Disk preservation and failure prevention in a raid array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239390-A1
Application number	US-201514621891-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 13, 2015
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, computer systems, and computer program products for configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array by a processor device, include, within a RAID array, configuring spare failover disks to run as cold spares, such that the cold spare disks stay in a powered-down standby mode, wherein each cold spare disk is powered on individually at predetermined intervals, tested, and powered back down to standby mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array, by a processor device, comprising:
within a RAID array, configuring spare failover disks to run as cold spares, such that the cold spare disks stay in a powered-down standby mode, wherein each cold spare disk is powered on individually at predetermined intervals, tested, and powered back down to standby mode.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further including powering up and provisioning for replacement at least one cold spare disk during a disk failure or imminent disk failure.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the powering up and powering down of cold spare disks is controlled by a controlling entity.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the controlling entity is a storage controller.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined intervals are pursuant to a schedule matrix.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further including powering on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals, running a self-test, and powering back down to standby mode.

7 . The method of claim 7 , further including powering on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals under test controlled by the controlling entity, and powering back down to standby mode.

8 . A system for configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array, comprising:
a processor device, wherein the processor device:
within a RAID array, configures spare failover disks to run as cold spares, such that the cold spare disks stay in a powered-down standby mode, wherein each cold spare disk is powered on individually at predetermined intervals, tested, and powered back down to standby mode.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor device powers up and provisions for replacement at least one cold spare disk during a disk failure or imminent disk failure.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the powering up and powering down of cold spare disks is controlled by a controlling entity.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controlling entity is a storage controller.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined intervals are pursuant to a schedule matrix.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor device powers on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals, running a self-test, and powering back down to standby mode.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor device powers on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals under test controlled by the controlling entity, and powering back down to standby mode.

15 . A computer program product for configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array by a processor device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
a first executable portion that:
within a RAID array, configures spare failover disks to run as cold spares, such that the cold spare disks stay in a powered-down standby mode, wherein each cold spare disk is powered on individually at predetermined intervals, tested, and powered back down to standby mode.

16 . The computer program product of claim 15 , further including a second executable portion that powers up and provisions for replacement at least one cold spare disk during a disk failure or imminent disk failure.

17 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the powering up and powering down of cold spare disks is controlled by a controlling entity.

18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the controlling entity is a storage controller.

19 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the predetermined intervals are pursuant to a schedule matrix.

20 . The computer program product of claim 15 , further including a second executable portion that powers on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals, running a self-test, and powering back down to standby mode.

21 . The computer program product of claim 20 , further including a third executable portion that powers on each cold spare disk individually at predetermined intervals under test controlled by the controlling entity, and powering back down to standby mode.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Myers Richard C
• Stiarwalt Randolph E

Classifications

• G11C29/765 Primary

  in solid state disks · CPC title

• G06F11/1088

  Reconstruction on already foreseen single or plurality of spare disks · CPC title

• G11C2029/0409

  Online test · CPC title

• G06F11/2284

  by power-on test, e.g. power-on self test [POST] · CPC title

• G06F11/2094

  Redundant storage or storage space (G06F11/2056 takes precedence) · CPC title