Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for selecting and communicating a single disk (a “coredump disk”) for use in a coredump procedure by a failed file server (or filer). A selection method on the failed filer determines the “best candidate” coredump disk according to a predetermined set of criteria. For example, the available disks that can receive coredump data are located and ordered so as to prefer disks that best match the coredump data size requirement, are least likely to be needed for normal service by the server; and require the least preparation to receive coredump data. Appropriate attributes on the selected coredump disk are written to indicate that a coredump is in progress, and the location of the coredump data. Upon reboot of the failed filer (or takeover by a cluster partner), the coredump disk is identified and the coredump data recovered by reading back appropriate attributes.

Abstract: A multiple node storage system cluster that allows for a takeover by a takeover node simultaneously with a failing node resetting its storage adapters is provided. A takeover monitor on the failing node initiates a “coredump” procedure by selecting a coredump disk. After selecting the coredump disk, the failing node determines the world wide name (WWN) of that disk and sends this information in a message across the cluster interconnect to the takeover node. In response to receipt of this message, the takeover node begins takeover procedures with respect to all disks except for the coredump disk. The failing node simultaneously resets its storage adapters and writes is memory to the coredump disk. The failing node later updates a completion header on that disk. The takeover node completes the takeover without waiting for the storage adapter reset, and subsequently reads the completion header and copies coredump information into its memory.

Abstract: A technique manages the addition of disks to a volume of a storage system. A disk addition procedure is encapsulated into a DISKADD object conforming to a configuration management framework used to implement a RAID subsystem of the storage system. The DISKADD object is responsible for determining a set of available disks required to satisfy a disk addition request issued by an operator through a user interface of a storage operating system executing on the storage system. Furthermore, the DISKADD object is responsible for monitoring the state of the disks, including preparation/initialization of the disks (e.g., disk zeroing) and possible disk failures, as well as placing those disks into RAID groups of the volume once preparation completes. Persistent storage of the state of a pending disk addition is then accomplished using an implementation of the configuration management framework.

Abstract: A query-based spares management technique enables a storage operating system of a storage system to select disks to be added to one or more RAID groups of a volume. The spares management technique includes an attributes-based disk selection procedure that is performed by the storage operating system in response to an operator-initiated request to add disks to the volume or in response to a demand-driven request resulting from a requirement imposed by the system to add disks to the volume. The disks that are added to the RAID groups of the volume are retrieved from one or more spare pools of disks maintained by the storage system.

Abstract: A technique manages the addition of disks to a volume of a storage system. A disk addition procedure is encapsulated into a DISKADD object conforming to a configuration management framework used to implement a RAID subsystem of the storage system. The DISKADD object is responsible for determining a set of available disks required to satisfy a disk addition request issued by an operator through a user interface of a storage operating system executing on the storage system. Furthermore, the DISKADD object is responsible for monitoring the state of the disks, including preparation/initialization of the disks (e.g., disk zeroing) and possible disk failures, as well as placing those disks into RAID groups of the volume once preparation completes. Persistent storage of the state of a pending disk addition is then accomplished using an implementation of the configuration management framework.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for selecting and communicating a single disk (a “coredump disk”) for use in a coredump procedure by a failed file server (or filer). A selection method on the failed filer determines the “best candidate” coredump disk according to a predetermined set of criteria. For example, the available disks that can receive coredump data are located and ordered so as to prefer disks that best match the coredump data size requirement, are least likely to be needed for normal service by the server; and require the least preparation to receive coredump data. Appropriate attributes on the selected coredump disk are written to indicate that a coredump is in progress, and the location of the coredump data. Upon reboot of the failed filer (or takeover by a cluster partner), the coredump disk is identified and the coredump data recovered by reading back appropriate attributes.