Abstract: A redundant storage virtualization computer system is provided. The redundant storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant storage virtualization controller set coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage space to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller set. The redundant storage virtualization controller set comprises a first and a second storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity, the storage virtualization controllers communicate therebetween via a PCI-Express interconnect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data storage device and a support therein. The support is provided with a hollow portion. The hollow portion is provided with a damping spacer therein for attenuating vibration, thereby to reduce the lateral space occupied by the lateral sides of the support, and to increase the usable lateral space for accommodating electronic device and thus to increase the number of the accommodated electronic devices.

Abstract: A redundant storage virtualization computer system is provided. The redundant storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant storage virtualization controller set coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage space to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller set. The redundant storage virtualization controller set comprises a first and a second storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity, the storage virtualization controllers communicate therebetween via a PCI-Express interconnect.

Abstract: A structure of redundant array of independent disks (RAID) comprising multiple parity data is provided. A data protection field is attached after each basic data access unit of the parity data sequences and each subfields of the data protection field is defined according to different applications to protect the basic data access unit of the parity data or the data protection field of the payload data from errors incurring during data transmission.

Abstract: Method for updating control program of physical storage devices including the steps of: selecting PSD(s) to be updated with the control program; making the PSD(s) in an off-line state; and updating the control program of the PSD(s), wherein if it needs to issue a write request to the selected PSD(s) before completion of updating the control program, unmodified data segment(s) corresponding to the write request is marked as modified data segment(s). the selected PSD(s) performs partial rebuilding after completion of updating the control program, and if it needs to read out from or write to an unmodified data segment of the selected PSD(s) before completion of the partial rebuilding, a R/W request can be issued to the PSD directly without waiting for completion of the partial rebuilding of the PSD. Multiple parity data chunks can also be provided in the same data stripe in another embodiment.

Abstract: Data coherence checking apparatus, a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller and a storage system having the checking apparatus and a method therefor are proposed. The present invention employs an XOR operation unit and an OR operation unit to check the coherence of data to be checked. The XOR operation unit is used to perform XOR operation on the data to be checked. After the XOR operation unit finishes performing the XOR operation on the data of a processing set, it outputs an XOR operation result to the OR operation unit to perform OR operation so as to obtain a check result.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a storage subsystem and system for improving data writing efficiency. When writing data, if a predetermined N number of data or fewer than the predetermined N number of data are yet written after waiting a specific time period, the data writing I/O request is regarded as completed. The corresponding resources are then released. The N number of yet written data and the related writing information are stored in a non-volatile memory (NVRAM), so that when there is a sudden power cut or power failure happens that interrupts the data writing, the process can be resumed after the power supply is turned back on.

Abstract: A storage system and method for handling bad storage device data therefor are described. The present invention uses a first mark and/or a second mark for the data processing of the redundant storage devices when the storage system is in the degraded mode together with a media error occurred or when in data writing, there is a reading abnormality in the storage devices so that new check data cannot be generated; and therefore, a better data protection method is provided.

Abstract: A method for performing adaptive write caching in a storage virtualization subsystem is disclosed. In this method, criteria associated with an operation state of the storage virtualizalion subsystem for performing write caching are first defined. Then, the characteristics of a stream of at least one write input/output (IO) request sent out by a host entity are analyzed to make a determination of whether the stream meets the criteria. Thereafter, a new write IO request by the subsystem from the host entity is received, and write caching is performed to write data associated with the new write IO request to a physical storage device (PSD) array according to the determination.

Abstract: The present inveniton provides a method for improving data reading performance and a controller performing the same. After a read request is sent to a storage device, the processing time of the read request starts to be counted. If the read request does not successfully read data in a predetermined time period, redundant data identical to the read data is generated in order to achieve the action of reading data. The read request process is still ongoing while generating the redundant data. When the data is read or generated successfully by either of the read request process or the redundant data generating process, the data is returned to a request unit.

Abstract: An SAS RAID head is provided to connect between at least one initiator and at least one storage device. It is a connection head possessed of the RAID function. The SAS RAID head comprises at least one SVC (or a SVC pair), a cooling module, a power supply, and/or an enclosure for accommodating and fixing the above-mentioned components. Wherein, the device-side I/O device interconnect of the SVC (or SVC pair) is the SAS interface. The invention has the flexibility to vary the numbers of initiators and storage devices connected thereto in order to satisfy the topological structures of various systems.

Abstract: A redundant external storage virtualization computer system. The redundant storage virtualization computer system includes a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant external storage virtualization controller pair coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller pair through a point-to-point serial signal interconnect. The redundant storage virtualization controller pair includes a first and a second storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity. In the redundant storage virtualization controller pair, when the second storage virtualization controller is not on line, the first storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the second storage virtualization controller.

Abstract: Data access methods and storage subsystems thereof for reading data from storage devices in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system are provided. After a controller receives a read request, the target data that the controller is about to read and the sub-stripe(s) where the target data is located are determined according to the logical address block information in the read request. The controller simultaneously issues a plurality of I/O requests to all storage devices in order to read the target data and the related data distributed on the same sub-stripe(s) at the same time. If there is any target data without responses for a certain time, it is able to use the related data, which is already responded to the controller, to generate the redundant data identical to the target data for responding the read request as soon as possible so as to reduce unnecessary waiting time.

Abstract: A data storage virtualization subsystem (SVS) for providing storage to a host entity is disclosed. The SVS comprises a storage virtualization controller for connecting to the host entity, at least one physical storage device (PSD) pool, and at least one PSD is designated to be a pool spare PSD to the at least one PSD pool. The at least one PSD pool comprises at least one PSD to store user data or associated redundant information and is given a pool ID for identifying the PSD pool.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data between storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) in a computer system is disclosed, in which there is an inter-controller communication channel (ICC) between the storage virtualization controllers. The method comprises the steps of: a central processing unit (CPU) of one storage virtualization controller (SVC) sending a data transfer request to an interface that establishes the ICC when the CPU needs to transmit information to the other SVC; and transmitting the information to the other SVC after the interface that establishes the ICC receives the data transfer request, and obtains the information.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved retaining tool of heat radiator comprising a heat radiator and two retaining tools. Slide grooves are disposed at two opposite sides of the heat radiator. The slide grooves can join the two integrally formed retaining tools. A first hook board, a long board body, and a second hook board are formed on each of the two retaining tools. The first hook boards and the second hook boards can be hooked and joined at the bottom of a heat-emitting element (e.g., a chip or a CPU) of a motherboard. Each of the long board bodies has two protuberances and two resilient sheets to effectively prevent the retaining tools from detaching when being joined in the slide grooves at the two sides of the heat radiator.