System, and methods for initializing a memory system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9235348-B2
Application number	US-85975110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2010
Priority date	Aug 19, 2010
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods for initializing a memory system are provided. One system includes a processor and a memory including a storage volume coupled to the processor. The storage volume includes a first bitmap for tracking an initialization process for the storage volume and a second bitmap for tracking a copying process for the storage volume. A method includes performing, via the processor, an initialization process for the storage volume and tracking, via the processor utilizing the first bitmap, the initialization process. The method further includes performing, via the processor, a copying process for the storage volume prior to completing the initialization process and tracking, via the processor utilizing the second bitmap, the copying process. Also provided are computer storage mediums including computer program code for performing the above method.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A memory system, comprising:
a processor;
a first memory comprising a first storage volume coupled to the processor, the first storage volume comprising:
a first bitmap for keeping track of formatting of the first storage volume, the formatting being performed to allow data to be written to the first storage volume, and
a second bitmap for keeping track of a copying process for the first storage volume; and

a second memory in communication with the processor, wherein the processor:
establishes a relationship between the first memory and the second memory, formats the first storage volume,
performs the copying process,
simultaneously and without interruption formats the first storage volume and performs the copying process by copying data from the first memory to the second memory prior to the completion of the formatting of the first storage volume while keeping track of the formatting on the first bitmap such that the first storage volume is initialized at a same time as the data is copied from the first memory to the second memory, and
keeps track of the copying process between the first memory and the second memory on the second bitmap by:
receiving a write request to write data to a stripe in the first storage volume prior to the stripe being formatted,
merging formatting data for the stripe and the data in the write request so that the stripe is fully written to,
formatting the stripe,
tracking the formatting of the stripe on the first bitmap, and
synchronously with tracking the formatting, writing the data to the stripe and tracking the stripe on the second bitmap, wherein
the copying process for copying the data from the first memory to the second memory prior to the completion of the formatting of the first storage volume is a foreground process allowing for formatting stripes on an “as needed” basis.

2. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the first storage volume is partitioned into a first plurality of stripes and the first bitmap keeps track of the formatting on a per stripe basis or a plurality of full stripes basis.

3. The memory system of claim 2 , wherein the second memory comprises a second storage volume coupled to the processor, wherein:
the processor is configured to perform the formatting;
the first plurality of stripes store data;
the second storage volume is partitioned into a second plurality of stripes;
the processor is configured to perform the copying process by copying the data stored in the first plurality of stripes to the second plurality of stripes prior to completing the formatting; and
the second bitmap tracks the copying process on a per stripe basis.

4. The memory system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to set up a copying relationship between a first portion of the first plurality of stripes and a second portion of the second plurality of stripes prior to completion of the formatting.

5. The memory system of claim 4 , wherein the first storage volume is formatted via a fully provisioning process.

6. The memory system of claim 4 , wherein the first storage volume is formatted via a thin provisioning process.

7. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second memory comprises a second storage volume coupled to the processor,
the first storage volume is partitioned into a first plurality of stripes storing data,
the second storage volume is partitioned into a second plurality of stripes,
the processor is configured to perform the copying process by copying the data stored in the first plurality of stripes to the second plurality of stripes, and
the second bitmap keeps track of the copying process on a per stripe basis.

8. A method for initializing a memory system comprising a processor and a first memory including a first storage volume coupled to the processor, the method comprising:
formatting, via the processor, the first storage volume, the formatting being performed to allow data to be written to the first storage volume;
keeping track, via the processor utilizing a first bitmap, of the formatting;
establishing a relationship between the first storage volume and a second storage volume, prior to completing the formatting of the first storage volume;
performing, via the processor, a copying process for the first storage volume to the second storage volume, wherein the processor simultaneously and without interruption formats the first storage volume and performs the copying process by copying data from the first memory to the second memory prior to completing the formatting of the first storage volume such that the first storage volume is initialized at a same time as the data is copied from the first memory to the second memory; and
keeping track, via the processor utilizing a second bitmap, of the copying process between the first storage volume and the second storage volume by:
receiving, via a first process, a write request to write data to a stripe in the first storage volume prior to the stripe being formatted,
merging formatting data for the stripe and the data in the write request so that the stripe is fully written to,
formatting the stripe,
tracking the formatting of the stripe on the first bitmap, and
synchronously with tracking the formatting, writing the data to the stripe and tracking the stripe on the second bitmap, wherein
the copying process for copying the data from the first memory to the second memory prior to the completion of the formatting of the first storage volume is a foreground process allowing for formatting stripes on an “as needed” basis.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first storage volume is partitioned into a first plurality of stripes and wherein:
formatting comprises formatting the first storage volume on a per stripe basis or a plurality of full stripes basis; and
keeping track of the formatting comprises keeping track of the formatting on the per stripe basis or the per plurality of full stripes basis.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the memory system comprises a second memory comprising the second storage volume coupled to the processor, the first plurality of stripes store data, and the second storage volume is partitioned into a second plurality of stripes, and wherein:
performing the copying process comprises copying the data stored in the first plurality of stripes to the second plurality of stripes on a per stripe basis or a per track basis; and
keeping track of the copying process comprises keeping track of the copying process on the per stripe basis.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising setting up a copying relationship between a first portion of the first plurality of stripes and a second portion of the second plurality of stripes prior to completion of the formatting.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein formatting comprises performing a fully provisioned formatting.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein formatting comprises performing a thin provisioning formatting.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the memory system comprises a second memory comprising the second storage volume coupled to the processor, the first plurality of stripes store data, and the second storage volume is partitioned into a second plurality of stripes, and wherein:
performing the copying process comprises copying the data stored in the first plurality of stripes to the second plurality of stripes on a per stripe basis or a per track basis; and
keeping track of the copying process comprises keeping track of the copying process on the per stripe basis.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving, from a seco

Assignees

• Grusy Ellen J
• Hatfield Brian D
• Lovrien Kurt A
• Ripberger Richard A
• Sanchez Matthew
• IBM

Inventors

• Grusy Ellen J
• Hatfield Brian D
• Lovrien Kurt A
• Ripberger Richard A
• Sanchez Matthew

Classifications

• G06F3/0638

  Organizing or formatting or addressing of data · CPC title

• G06F3/0683

  Plurality of storage devices · CPC title

• G06F3/065

  Replication mechanisms · CPC title

• G06F3/0632 Primary

  by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems · CPC title

• G06F3/0604

  Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management · CPC title