On-line data verification and repair in redundant storage system
AssigneeEMC Corporation
InventorIshay Kedem
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying and repairing data coherence problems in a storage system including redundant information. The verification and repair process may be initiated during on-line processing. The verification and repair process may proceed during on-line operation.
Claims14
A method of diagnosing data coherence problems in a storage system, the storage system having a normal mode of operation where data can be read from and written to the storage system, the method comprising steps of:
- (x) initiating a data coherence verification process, independent of normal mode operation reading and writing and independent of any occurrence of a catastrophic failure of the storage system;
- and
- (y) determining whether a data coherence problem exists in the storage system.
A method of diagnosing data coherence problems in a storage system, the storage system having a normal mode of operation during which actual user data can be read from and written to the storage system, the method comprising steps of:
- (x) determining whether a data coherence problem exists between a first copy of data stored in the storage system and redundant information stored in the storage system, the step of determining including performing data coherence verification in addition to normal mode operation reading and writing;
- and
- (y) operating the storage system in the normal mode of operation, during the step (x).
A storage system comprising:
- a plurality of storage devices, each storing a data segment, the data segments being in a redundancy group that includes redundant information;
- and
- a data coherence tester, coupled to the storage devices, to initiate a data coherence verification process separate from normal reading and writing in the storage devices and, independent of any occurrence of a catastrophic failure of the storage system, and determine whether a data coherence problem exists in the storage system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.