User defined disk array

A data storage allocation system comprising:

• a host computer implementing a Rule-Based Expert System (RBES), wherein said RBES is for automatically building, modifying and evaluating the performance and reliability of a managed set of disks;
• and
• a user interface communicatively coupled to said host computer and for instructing said host computer and generating a plurality of responses during a method of automating disk allocation in said data storage allocation system, said method comprising:
• a) based on accessed user parameters, automatically creating a managed data storage system from available disk drives and controllers;
• b) evaluating said managed data storage system;
• c) reporting results of said evaluating;
• and
• d) repairing detected failures in said managed data storage system;
• wherein said evaluating comprises failing single components in succession and assessing respective results.

In a computer-useable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein, a computer-implemented method for automating disk allocation in a data storage system, said method comprising:

• a) based on accessed user parameters, automatically creating a managed data storage system from available disk drives and controllers;
• b) evaluating said managed data storage system;
• c) reporting results of said evaluating;
• and
• d) repairing detected failures in said managed data storage system;
• wherein said evaluating comprises failing single components in succession and assessing respective results.

A system comprising:

• a builder for automatically configuring a redundant array of storage resources into a storage system from an available set of resources based on a user parameter set and based on a set of rules;
• an evaluator for automatically evaluating a configuration, of said storage system, generated by said builder, said evaluator simulating a response of said configuration to a plurality of failures and generating a report based thereon;
• and
• a fault reaction system for allowing a user to define a prescribed action to take place upon a failure in said storage system.