Data integrity validation in a computing environment

A system for validating data in a storage system, the system comprising:

• a controller in communication with one or more first storage devices for storing first data, wherein the first data is comprised of data chunks,
• wherein each data chunk is associated with check data stored with the data chunk such that a first data chunk and associated first check data are accessed in a single input/output (I/O) operation, and the first check data is used to validate the first data chunk;
• wherein a second storage device stores a portion of the first check data and a portion of additional check data associated with additional data chunks from among the data chunks, such that the stored portions are accessed in a single I/O operation, and the portion of the first check data is used to validate the first check data;
• and
• wherein one or more drive proxies virtualize the first storage devices and minimize I/O accesses to the second storage device, wherein the drive proxies access the stored portions of the first check data and the additional check data, in response to receiving I/O requests to read or write the first data.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

• associate a first data chunk with first check data calculated for the first data chunk, so that the first check data is accessed together with the first data chunk in a single input/output (I/O) operation directed to the first data chunk,
• wherein first data is stored across one or more storage devices in data chunks, so that the first data chunk and the first check data are stored on a first storage device, and one or more additional associated data chunks of the first data and associated additional check data are stored on at least one of the first storage device or one or more additional storage devices;
• store at least a portion of the first check data and at least a portion of the additional check data to a second storage device, so that the portion of the first check data is accessed together with the portion of the additional check data in a single I/O operation directed to the second storage device,
• wherein the second storage device is distinct from the first storage device and the additional storage devices;
• and
• minimize I/O access to the second storage device by retaining at least a portion of the first check data and at least a portion of the additional check data in a readily accessible storage medium, during servicing of a first I/O request,
• wherein the associating, storing, and minimizing are performed by one or more drive proxies implemented to virtualize the first storage device and the additional storage devices.