Abstract: A disk array utilizes a surviving relationship algorithm for generating parity terms. During a drive failure, a script corresponding to the failure mode (e.g., single storage element failure or dual storage element failure) is executed. The script reconstructs data by deriving a surviving relationship matrix from a seed matrix, sending the resulting surviving relationship matrix to parity/data generators in the storage controller, and generating P parity and Q parity symbols based on the inputs from the relationship matrix. The surviving relationship matrix is independent of symbol position (i.e., row, column, or diagonal) and further ensures that all data is reconstructable after single or dual storage element failures.