Method and apparatus for preparing a disk for use in a disk array

A method for preparing more than one disk for use in a disk array, the disk array including an input/output control processor, the disks including sectors, the sectors including a data area and a metadata area, the method comprising:

• defining for each disk a range of sectors to prepare for use in the disk array;
• sending a first command to each of the disks from the input/output control processor, the first command instructing each disk to write a block of initial state data to each sector in a group of sectors on the disk, the group of sectors on each disk located within the defined range of sectors for the disk, the block of initial state data comprising a bit stream of data for writing to the data area and the metadata area of each sector;
• and
• writing the block of initial state data for each disk to each sector in the group of sectors on the disk.

A computer program product for preparing a disk for use in a disk array, the disk array including an input/output control processor, the disk including sectors, the sectors including a data area and a metadata area, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer program code comprising:

• program code for defining a range of sectors to prepare for use in the disk array;
• program code for sending a first command to the disk from the input/output control processor, the first command instructing the disk to write a block of initial state data to each sector in a group of sectors on the disk, the group of sectors on the disk located within the defined range of sectors on the disk, the block of initial state data comprising a bit stream of data for writing to the data area and the metadata area of each sector;
• and
• program code for writing the block of initial state data to each sector in the group of sectors on the disk.

A computer program product for preparing more than one disk for use in a disk array, the disk array including an input/output control processor, the disks including sectors, the sectors including a data area and a metadata area, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer program code comprising:

• program code for defining for each disk a range of sectors to prepare for use in the disk array;
• program code for sending a first command to each of the disks from the input/output control processor, the first command instructing each disk to write a block of initial state data to each sector in a group of sectors on the disk, the group of sectors on each disk located within the defined range of sectors on the disk, the block of initial state data comprising a bit stream of data for writing to the data area and the metadata area of each sector;
• and
• program code for writing the block of initial state data for each disk to each sector in the group of sectors on the disk.

A computer system for preparing a disk for use in a disk array, the disk array including an input/output control processor, the disk including sectors, the sectors including a data area and a metadata area, the computer system comprising:

• means for defining a range of sectors to prepare for use in the disk array;
• means for sending a first command to the disk from the input/output control processor, the first command instructing the disk to write a block of initial state data to each sector in a group of sectors on the disk, the group of sectors on the disk located within the defined range of sectors on the disk, the block of initial state data comprising a bit stream of data for writing to the data area and the metadata area of each sector;
• and
• means for writing the block of initial state data to each sector in the group of sectors on the disk.

A computer system for preparing more than one disk for use in a disk array, the disk array including an input/output control processor, the disks including sectors, the sectors including a data area and a metadata area, the computer system comprising:

• means for defining for each disk a range of sectors to prepare for use in the disk array;
• means for sending a first command to each of the disks from the input/output control processor, the first command instructing each disk to write a block of initial state data to each sector in a group of sectors on the disk, the group of sectors on each disk located within the defined range of sectors on the disk, the block of initial state data comprising a bit stream of data for writing to the data area and the metadata area of each sector;
• and
• means for writing the block of initial state data for each disk to each sector in the group of sectors on the disk.