Distributing data across multiple data storage devices in a data storage system

A computer program product that includes a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process for managing a storage system having a plurality of data storage devices, said process comprising:

• spreading data evenly across a first set of data locations within a first plurality of data storage devices in the storage system;
• reconfiguring the storage system to establish a second plurality of data storage devices, the second plurality of data storage devices having a different combination of storage devices than the first plurality of data storage devices;
• and
• dynamically moving the data in response to a change in the configuration of the storage system to reestablish an even spread of the data across the second plurality of data storage devices, the amount of data moved being approximately proportional to the change in storage capacity of the storage system as a result of the change in configuration, wherein dynamically moving the data changes at least part of the first set of data locations to form a second set of data locations for the data within the second plurality of data storage devices.

A system for managing a storage system having a plurality of data storage devices, comprising:

• means for spreading data evenly across a first set of data locations within a first plurality of data storage devices in the storage system;
• means for reconfiguring the storage system to establish a second plurality of data storage devices, the second plurality of data storage devices having a different combination of storage devices than the first plurality of data storage devices;
• and
• means for dynamically moving the data in response to a change in the configuration of the storage system to reestablish an even spread of the data across the second plurality of data storage devices, the amount of data moved being approximately proportional to the change in storage capacity of the storage system as a result of the change in configuration, wherein dynamically moving the data changes at least part of the first set of data locations to form a second set of data locations for the data within the second plurality of data storage devices.

A method for managing a storage system having a plurality of data storage devices, comprising:

• spreading data evenly across a first set of data locations within a first plurality of data storage devices in the storage system, in which pieces of the data are mapped to specific locations in the first plurality of data storage devices using a set of pointers;
• reconfiguring the storage system to establish a second plurality of data storage devices, the second plurality of data storage devices having a different combination of storage devices than the first plurality of data storage devices;
• dynamically moving the data in response to a change in the configuration of the storage system to reestablish an even spread of the data across the second plurality of data storage devices, the amount of data moved being approximately proportional to the change in storage capacity of the storage system as a result of the change in configuration, wherein dynamically moving the data changes at least part of the first set of data locations to form a second set of data locations for the data within the second plurality of data storage devices;
• and
• remapping the set of pointers to correspond to the pieces of the data that are dynamically moved among the second pluralize of data storage devices.