Abstract: A method and system for automating the creation of a managed data storage system. Specifically the present invention describes an automated method for building, evaluating and repairing a managed set of disk storage devices utilizing a rule based expert system operating on a host computer. The system allocates available disks and controllers according to a predetermined size requirement and a set of rules. The set of rules designates a layout that provides optimum performance. The system also evaluates the layout by utilizing a set of rules to test reliability and comparative analysis to test performance. The system performs self-repairs in the event of a component failure and generates a notification of the failure and an analysis of the degradation of the system resulting from the failure so replacement components might be obtained.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for installing a redundant data storage system. In one embodiment, the hardware configuration of a computer system is discovered during the installation of a software operating system. An instruction is received describing a first configuration of the computer system wherein a first copy of the software operating system is maintained upon a first data storage device and a second copy of the software operating system is maintained upon a second data storage device of the computer system, the first configuration of the computer system is implemented. The first configuration of the computer system is implemented concurrent with installing the software operating system.

Abstract: A computer program or a computer process is provided by replacing a native computer instruction with a trapping computer instruction which is the size of the native computer instruction and which, when executed, causes a trap to the kernel. A trap handler in the kernel determines that the inserted trapping computer instruction caused the trap and transfers control to a user trap handler. The user trap handler maps the trap site to a patch of computer instructions. When the trapping computer instruction is executed, the trap handler transfers control from the kernel to the user trap handler which in turn transfers control to the patch. Native computer instructions in sufficient proximity to corresponding patches of computer instructions may be replaced with branching computer instructions of the size of the native computer instruction and which transfer control to those corresponding patches.