Abstract: Methods and structure for automatic creation of Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) volumes are provided. The system comprises A RAID controller that includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores information describing storage devices of a storage system. The processor is able to receive a request to generate a RAID volume, to access the memory to identify a first group of storage devices that each have a first storage capacity, and to determine an expected size of a volume implemented by the first group. The processor is further able to access the memory to identify a second group of storage devices that each have a second storage capacity, to determine an expected size of a volume implemented by the first group and the second group, and to select one or more of the groups to create the requested volume based on the expected sizes.

Abstract: Methods and structure for automatic creation of Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) volumes are provided. The system comprises A RAID controller that includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores information describing storage devices of a storage system. The processor is able to receive a request to generate a RAID volume, to access the memory to identify a first group of storage devices that each have a first storage capacity, and to determine an expected size of a volume implemented by the first group. The processor is further able to access the memory to identify a second group of storage devices that each have a second storage capacity, to determine an expected size of a volume implemented by the first group and the second group, and to select one or more of the groups to create the requested volume based on the expected sizes.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for handling disk drives in a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) configuration. The method may include detecting a disk drive received via insertion of the disk drive in a disk drive slot of an enclosure of the RAID configuration. Prior to the disk drive being received, it may be that fewer than a maximum number of supported disk drives are configured. It may also be the case that, after the disk drive is received, no more than the maximum number of supported drives are in-place within the enclosure of the RAID configuration. In such instances, and when the insertion is a cold insertion into an empty disk drive slot, the method may further include marking the disk drive as Un-configured good alias Ready. Further, if the disk drive is inserted into a missing disk drive slot and has a smaller storage capacity than that of the replaced disk drive previously in place within the missing disk drive slot, the method may further include marking the disk drive as FAIL.

Abstract: Methods and systems for executing a decompressed portion of an option memory in a shadow memory. An area of system memory is allocated and a portion of the option memory is decompressed using the allocated area. The decompressed portion is stored in the shadow memory so the decompressed portion can be executed in shadow memory.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for handling disk drives in a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) configuration. The method may include detecting a disk drive received via insertion of the disk drive in a disk drive slot of an enclosure of the RAID configuration. Prior to the disk drive being received, it may be that fewer than a maximum number of supported disk drives are configured. It may also be the case that, after the disk drive is received, no more than the maximum number of supported drives are in-place within the enclosure of the RAID configuration. In such instances, and when the insertion is a cold insertion into an empty disk drive slot, the method may further include marking the disk drive as Un-configured good alias Ready. Further, if the disk drive is inserted into a missing disk drive slot and has a smaller storage capacity than that of the replaced disk drive previously in place within the missing disk drive slot, the method may further include marking the disk drive as FAIL.