Netapp, Inc.

Network Appliance, Inc.

Doug Coatney

George Y Kong

Sharon A Gavarre

Hung Lu

Sue Coatney

Sherri Gavarre

Radek Aster

John Fabrizio Bevilacqua

A storage device failure in a computer storage system can be analyzed by the storage system by examining relevant information about the storage device and its environment. Information about the storage device is collected in real-time and stored; this is an on-going process such that some information is continuously available. The information can include information relating to the storage device, such as input/output related information, and information relating to a storage shelf where the storage device is located, such as a status of adjacent storage devices on the shelf. All of the relevant information is analyzed to determine a reason for the storage device failure. Optionally, additional information may be collected and analyzed by the storage system to help determine the reason for the storage device failure. The analysis and supporting information can be stored in a log and/or presented to a storage system administrator to view.

Creating environmental snapshots of storage device failure events

A method and system for reading exception data by a storage server from a storage controller. An exception event is detected at the storage server. The storage server registers with the controller, such that only one storage server can read the exception data at a time. If the storage server is registered with the controller, the storage server reads the exception data. If the storage server does not successfully register with the controller, the controller keeps track of which storage servers have not read the exception data, to ensure that all storage servers can read the data.

Retrieving diagnostics information in an N-way clustered RAID subsystem

Retrieving diagnostics information in an N-way clustered raid subsystem

A computer storage system includes multiple disk trays, each disk tray holding two or more physical disks. The disks on a single tray are virtualized into a single logical disk. The single logical disk reports to the RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks) subsystem, creating the impression that there is one large capacity disk. In one implementation, each disk in the tray is allocated to a different RAID group. By allocating the disks in a tray to different RAID groups, if the tray is removed, only a portion of several different RAID groups are removed. This arrangement permits a simple reconstruction of the RAID groups if a disk tray is removed from the system.

Creating logical disk drives for raid subsystems

The present disclosure is directed to implementing power savings features on storage drives within a storage subsystem. A controller determines a drive is inactive and directs a power connector to prevent power from being provided to the drive. The controller may receive an input/output request for the inactive drive, direct the power connector to allow power to be provided, and provide the input/output request. When the controller receives an input/output request for the inactive drive, the controller sends a notification to the request's originator that the drive is unavailable and to retry after a fixed period of time. The controller performs maintenance on the drive when the drive is not inactive. The controller determines a maintenance time when the drive will be inactive and performs maintenance at an accelerated rate.

Method and system for implementing power savings features on storage devices within a storage subsystem

A group of data storage units are serially connected in a sequential data communication path to communicate read and write operations to first and second interfaces of each data storage unit in the group. A data management computer device ('filer') manages read and write operations of the data storage units of the group through an adapter of the filer. Main and redundant primary communication pathway connectors extend from the filer to the interfaces of the data storage unit, thereby establishing redundancy through multiple pathways to communicate the read and write operations to the data storage units of the group. Main and redundant secondary communication pathway connectors extend from partner filers to the groups of data storage units associated with each partner filer, thereby further enhancing redundancy.

Dual access pathways to serially-connected mass data storage units

A system and method for monitoring a group of storage devices for indications of a detected error. After receiving an indication that a first storage device in the group has experienced a detected error, a consecutive number of detected errors experienced by the first storage device is determined. If it is determined the consecutive number of detected errors experienced by the first storage device exceeds a threshold of more than one detected error before a second storage device in the group experiences one detected error, then in response, the consecutive number of detected errors experienced by the first storage device is reset. If the consecutive number of detected errors does exceed the threshold before the second storage device experiences the one detected error, then the first storage device is identified as a suspect storage device.

Identifying suspect disks

A group of disks is monitored for indications of a detected error. After receiving an indication that a first disk in the group has had a detected error, determining a consecutive number of detected errors for the first disk. Determining if the consecutive number of detected errors exceeds a threshold, and if the consecutive number of detected errors does exceed the threshold, identifying the first disk as a suspect disk. In response to determining that the first disk had the most recent detected error, incrementing the number of consecutive errors of the first disk by one. If a disk other than the first disk had a most recent detected error, setting the consecutive number of detected errors of the disk other than the first disk to one, and setting the consecutive number of detected errors of the first disk to zero.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Doug Coatney