Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for error checking addressable blocks in storage. Addressable blocks of data are stored in a storage in stripes, wherein each stripe includes a plurality of data blocks for one of the addressable blocks and at least one checksum block including checksum data for the addressable block. A write request is received to modify data in one of the addressable blocks. The write and updating the checksum are performed in the stripe having the modified addressable block. An indication is made to perform an error checking operation on the stripe for the modified addressable block in response to the write request, wherein the error checking operation reads the data blocks and the checksum in the stripe to determine if the checksum data is accurate. An error handling operation is initiated in response to determining that the checksum data is not accurate.

Abstract: A system and method for early detection and reporting of an impending NAND Flash device plane failure. Each time that a data unit is retrieved from a NAND Flash array the number of bits in error and the memory location associated with the errors is observed. if the number of bits in error or the error rate for a memory location exceeds a threshold of the number of bits in error per data, retrieval, or number of bits in error per data unit per unit time, a NAND Flash plane failure Patrol Read operation is performed at the memory location, regardless of where in the cycle the Patrol Read function is in a scrub of the overall NAND Flash device. The NAND Flash plane failure Patrol Read is repeated for a number of cycles on the NAND Flash plane in question.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to set signal compensation settings for a data storage device comprising a first port and a second port, where that first port is interconnected to a first switch via a first communication pathway having a predetermined first length. The method determines first signal compensation settings based upon the first length.

Abstract: The advanced management module services in a data processing system are configured to determine the system load and provide an input to the early power off warning detection logic that evaluates the power system state to detect a condition when power resources are insufficient to maintain the write caching storage system power within defined acceptable limits. The early power off warning detection logic generates a notification based on the system load and the available power supply resources to maintain maximum availability and reliability characteristics.

Abstract: The advanced management module services in a data processing system are configured to determine the system load and provide an input to the early power off warning detection logic that evaluates the power system state to detect a condition when power resources are insufficient to maintain the write caching storage system power within defined acceptable limits. The early power off warning detection logic generates a notification based on the system load and the available power supply resources to maintain maximum availability and reliability characteristics.

Abstract: The advanced management module services in a data processing system are configured to determine the system load and provide an input to the early power off warning detection logic that evaluates the power system state to detect a condition when power resources are insufficient to maintain the write caching storage system power within defined acceptable limits. The early power off warning detection logic generates a notification based on the system load and the available power supply resources to maintain maximum availability and reliability characteristics.

Abstract: A memory system has mechanisms for scavenging capacity of a super capacitor by removing, or reducing, system load from the super capacitor when the super capacitor voltage decays below a low threshold. The mechanisms then restore the system load to the super capacitor when the super capacitor voltage ramps back above a high threshold. A controller may reduce system load by placing a volatile memory system in a standby state and disabling a field effect transistor to remove power from a non-volatile memory system. A controller may adjust the high threshold and/or a low threshold by setting a digitally controlled potentiometer in a threshold detect circuit via an I2C bus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to configure, format, and test, a data storage subsystem product. The method supplies a data storage subsystem product comprising one or more host computer ports, a processor, one or more data storage device ports, and one or more data storage devices interconnected to the one or more data storage device ports. The method further supplies a configuration appliance comprising a storage configuration. The method connects the configuration appliance to one of the one or more storage device ports, boots up the data storage subsystem product, discovers the configuration appliance by the data storage subsystem product, imports storage configuration data into the data storage subsystem product, formats the one or more data storage device, and tests the input and output data transfer rates for the data storage subsystem product, wherein the formatting and testing are initiated concurrently.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for providing management of serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) storage devices. A host computer comprises a storage controller connected to a SAS port expander comprising a plurality of ports that are logically assigned to target storage devices. The device ports of all storage devices physically attached to the SAS port expander are bypassed to remove their logical SAS expander port assignments. The storage controller unbypasses the device ports, allowing it to recognize the presence of all physically attached storage devices. The recognized storage devices are inventoried and storage devices that are not logically assigned a SAS expander port are designated as being spare storage devices. SAS expander ports are logically assigned to the non-spare storage devices and SAS storage operations are performed.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for autonomic component service state management for a multiple function component. The mechanism determines whether independent functions within a multiple function service boundary can be serviced. When a single function experiences a failure that requires service, repair, or replacement, the surviving functions notify the service management software of the state of the independent functions. The service management software then determines the state of the overall component and implements the appropriate service method.

Abstract: A mechanism for in situ verification of capacitive power support is provided. A memory system uses a super capacitor to support a voltage rail when input power is lost or interrupted. The voltage discharge curve is a function of load and capacitance of the component. By stepping the regulated power supply to a lower output within the voltage range and recording voltage and current draw at the super capacitor as it discharges to the new regulator output voltage, the super capacitor holdup capability can be tested.

