Parity-based raid system configured to protect against data corruption caused by the occurrence of write holes

A method for use in a parity-based Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) system for protecting against a potential for data corruption caused by an occurrence of a write hole, the method comprising:

• receiving input/output (IO) commands in a RAID controller of the RAID system from a computer that is external to the RAID system;
• in a processor of the RAID controller, generating a respective lock for each respective IO command received in the RAID controller;
• in a local memory device of the RAID controller, queuing N of the received IO commands and N of the locks associated with the N IO commands, where N is a positive integer;
• in the processor of the RAID controller, determining when N IO commands have been queued in the local memory device, and, when N IO commands have been queued, causing the N locks associated with the N queued IO commands to be written to N respective lock storage locations of a service memory device of the RAID system;
• and
• in the processor of the RAID controller, after the N respective locks have been written to the service memory device, causing N respective stripes of data and parity bits associated with the N respective IO commands to be written to physical devices (PDs) of the RAID system.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium (CRM) having a computer program embodied thereon for use in a parity-based Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) system for protecting against a potential for data corruption caused by a potential occurrence of a write hole, the non-transitory CRM comprising:

• a first set of computer instructions for receiving input/output (IO) commands in a RAID controller of the RAID system from a computer that is external to the RAID system;
• a second set of computer instructions for generating a respective lock for each respective IO command received in the RAID controller;
• a third set of computer instructions for queuing N of the received IO commands and N of the locks associated with the N IO commands in a local memory device of the RAID controller, where N is a positive integer;
• a fourth set of instructions for determining when N IO commands have been queued in the local memory device, and, when N IO commands have been queued in the local memory device, for causing the N locks associated with the N queued IO commands to be written to N lock storage locations of a service memory device of the parity-based RAID system;
• and
• a fifth set of instructions for causing N respective stripes of data and parity bits associated with the N respective IO commands to be written to physical devices (PDs) of the RAID system after the N respective locks have been written to the N lock storage locations of the service memory device.