US 7,600,151 B2 · RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling method and system

Abstract

A RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling method and system is proposed, which is designed for use with a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) unit for providing a capacity-expansion interruption recovery function that allows the RAID unit to recover after an event of an unexpected interruption to a capacity-expansion procedure that builds data from an original disk set to a newly-added disk. The proposed method and system is characterized by the capability of continuously recording the addresses of blocks that have been rebuilt in the original disk set and the newly-added disk to a permanent storage medium, such that in the event of any unexpected interruption, the address of the last block that has been rebuilt can be stored as a checkpoint. After the RAID unit is reset, the checkpoint can then be used as a recovery point for the uncompleted capacity expansion procedure without having to restart all over again from the beginning point. This feature allows the recovery of capacity expansion after unexpected interruption to be carried out more efficiently with enhanced system performance.

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Claims8

Dependent claims

A disk array unit capacity expansion interruption recovery handling method for use by a computer platform that is equipped with a disk array unit having a cluster of disks and capable of performing a capacity expansion procedure to add a new disk to the disk cluster, for the purpose of providing the disk array unit with a recovery handling function in the event of an abnormal interruption to the capacity expansion procedure;

the disk array unit capacity expansion interruption recovery handling method comprising:
during the runtime of the capacity expansion procedure, recording the proceeding status of the capacity expansion procedure and storing the recorded data into a predefined capacity-expansion status table module;
in the event of an abnormal interruption to the capacity expansion procedure, responding to a restarting event on the computer platform by checking whether the capacity-expansion status table module records the status of an abnormally-interrupted capacity expansion procedure;
if yes, issuing a recovery enable message;
responding to the recovery enable message by determining a recovery point based on the checkpoint data about the abnormally-interrupted capacity expansion procedure retrieved from the capacity-expansion status table module;
and
performing a recovery on the abnormally-interrupted capacity expansion procedure by starting from the recovery point determined by the recovery point determining module.

4 more elements

A disk array unit capacity expansion interruption recovery handling system for use by a computer platform that is equipped with a disk array unit having a cluster of disks and capable of performing a capacity expansion procedure by adding a new disk to the disk cluster, for the purpose of providing the disk array unit with a recovery handling function in the event of abnormal interruption to the capacity expansion procedure;

the disk array unit capacity expansion interruption recovery handling system comprising:
a capacity-expansion status table module, which is stored in a permanent storage medium for recording the proceeding status of the capacity expansion procedure, including the address of each expanded block in the disk cluster and the address of each expanded block in the newly-added disk for use as a checkpoint in the event of abnormal interruption to the capacity expansion procedure;
a capacity-expansion status recording module, which is capable of being activated during the runtime of the capacity expansion procedure by recording the proceeding status of the capacity expansion procedure and storing the recorded data into the capacity-expansion status table module;
a recovery activation module, which is capable of responding to each restarting event on the computer platform by checking whether the capacity-expansion status table module records the status of an abnormally-interrupted capacity expansion procedure;
and if yes, capable of issuing a recovery enable message;
a recovery point determining module, which is capable of responding to the recovery enable message from the recovery activation module by determining a recovery point based on the checkpoint data about the abnormally-interrupted capacity expansion procedure retrieved from the capacity-expansion status table module;
and
a capacity expansion recovery module, which is capable of performing a recovery on the abnormally-interrupted capacity expansion procedure by starting from the recovery point determined by the recovery point determining module.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,923 words

Summary971 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to information technology (IT), and more particularly, to a RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling method and system which is designed for use by a disk array unit, such as a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) unit, for providing the RAID unit with a recovery handling function in response to an event of abnormal interruption to an capacity expansion procedure on the RAID unit.

#2. Description of Related Art

Brief description of the drawings3 figures

#The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the application of the RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling system of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a modularized architecture of the RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling system of the invention; and

Detailed description1,861 words

#The RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling method and system according to the invention is disclosed in full details by way of preferred embodiments in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the application of the RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling system according to the invention (as the part encapsulated in the box indicated by the reference numeral 100). As shown, the RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling system of the invention 100 is designed for use by a computer platform 10, such as a network server, that is equipped with a disk array unit, such as a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) unit 20. In operation, the RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling system of the invention 100 is capable of providing the RAID unit 20 with a recovery handling function in response to an event of abnormal interruption (such as caused by abnormal power shutoff) to a capacity expansion procedure on the RAID unit 20, so that the recovered capacity expansion procedure can start from the checkpoint of the interruption.

#In the embodiment of FIG. 1, it is assumed that the RAID unit 20 includes a disk cluster 30 (in the example of the FIG. 1, the disk cluster 30 contains 3 disks 31, 32, 33; but in practice, there is no restriction to the number of the disks). It is assumed that network management personnel wants to add a new disk 34 to the disk cluster 30 for increasing the total capacity of the RAID unit 20, and thus initiates a capacity expansion procedure on the RAID unit 20. In this case, if the capacity expansion procedure is abnormally interrupted before successfully completed, then after electrical power is resumed, the RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling system of the invention 100 will be automatically activated at the restart of the computer platform 10 to perform a recovery procedure for the abnormally-interrupted capacity expansion procedure by starting from the checkpoint of the interruption without having to start all over again from the very beginning.

Facts

Application

11/698,573Filed 25 Jan 2007

Published

US 2008/0184070 A131 Jul 2008

Granted

6 Oct 2009

Term ends

30 Mar 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 430 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

G06F 11/1441
At system level: resetting or repowering
G06F 11/1096
Parity data used in redundant arrays of independent storages, e.g. in RAID systems: parity calculation or recalculation after configuration or…
G06F 11/2094
Where persistent mass storage functionality or persistent mass storage control functionality is redundant: redundant storage or storage space
G06F
Computing and data processing

Timeline

25 Jan 2007Application filedUS 11/698,573
25 Jan 2007Assigned to Inventec Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
29 Mar 2007Assigned to Inventec Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
31 Jul 2008PublishedUS 2008/0184070 A1
6 Oct 2009GrantedUS 7,600,151 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
30 Mar 2028Term endsEstimated, includes 430 days of adjustment

RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling method and system

Life of this patent

RAID capacity expansion interruption recovery handling method and system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims8

Description2,923 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,923 words