Abstract: A method for migrating data from one level of RAID system to the same or another level of RAID system having the same or a different number of removable and identifiable storage devices and having the same or a different stripe unit size is disclosed. The storage devices can be attached to the system at a number of different attachment points which facilitates replacement or removal of a failed device. The system is represented as a logical media drive. After determining the number of migrations and the direction of migration, a start logical block address and an end logical block address is defined. The migration is performed by moving data from the source physical blocks to the destination physical blocks starting with the physical block corresponding to the start logical block address and continuing to the physical block corresponding to the end logical block address.

Abstract: Because correct configuration data is essential to the operation of any RAID system, and because multiple copies of the configuration data are kept, not only in the RAID controller itself, but also in each disk drive unit in the configuration, it is imperative that the various copies of the configuration data do not become "out of synchronization", which means that one or more copies of the configuration data are different from one or more other copies of the configuration data. To maintain synchronization of all copies of the configuration data, the current invention compares the configuration data stored in the RAID controllers' NVRAM to that of the current system, and records any new, non-responding, repositioned or unidentified storage devices in a change list.

Abstract: Because correct configuration data is essential to the operation of any RAID system, and because multiple copies of the configuration data are kept, not only in the RAID controller itself, but also in each disk drive unit in the configuration, it is imperative that the various copies of the configuration data do not become "out of synchronization", which means that one or more copies of the configuration data are different from one or more other copies of the configuration data. To maintain synchronization of all copies of the configuration data, the current invention compares the configuration data stored in the RAID controller's NVRAM to that of the current system, and records any new, non-responding, repositioned or unidentified storage devices in a change list.