Abstract: A system, method and computer program for allocating physical memory from a group of N memory devices to logical volumes. A group of N memory devices are partitioned into a plurality of bands, each of the group of N memory devices sharing a portion of each of the plurality of bands. A cluster map for each of the plurality of bands is generated. The cluster maps indicate the physical address for each of a plurality of clusters. Each of the plurality of clusters are distributed equally over two or more of the N memory devices to ensure a specified level of redundancy for each of the plurality of bands. Each of the N memory devices share an approximately equal number of clusters. Available bands are determined and are allocated to a logical volume.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of creating and assigning a class of storage that is defined by the customer at initialization, such that specific object code is assigned to and used by the devices in a class of storage and such that the devices themselves are grouped according to class of storage. This method provides the customer with greater system design flexibility over conventional naming standards and also provides greater data integrity and security. The method of the present invention includes the steps of assigning a class of storage label, storing the class of storage label, determining whether the device is the correct class of storage for the assigned sub-device group, delivering an error message if the class of storage is incorrect, and assigning the device to a sub-device group, if the class of storage is correct.

Abstract: A system and method for providing application-specific configuration data for a network controller. A plurality of user-specific network requirements are generated. The plurality of user-specific network requirements are programmed into a reprogrammable memory located in the network controller. The network controller is powered-up. The plurality of user-specific network requirements are loaded onto a plurality of software applications running on the network controller.