Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for concatenating a first RAID and a second RAID. The apparatus includes a concatenation module and a direction module. The concatenation module concatenates a first Redundant Array of Independent Disks (“RAID”) with a second RAID into a top-level RAID. The first RAID and the second RAID may have disparate operational characteristics. The direction module directs storage operations to one of the first RAID and the second RAID based on a direction policy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for distributing writes asymmetrically. An asymmetric distribution module calculates an asymmetric distribution of writes for a plurality of drives. A write module writes data to each drive in accordance with the asymmetric distribution of writes.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for memory upgrade optimization. A requirements module 402 receives one or more of a capacity upgrade goal 1306 for an overall capacity of the array 706 and a performance upgrade goal 1308 for an overall performance of the array 706. An analysis module 404 identifies a first potential capacity change 1310 that can be achieved at a lower overall performance and a second potential capacity change 1314 that can be achieved at a higher overall performance. A reconfiguration module 406 generates one or more of a first reconfiguration recommendation 1312 calculated to yield an overall capacity improvement that takes into consideration the capacity upgrade goal 1306 and the first potential capacity change 1310 and a second reconfiguration recommendation 1316 calculated to yield an overall performance improvement that takes into consideration the performance upgrade goal 1308 and the second potential capacity change 1314.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for memory configuration analysis. A classification module 402 determines 1000 an overall performance of an array 706 of memory devices 500 in a computer memory 104, wherein overall performance has a substantially inverse relationship with a highest quantity of members of a subset of the array and a substantially direct relationship with an individual performance capability of the members. A counting module 404 takes a count 1110 of members of the array 706 whose individual performance capability varies 1108 in a selected direction from the overall performance of the array 706. A comparison module 406 takes a selected action such as issuing a memory configuration warning 1114 if the count crosses a predetermined threshold 1112 comprising a predetermined percentage for comparison with the count, as qualified by the individual performance capability, divided by an unqualified count of members of the array 706.

Abstract: An approach is provided to inactivate a selected drive included in a RAID configuration. While inactive, write requests are handled by identifying data blocks to be written to each of the RAID drives. The identification also identifies a data block address corresponding to the data blocks. Data blocks destined to non-selected drives are written to the non-selected drives. The data blocks destined to the selected drive is written to a memory area outside of the RAID configuration. The data block addresses corresponding to the data blocks are also written to the memory area. After a period of time, the selected drive is reactivated. During reactivation, the data block addresses and their corresponding data blocks that were written to the memory area are read from the memory area and each of the data blocks are written to the selected drive at the corresponding data block addresses.

Abstract: An approach is provided that loads software files, such as an operating system, on a hybrid storage device. The hybrid storage device is a device that includes a nonvolatile storage device and a nonvolatile memory cache. The nonvolatile memory cache has less storage capacity than the nonvolatile storage device. The nonvolatile memory cache is preset (“pinned”) to data corresponding to an initial set of address ranges of the nonvolatile storage device, such as all or part of the operating system that was loaded onto the nonvolatile storage device. A system usage metric is initialized along with a threshold value. The nonvolatile memory cache remains pinned to the initial set of address ranges until the system usage metric reaches the threshold value. When the system usage metric reaches the threshold value, then a caching algorithm is used to determine what data should be cached to the nonvolatile memory cache.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatic solid state drive performance recovery. A detection module detects a first SSD exceeding a fragmentation threshold. A plurality of drives comprises the first SSD and stores a data copy of data stored on the first SSD. An erase module erases a mapping table for the first SSD. The mapping table maps Logical Block Addresses LBA to physical addresses for the first SSD. A rebuild module rebuilds the data and the mapping table on the first SSD from the data copy.

Abstract: The instant invention broadly contemplates balancing of asymmetric RAID arrays based on application usage patterns. The instantly claimed invention broadly contemplates balancing the type of workload and delivery of the work load in asymmetric RAID arrays by intelligently implementing different types of applications on disks strategically positioned to deliver workload to the RAID channel that is most capable of handling the work load. The invention makes use of the fact that some applications are more large block, sequential transfer dependant while other applications are more small block, high random, high IOP dependent, and places these applications accordingly within the asymmetric RAID array.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for concatenating a first RAID and a second RAID. The apparatus includes a concatenation module and a direction module. The concatenation module concatenates a first Redundant Array of Independent Disks (“RAID”) with a second RAID into a top-level RAID. The first RAID and the second RAID may have disparate operational characteristics. The direction module directs storage operations to one of the first RAID and the second RAID based on a direction policy.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product is provided that recovers from a sector error affecting a critical file. A damaged sector prevents a critical file from being read prevents the computer system from booting. A controller records a sector number corresponding to the damaged sector. The system is rebooted using an alternative boot media. The system accesses the primary nonvolatile storage media after the rebooting. The damaged sector number is read from the error log and a file map is used to determine the critical file that is stored in the damaged sector. A backup copy of the critical file is retrieved from a backup media. The backup copy is written to the primary media using undamaged sectors and the critical file is mapped to the undamaged sectors. The system is subsequently booted successfully from the primary nonvolatile storage media.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for distributing writes asymmetrically. An asymmetric distribution module calculates an asymmetric distribution of writes for a plurality of drives. A write module writes data to each drive in accordance with the asymmetric distribution of writes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatic solid state drive performance recovery. A detection module detects a first SSD exceeding a fragmentation threshold. A plurality of drives comprises the first SSD and stores a data copy of data stored on the first SSD. An erase module erases a mapping table for the first SSD. The mapping table maps Logical Block Addresses LBA to physical addresses for the first SSD. A rebuild module rebuilds the data and the mapping table on the first SSD from the data copy.

