Reconfigurable FC-AL storage loops in a data storage system

A RAID storage system, comprising:

• a first storage loop having a plurality of disk arrays, including first and second arrays, cascaded in a trunking fashion;
• a second storage loop having a plurality of disk arrays, including third and fourth arrays, cascaded in a trunking fashion, the first and third arrays comprising a first storage enclosure and the second and fourth arrays comprising a second storage enclosure;
• a first intra-enclosure path between the first and third arrays, the first intra-enclosure path being disabled during normal operation of the storage system;
• a second intra-enclosure path between the second and fourth arrays, the second intra-enclosure path being disabled during normal operation of the storage system;
• and
• a RAID controller coupled to the first and second loops, the RAID controller configured to:
• detect a failure in the first array;
• enable the second intra-enclosure path between the second and fourth arrays;
• and
• reconfigure the second storage loop to include the third array.

A method for managing a data storage system having a plurality of storage enclosures, each enclosure having first and second disk arrays, the first disk arrays of each enclosure cascaded as a first storage loop and the second disk arrays of each enclosure cascaded as a second storage loop, the method comprising:

• disabling an intra-enclosure path between the first and second disk arrays of each storage enclosure during normal operation of the data storage system;
• detecting a failure in the first array of a first of the plurality of storage enclosures;
• enabling the intra-enclosure path between the first and second disk arrays in a second of the plurality of storage enclosures;
• and
• reconfiguring the second storage loop to include the first disk array in the second enclosure.

A method for managing a RAID storage system having first and second storage loops, each storage loop having a plurality of disk arrays, including first and second arrays, cascaded in a trunking fashion, the first arrays of the first and second loops comprising a first storage enclosure and the second arrays of the first and second loops comprising a second storage enclosure, the method comprising:

• disabling a first intra-enclosure path between the first and second arrays in each storage enclosure during normal operation of the RAID storage system;
• detecting a failure in the first array of the first storage enclosure;
• enabling the intra-enclosure path between the first and second arrays in the second storage enclosure;
• and
• reconfiguring the second storage loop to include the first disk array in the second enclosure.

A computer program product of a computer readable storage medium usable with a programmable computer, the computer program product having computer-readable code embodied therein for managing a data storage system having a plurality of storage enclosures, each enclosure having first and second disk arrays, the first disk arrays of each enclosure cascaded as a first storage loop and the second disk arrays of each enclosure cascaded as a second storage loop, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for:

• disabling an intra-enclosure path between the first and second disk arrays of each storage enclosure during normal operation of the data storage system;
• detecting a failure in the first array of a first of the plurality of storage enclosures;
• enabling the intra-enclosure path between the first and second disk arrays in a second of the plurality of storage enclosures;
• and
• reconfiguring the second storage loop to include the first disk array in the second enclosure.

A method for deploying computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer readable code into a computing system having a plurality of storage enclosures, each enclosure having first and second disk arrays, the first disk arrays of each enclosure cascaded as a first storage loop and the second disk arrays of each enclosure cascaded as a second storage loop, wherein the code, in combination with the computing system, is capable of performing the following:

• disabling an intra-enclosure path between the first and second disk arrays of each storage enclosure during normal operation of the data storage system;
• detecting a failure in the first array of a first of the plurality of storage enclosures;
• enabling the intra-enclosure path between the first and second disk arrays in a second of the plurality of storage enclosures;
• and
• reconfiguring the second storage loop to include the first disk array in the second enclosure.