storage across a sequence of said disk drives, each said programmable controller means including a counter means associated with each disk drive, each said counter means programmable to sequentially increment by a count equal to a number n of disk drives connected to an associated buffer memory means through said device port means, so that said buffer memory means provides every nth data segment of a said sequence to a disk drive associated with a said counter means.