Abstract: The instant invention broadly contemplates balancing of asymmetric RAID arrays based on application usage patterns. The instantly claimed invention broadly contemplates balancing the type of workload and delivery of the work load in asymmetric RAID arrays by intelligently implementing different types of applications on disks strategically positioned to deliver workload to the RAID channel that is most capable of handling the work load. The invention makes use of the fact that some applications are more large block, sequential transfer dependant while other applications are more small block, high random, high IOP dependent, and places these applications accordingly within the asymmetric RAID array.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for memory configuration analysis. A classification module 402 determines 1000 an overall performance of an array 706 of memory devices 500 in a computer memory 104, wherein overall performance has a substantially inverse relationship with a highest quantity of members of a subset of the array and a substantially direct relationship with an individual performance capability of the members. A counting module 404 takes a count 1110 of members of the array 706 whose individual performance capability varies 1108 in a selected direction from the overall performance of the array 706. A comparison module 406 takes a selected action such as issuing a memory configuration warning 1114 if the count crosses a predetermined threshold 1112 comprising a predetermined percentage for comparison with the count, as qualified by the individual performance capability, divided by an unqualified count of members of the array 706.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for memory upgrade optimization. A requirements module 402 receives one or more of a capacity upgrade goal 1306 for an overall capacity of the array 706 and a performance upgrade goal 1308 for an overall performance of the array 706. An analysis module 404 identifies a first potential capacity change 1310 that can be achieved at a lower overall performance and a second potential capacity change 1314 that can be achieved at a higher overall performance. A reconfiguration module 406 generates one or more of a first reconfiguration recommendation 1312 calculated to yield an overall capacity improvement that takes into consideration the capacity upgrade goal 1306 and the first potential capacity change 1310 and a second reconfiguration recommendation 1316 calculated to yield an overall performance improvement that takes into consideration the performance upgrade goal 1308 and the second potential capacity change 1314.

Abstract: An approach is provided that loads software files, such as an operating system, on a hybrid storage device. The hybrid storage device is a device that includes a nonvolatile storage device and a nonvolatile memory cache. The nonvolatile memory cache has less storage capacity than the nonvolatile storage device. The nonvolatile memory cache is preset (“pinned”) to data corresponding to an initial set of address ranges of the nonvolatile storage device, such as all or part of the operating system that was loaded onto the nonvolatile storage device. A system usage metric is initialized along with a threshold value. The nonvolatile memory cache remains pinned to the initial set of address ranges until the system usage metric reaches the threshold value. When the system usage metric reaches the threshold value, then a caching algorithm is used to determine what data should be cached to the nonvolatile memory cache.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product is provided that recovers from a sector error affecting a critical file. A damaged sector prevents a critical file from being read prevents the computer system from booting. A controller records a sector number corresponding to the damaged sector. The system is rebooted using an alternative boot media. The system accesses the primary nonvolatile storage media after the rebooting. The damaged sector number is read from the error log and a file map is used to determine the critical file that is stored in the damaged sector. A backup copy of the critical file is retrieved from a backup media. The backup copy is written to the primary media using undamaged sectors and the critical file is mapped to the undamaged sectors. The system is subsequently booted successfully from the primary nonvolatile storage media.

Abstract: A technique for background testing a hard disk drive, when an associated system is powered and the hard disk drive is available, includes receiving an interrupt test indication that indicates that the background testing of the hard disk drive is to be interrupted. The technique also includes discontinuing, at a current test location, the background testing of the hard disk drive in response to the interrupt test indication. Finally, current test results are saved in response to the interrupt test indication.

Abstract: Arrangements and methods for implementing a “spin-down policy” for HDD motors that is “smart”, flexible and admirably achieves an objective of ensuring prolonged motor life as just discussed. To this end, one specific implementation involves (among other things) the addition of a dedicated cache that acts as a buffer element of sorts for writing or obtaining data during a period when a motor may be spun down, especially (but not necessarily exclusively) in instances when a notebook needs to be running for a large portion of the day. Other analogous implementations are of course possible that would achieve similar ends.

Abstract: Arrangements and methods for implementing a “spin-down policy” for HDD motors that is “smart”, flexible and admirably achieves an objective of ensuring prolonged motor life as just discussed. To this end, one specific implementation involves (among other things) the addition of a dedicated cache that acts as a buffer element of sorts for writing or obtaining data during a period when a motor may be spun down, especially (but not necessarily exclusively) in instances when a notebook needs to be running for a large portion of the day. Other analogous implementations are of course possible that would achieve similar ends.