Abstract:
A method for detecting the presence of a replacement disk in a fault tolerant, intelligent mass storage disk array subsystem having a microprocessor based controller in a personal computer system and rebuilding the replacement disk independent of the computer system processor. The method calls for the microprocessor controller to run a disk array check at system powerup or at specified intervals at which will detect the existence of a replacement drive. The microprocessor then builds a series of disk drive commands which attempt to read every sector on the replacement disk. The read commands will return a null data read, indicating that the sector must be restored. The microprocessor controller converts the replacement read commands for all sectors on the replacement disk to write-restore commands. The microprocessor executes the write commands and restores the data to the replacement drive.
Abstract:
A method for detecting the presence of a replacement disk in a fault tolerant, intelligent mass storage disk array subsystem having a microprocessor based controller in a personal computer system and rebuilding the replacement disk independent of the computer system processor. The method calls for the microprocessor controller to run a disk array check at system powerup or at specified intervals at which will detect the existence of a replacement drive. The microprocessor then builds a series of disk drive commands which attempt to read every sector on the replacement disk. The read commands will return a null data read, indicating that the sector must be restored. The microprocessor controller converts the replacement read commands for all sectors on the replacement disk to write-restore commands. The microprocessor executes the write commands and restores the data to the replacement drive.
Abstract:
A bus master interface command protocol for use with a computer system having an intelligent mass storage disk array subsystem, including a bus master and microprocessor controller. The command protocol permits the computer system to issue disk array commands to the controller at a logical level without having to issue disk specific commands. The disk array subsystem microprocessor controller reads the logical commands, translates the commands into smaller disk specific commands, and queues the disk specific commands for processing. Upon completion of the logical command, the bus master controller asserts control over the computer system bus and manages the transfer of data to or from the computer system memory. The management of the disk array subsystem and the transfer of data is effectively off-loaded from the system processor permitting more efficient use of the processor.
Abstract:
A method for detecting the presence of a replacement disk in a fault tolerant, intelligent mass storage disk array subsystem having a microprocessor based controller in a personal computer system and rebuilding the replacement disk independent of the computer system processor. The method calls for the microprocessor controller to run a disk array check at system powerup or at specified intervals at which will detect the existence of a replacement drive. The microprocessor then builds a series of disk drive commands which attempt to read every sector on the replacement disk. The read commands will return a null data read, indicating that the sector must be restored. The microprocessor controller converts the replacement read commands for all sectors on the replacement disk to write-restore commands. The microprocessor executes the write commands and restores the data to the replacement drive.
Abstract:
A bus master interface command protocol for use with a computer system having an intelligent mass storage disk array subsystem, including a bus master and microprocessor controller. The command protocol permits the computer system to issue disk array commands to the controller at a logical level without having to issue disk specific commands. The disk array subsystem microprocessor controller reads the logical commands, translates the commands into smaller disk specific commands, and queues the disk specific commands for processing. Upon completion of the logical command, the bus master controller asserts control over the computer system bus and manages the transfer of data to or from the computer system memory. The management of the disk array subsystem and the transfer of data is effectively off-loaded from the system processor permitting more efficient use of the processor.