Abstract: An information handling system includes a processor and a configuration detection and error handling module operable to read a first tag data file from a first storage volume, read a second tag data file from a second storage volume, and determine that the first storage volume and the second storage volume are configured as mirrored storage volumes based upon the first tag data file and the second tag data file.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a processor and a configuration detection and error handling module operable to read a first tag data file from a first storage volume, read a second tag data file from a second storage volume, and determine that the first storage volume and the second storage volume are configured as mirrored storage volumes based upon the first tag data file and the second tag data file.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a processor and a configuration detection and error handling module operable to read a first tag data file from a first storage volume, read a second tag data file from a second storage volume, and determine that the first storage volume and the second storage volume are configured as mirrored storage volumes based upon the first tag data file and the second tag data file.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a processor and a configuration detection and error handling module operable to read a first tag data file from a first storage volume, read a second tag data file from a second storage volume, and determine that the first storage volume and the second storage volume are configured as mirrored storage volumes based upon the first tag data file and the second tag data file.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a storage array are disclosed. A method may include segmenting each of a plurality of physical storage resources into a first storage area and a second storage area. The method may also include activating a first logical unit including each first storage area of the plurality of physical storage resources. The method may additionally include placing at least one designated physical resource of the plurality of physical storage resources in a powersave mode. The method may further include activating a second logical unit including the second storage areas of some of the plurality of physical storage resources but not the at least one designated physical storage resource. Moreover, the method may include storing data associated with a write operation intended for the at least one designated physical storage resource to the second logical unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a storage array are disclosed. A method may include segmenting each of a plurality of physical storage resources into a first storage area and a second storage area. The method may also include activating a first logical unit including each first storage area of the plurality of physical storage resources. The method may additionally include placing at least one designated physical resource of the plurality of physical storage resources in a powersave mode. The method may further include activating a second logical unit including the second storage areas of some of the plurality of physical storage resources but not the at least one designated physical storage resource. Moreover, the method may include storing data associated with a write operation intended for the at least one designated physical storage resource to the second logical unit.

Abstract: A SAS target device, e.g., SAS disk, may instantiate an asynchronous event notification (AEN) transaction while still conforming to SAS protocol standards. When the SAS target has an event queued up for notification to a host controller but there is no host initiated communication going on for the SAS target to attach the notification, then the SAS target may start an AEN timer. If the AEN timer expires and the AEN is still pending, then a request is made to the SAS target to notify the host controller using a SAS PHY level out of band (OOB) mechanism. The OOB message may be sent via a new OOB signal or by sending a COMINIT signal from the SAS disk PHY, requiring a link reset and then using a bit in an IDENTIFY frame for the pending AEN. Receiving and issuing an AEN may then be communicated during PHY initialization.

Abstract: A storage architecture and method for managing the operation of a network in a RAID environment is provided in which a storage management agent is included in each server node of the network. The storage management agents monitor the status of the drives of the storage array in shared storage. If a storage management agent identifies a failed drive, the storage management agent monitors the rebuild of the degraded RAID volume. During the rebuild of a degraded RAID volume, the storage management agent determines if a server node has failed, and, if required, initiates the transfer of the RAID rebuild tasks of the failed server node to another server node.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for establishing a mirror configuration in a storage network. The storage network includes two storage drives that are coupled to one another according to a Serial Attached SCSI storage network interface. The storage drives determine whether the storage drives are coupled to one another. If it is determined that the storage drives are coupled to one another, the storage drives are configured in a mirror configuration in which write commands received at one of the drives are mirrored to the other drive.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a storage device that performs automatic media repair so that, after a media error is encountered, subsequent write operations are completed on a known good sector while read operations from the repaired sector are induced to fail so that the user never receives corrupted or indeterminate data. Recovery of the error is accomplished by restoring the damaged file, without resorting to the restoration of the complete media volume. Consequently, recovery from media error is accomplished in less time, and affects only the working processes that use the affected file, rather than the system as a whole.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering from a drive failure in a storage array is disclosed in which a spare drive array is provided in the event of a failure in one of the active drives of the storage array. The spare drive array is comprised of multiple drives that are comprised in a RAID 0 configuration to reduce the time required to rebuild the content of the failed drive on the spare drive.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for establishing a mirror configuration in a storage network. The storage network includes two storage drives that are coupled to one another according to a Serial Attached SCSI storage network interface. The storage drives determine whether the storage drives are coupled to one another. If it is determined that the storage drives are coupled to one another, the storage drives are configured in a mirror configuration in which write commands received at one of the drives are mirrored to the other drive.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing updated firmware to remote devices. The firmware update is downloaded to the remote device and stored at a storage location at the remote device. Following the successful download and storage of the firmware update, an indicate is set to identify that a firmware update is available. The firmware of the device is updated with the software of the firmware update during the next boot of the device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for implementing a redundant array of independent devices (“RAID”) having disparate SCSI configurations and capabilities. A portion of the memory of each SCSI device of the RAID set is reserved for RAID configuration information. In one embodiment, a SCSI RAID controller is provided with a protocol for accessing user information and RAID configuration information on the SCSI devices. By reserving RAID configuration information at a common place on each SCSI device, control and configuration of the RAID array is simplified and unified. Unified configuration of the RAID members enables utilization of devices from disparate manufacturers.

Abstract: An external interface cable is detected when the capacitance of the interface cable causes enough phase delay in a clock waveform being compared to the same clock waveform not being phase delayed to indicate the presence of the external interface cable connected to an external interface connector.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for implementing a redundant array of independent devices (“RAID”) having disparate SCSI configurations and capabilities. A portion of the memory of each SCSI device of the RAID set is reserved for RAID configuration information. In one embodiment, a SCSI RAID controller is provided with a protocol for accessing user information and RAID configuration information on the SCSI devices. By reserving RAID configuration information at a common place on each SCSI device, control and configuration of the RAID array is simplified and unified. Unified configuration of the RAID members enables utilization of devices from disparate manufacturers.