Patent Application
20070136526
1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates generally to RAID (Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks) systems and setup methods thereof, and, more particularly to systems and setup methods thereof that integrate several RAID 0 architectures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Employment of disk arrays can improve access speed to disks and prevent data lost due to disk failure. Disk arrays integrate several disks into an array, used as a single disk. Data in a disk array is stripped and stored in different disks. During data access, related disks in the disk array can work simultaneously, reducing the data access time.
The technique for disk array is referred to as RAID, and configured in levels RAID 0 to RAID 5. In RAID 0 architecture, since data is stripped and stored in different disks, and respective disks can work independently, data can be simultaneously read/wrote on different disks, improving the data access efficiency.
Generally, an enterprise extends a storage system according to its own requirement. With advances in manufacturing technology and process, disk capacity has grown. Several disks having different sizes may be utilized in an enterprise. In conventional disk array technology, however, only a single RAID level can be applied, such that the capacity of each disk cannot be fully utilized. In
RAID systems and setup methods thereof are provided.
An embodiment of a RAID system comprises a plurality of disks. At least a first group of disks is selected to create a RAID 0 architecture. A second group of disks is further selected to create the RAID 0 architecture. The RAID 0 architectures are concatenated.
In an embodiment of a RAID setup method, at least a first group of disks is first selected, and a RAID 0 architecture is created accordingly. A second group of disks is then selected, and another RAID 0 architecture is created accordingly. The RAID 0 architectures are concatenated.
RAID systems and setup methods thereof may take the form of program code embodied in a tangible media. When the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method.
The invention will become more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
RAID systems and setup methods thereof are provided.
In step S210, a number of disks are selected from the disks. The selected disks are prepared to create a RAID 0 architecture. In some embodiments, the selected disks may be all the disks. In step S220, a strip size parameter is configured, and a RAID 0 architecture is created based on the disk having minimum disk capacity size among the selected disks. Since data is stripped and stored in different disks, a strip size parameter must be configured during the creation of RAID 0 architecture, and data is stripped and stored in different disks accordingly. It is understood that since RAID 0 architecture is known as industry standard, the creation thereof is omitted herefrom.
In step S230, it is determined whether any disk having remnant disk capacity exists. It is understood that each selected disk must provide a disk capacity with the minimum disk capacity size to create the RAID 0 architecture. Since respective disks may have different disk capacity size, some disks may have remnant disk capacity. If so, the procedure goes to step S210, the disks having remnant disk capacity are selected, and in step S220, a strip size parameter is configured, and a RAID 0 architecture is created based on the disk having minimum disk capacity size among the selected disks. If not, in step S240, the RAID 0 architectures are concatenated. It is understood that, in this embodiment, the RAID 0 architectures are concatenated using JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) technique. JBOD is well-known and omitted herefrom.
In step S410, two disks are selected as a group. In step S420, a strip size parameter is configured, and a RAID 0 architecture is created based on the disk having minimum disk capacity size among the group. In step S430, it is determined whether any disk having remnant disk capacity exists. If so, the procedure goes to step S420, the disk having remnant disk capacity is selected to create a RAID 0 architecture. If not, in step S440, it is determined whether all disks have been selected. If not, the procedure goes to step S410. If so, in step S450, the RAID 0 architectures are concatenated.
In step S610, three disks are selected as a group. In step S620, a strip size parameter is configured, and a RAID 0 architecture is created based on the disk having minimum disk capacity size among the group. In step S630, it is determined whether any disk having remnant disk capacity exists. If so, the procedure goes to step S620, in which disks having remnant disk capacity are selected to create a RAID 0 architecture until no disk having remnant disk capacity exists. If not, in step S640, two disks are selected as a group. In step S650, a strip size parameter is configured, and a RAID 0 architecture is created based on the disk having minimum disk capacity size among the group. In step S660, it is determined whether any disk having remnant disk capacity exists. If so, the procedure goes to step S650, in which disk having remnant disk capacity is selected to create a RAID 0 architecture. If not, in step S670, it is determined whether all disks have been selected. If not, the procedure goes to step S640. If so, in step S680, the RAID 0 architectures are concatenated.
RAID systems and setup methods thereof, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as products, floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine thereby becomes an apparatus for practicing the methods. The methods may also be embodied in the form of program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application specific logic circuits.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereof. Those who are skilled in this technology can still make various alterations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94143355 | Dec 2005 | TW | national |
This application is related to copending application entitled “RAID systems and setup methods thereof ”, U.S. application Ser. No. ______(Applicant's reference no: VIT05-0004), filed on ______.
