Upgrading firmware on disks of the raid storage system without deactivating the server

A system, comprising:

• an array of disks, wherein each disk in a disk array comprises a plurality of stripe units;
• and
• a controller coupled to said array of disks, wherein said controller is configured to manage said array of disks, wherein said controller comprises:
• a memory unit operable for storing a program for updating firmware in a disk in said disk array without deactivating a server coupled to said array of disks, wherein said server is configured to receive requests to access said array of disks, wherein said server is configured to forward said received requests to said controller;
• a processor coupled to said memory, wherein said processor, responsive to said program, comprises:
• circuitry operable for selecting a disk in said disk array, wherein said selected disk comprises said firmware to be updated;
• circuitry operable for entering a degrade mode of operation for said selected disk, wherein said degrade mode of operation prevents said selected disk from receiving requests;
• circuitry operable for updating said firmware in said selected disk;
• and
• circuitry operable for tracking one or more stripes in said disk array corresponding to one or more of said plurality of stripe units of said selected disk where data in said one or more of said plurality of stripe units of said selected disk change in response to write requests to said selected disk.

A system, comprising:

• means for selecting said disk in said disk array, wherein said selected disk comprises said firmware to be updated, wherein each disk in said disk array comprises a plurality of stripe units;
• means for entering a degrade mode of operation by said selected disk, wherein said degrade mode of operation prevents said selected disk from receiving requests;
• means for updating said firmware in said selected disk;
• and
• means for tracking one or more stripes in said disk array corresponding to one or more of said plurality of stripe units of said selected disk where data in said one or more of said plurality of stripe units of said selected disk change in response to write requests to said selected disk.

A computer program product embodied in a machine readable medium for updating firmware in a disk in a disk array without deactivating a server coupled to said disk array comprising the programming steps of:

• selecting said disk in said disk array, wherein said selected disk comprises said firmware to be updated, wherein each disk in said disk array comprises a plurality of stripe units;
• entering a degrade mode of operation by said selected disk, wherein said degrade mode of operation prevents said selected disk from receiving requests;
• updating said firmware in said selected disk;
• and
• tracking one or more stripes in said disk array corresponding to one or more of said plurality of stripe units of said selected disk where data in said one or more of said plurality of stripe units of said selected disk change in response to write requests to said selected disk.