Abstract: To ensure integrity of non-volatile flash, the controller programs the non-volatile memories with background test patterns and verifies the non-volatile memories during power on self test (POST) operation. In conjunction with verifying the non-volatile memories, the controller may routinely run diagnostics and report status to the storage controller. As part of the storage controller power up routines, the storage controller issues a POST command to the controller via an I2C register that is monitored by the storage controller. The storage controller may determine that the non-volatile flash is functional without any defects, and the controller may remove power from the non-volatile flash to extend its reliability. Periodically, in the background, the controller may run diagnostic routines to detect any failures associated with the volatile memory and the controller itself.

Abstract: A method of dynamic allocation of non-volatile memory in a cache storage subsystem includes constraining a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) 6 array in an unavailable state, the RAID 6 array having been newly created in the subsystem, destaging data from a write cache to a storage medium to free memory space, reserving the freed memory space for allocation to data-persistent storage, allocating the memory space to an adapter in the subsystem as a target for data in the event of a power loss, and changing the RAID 6 array to an available state. A system for dynamic allocation of non-volatile memory in a cache storage subsystem includes a computer processing device which constrains a newly-created redundant array of independent disks (RAID) 6 array in an unavailable state to execute a reconfiguration method.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to set the speed of a network. The method supplies a network interconnected with a system controller and a plurality of switch domains, where each of those plurality of switch domains comprises one or more information storage devices and a switch domain controller, and sets by each of the plurality of switch domains a signaling rate for that switch domain. The method queries in-band by the system controller each of the plurality of switch domains for that switch domain's signaling rate, and provides in-band by each of the plurality of switch domains the signaling rate for that switch domain. The method provides in-band by the system controller to each of the plurality of switch domains a first speed selection command specifying a first network speed, and resets by each of the plurality of switch domains the signaling rate for that switch domain to the first network speed.

Abstract: A method to provide an operation to an information storage device is disclosed. The method supplies an information storage device and a protocol conversion device capable of receiving an operation in a first communication protocol comprising a variable attribute, and providing that operation to the information storage device in a second communication protocol, where that second communication protocol does not support the variable attribute. The method provides an operation to the protocol conversion device using said first communication protocol, and determines if the variable attribute is configured in that operation. If the method determines that the variable attribute is not configured in the operation, then the method provides the operation to the information storage device using the second communication protocol.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for relocating a logical volume from a first storage location to a second storage location using a copy relationship. An operation is initiated to move a logical volume from a first storage location to a second storage location. A relationship is established between the first and second storage locations to copy data in the logical volume from the first storage location to the second storage location. A read request is received to data in the logical volume while copying the data in the logical volume from the first storage location to the second storage location. A determination is made, in response to the read request, whether the requested data is at a first copy of the logical volume in the first storage location or a second copy of the logical volume at the second storage location.

Abstract: A system migrates data between a source device and a target device in a storage system. A processor is operational within a local domain of the storage system. A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller electrically connected to the processor. The RAID controller divides a capacity of the source device into a plurality of sub-regions, locks the sub-regions from storage activity, establishes a mirroring relationship for write data updates between the source device and target device, and assigns the processor to copy data from the source device to the target device. A method of migrating data includes dividing a capacity of a source device into a plurality of sub-regions, locking the sub-regions from storage activity, establishing a mirroring relationship for write data updates between the source device and a target device, and assigning a local processor to copy data from the source device to the target device.

Abstract: A RAID system is provided for detecting and correcting dropped writes in a storage system. Data and a checksum are written to a storage device, such as a RAID array. The state of the data is classified as being in a “new data, unconfirmed” state. The state of written data is periodically checked, such as with a timer. If the data is in the “new data, unconfirmed” state, it is checked for a dropped write. If a dropped write has occurred, the state of the data is changed to a “single dropped write confirmed” state and the dropped write error is preferably corrected. If no dropped write is detected, the state is changed to a “confirmed good” state. If the data was updated through a read-modified-write prior to being checked for a dropped write event, its state is changed to an “unquantifiable” state.

Abstract: A RAID system is provided for detecting and correcting dropped writes in a storage system. Data and a checksum are written to a storage device, such as a RAID array. The state of the data is classified as being in a “new data, unconfirmed” state. The state of written data is periodically checked, such as with a timer. If the data is in the “new data, unconfirmed” state, it is checked for a dropped write. If a dropped write has occurred, the state of the data is changed to a “single dropped write confirmed” state and the dropped write error is preferably corrected. If no dropped write is detected, the state is changed to a “confirmed good” state. If the data was updated through a read-modified-write prior to being checked for a dropped write event, its state is changed to an “unquantifiable” state.

Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting and correcting dropped writes in a storage system. Data and a checksum are written to a storage device, such as a RAID array. The state of the data is classified as being in a “new data, unconfirmed” state. The state of written data is periodically checked, such as with a timer. If the data is in the “new data, unconfirmed” state, it is checked for a dropped write. If a dropped write has occurred, the state of the data is changed to a “single dropped write confirmed” state and the dropped write error is preferably corrected. If no dropped write is detected, the state is changed to a “confirmed good” state. If the data was updated through a read-modified-write prior to being checked for a dropped write event, its state is changed to an “unquantifiable” state.