Automatic expansion of hard disk drive capacity in a storage device

#[Not Applicable]

#[Not Applicable]

#As a user adds additional applications onto his data processing or computing device, he may need to increase the amount of data storage capacity in order to efficiently execute these applications. The user may incorporate additional data storage capacity in the form of one or more additional hard disk drives in order to increase data storage capacity. In many instances, the user may spend time performing a data storage capacity upgrade himself. Furthermore, the time involved, by the user, to add, replace, and reconfigure one or more additional hard disk drives may result in inconvenience and frustration to the user. In other instances, the user may resort to hiring one or more service technicians to perform the upgrade. However, the labor cost for performing the upgrade may be undesirable.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a typical system incorporating the use of a NAS in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a component block diagram of a network attached storage device (NAS) in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a NAS chip (NASoC) in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

#Aspects of the invention incorporate a method and system of automatically reconfiguring or resizing the data storage capacity of a data storage device when one or more data storage drives, such as hard disk drives, are added to the data storage device. Various aspects of the present invention facilitate expansion of existing capacity of a data storage device by way of easily configuring the additional storage space provided by the one or more hard disk drives. The storage capacity provided by the addition of the one or more hard disk drives may be used to create one or more data pools and may be represented using one or more data pool directories. The one or more data pools may be used to create one or more shares and the shares may be represented using one or more shared subdirectories. The shares may be allocated for use by one or more groups of authorized users. Various aspects of the present invention may be found as one or more hard disk drives that are collectively incorporated into a networked data storage device. The networked data storage device may be communicatively coupled to one or more data processing or computing devices by way of using one or more switching devices in the network. The one or more data processing devices may utilize the data storage device as a centralized data storage facility. The data storage device, hereinafter, may be referred to as a network attached storage device (NAS).

#In a representative embodiment, the data storage device may comprise one or more data storage drives, such as hard disk drives, or any other type of media drive. The data storage device may comprise a combination of different types of data storage drives. A data storage drive may comprise any type of media capable of storing data. The media types may comprise magnetic, optical, flash memory, and the like.

#Hereinafter, the term “hard disk drive” alternatively may refer to a data storage drive or any drive or component comprising a media used to store data. In a representative embodiment, one or more data storage drives or hard disk drives may be incorporated into a data storage device. The data storage device comprises the one or more data storage drives or hard disk drives. In a representative embodiment, the data storage device facilitates the incorporation of the one or more additional data storage drives or hard disk drives.