Benedict M Rafanello

US Patent:

6427215, Jul 30, 2002

Filed:

Mar 1, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/798864

Inventors:

Benedict Michael Rafanello - Round Rock TX
Vincent Brian Rapp - Austin TX
Barry Lowell Russell - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G11C 2900

US Classification:

714710, 711702

Abstract:

Where a number n of read attempts are required to successfully read a data sector, with the first n-1 attempts returning a disk drive read error, the number of attempts required is compared to a predefined threshold selected to indicate that the sector is unreliable and is in danger of becoming completely unrecoverable. If the threshold number of attempts is not exceeded, the sector is presumed to still be good and no further action need be taken. If the threshold number of attempts was equaled or exceeded, however, the unreliable or failing sector is relocated to a reserved replacement sector, with the recovered data written to the replacement sector. The failing data sector is remapped to the replacement sector, which becomes a fully functional substitute for the failing sector for future reads and writes while preserving the original user data. Data within a failing sector is thus preserved before the sector becomes completely unrecoverable.

US Patent:

6449705, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Sep 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/392832

Inventors:

Mark A. Peloquin - Austin TX
Benedict Michael Rafanello - Round Rock TX
John Cameron Stiles - Round Rock TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

711173, 711153, 711209, 711216

Abstract:

A method for routing an input/output request for a particular logical volume. In a preferred embodiment, partitions are assigned to logical volumes, wherein an arbitrary number of partitions can be assigned to a logical volume and the partitions can be of an arbitrary size. Each logical volume is divided into a plurality of zones, wherein the zones for a particular logical volume are substantially equal in size. A zone table is created whose entries contain data about one or two partitions that correspond to that zone. Responsive to receiving an input/output request directed to a logical volume, the zone table entries for a first and a last sector listed in the input/output request are used to determine to which partitions in the logical volume the input/output request should be routed.

US Patent:

6493822, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

Sep 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/399240

Inventors:

Benedict Michael Rafanello - Round Rock TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15177

US Classification:

713 1, 710 8, 710 10

Abstract:

A programable apparatus and method for assigning drive letters without conflicts to resource devices in a data processing system based upon three signature numbers called a resource serial number, a boot drive serial number and a sequence number, where the signature numbers are assigned by the data processing systems operating system to the resource devices.

US Patent:

6574705, Jun 3, 2003

Filed:

Nov 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/714730

Inventors:

Mark A. Peloquin - Austin TX
Benedict Michael Rafanello - Round Rock TX
Cuong Huu Tran - Austin TX
Cristi Nesbitt Ullmann - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1200

US Classification:

711114, 711111, 711112, 714 8, 707205

Abstract:

A data processing system and method are disclosed for storing logical volume information used by a logical volume manager to create and manage a logical volume. The data processing system includes a plurality of storage devices. A plurality of physical partitions within the plurality of storage devices are specified. Each one of the physical partitions includes a plurality of sectors. The specified physical partitions are logically combined to create the logical volume. A first plurality of the sectors are reserved in each of the physical partitions for the logical volume information. The first plurality of sectors are located at the top of each of the physical partitions. The logical volume information is stored in the first plurality of sectors in each of the physical partitions. In this manner, the logical volume information is stored at the top of each of the physical partitions.

US Patent:

6578034, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Sep 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/409590

Inventors:

Benedict Michael Rafanello - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 10, 360 53

Abstract:

A database distributed across multiple drives and media, rather than being centralized. Fragments of the database are stored within the unused portion of disk space located after partition tables but before the beginning of a partition, thereby forming one or more hidden databases. The method and system disclosed is compatible with industry standard disk format definitions.

US Patent:

6636871, Oct 21, 2003

Filed:

Jul 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/616131

Inventors:

Benedict Michael Rafanello - Round Rock TX
Mark A. Peloquin - Austin TX
Cuong Huu Tran - Austin TX
Cristi Nesbitt Ullmann - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1200

US Classification:

707200, 711162, 711111, 711112, 711114, 713 1, 713 2

Abstract:

A system and method for a multi-layer logical volume management (âLVMâ) system which extends the single-layer logical volume model of current technology to handle multiple levels of aggregation more efficiently. Multiple levels of aggregation allows multiple types of aggregators, such as drive linking, mirroring, and software RAID, to be used together to bypass the limitations inherent in each individual aggregation technology. An LVM data area which stores information about the organization of the multi-layer logical volume is stored within the last partition of the logical volume. A fake EBR, which describes the logical volume as if it were a single disk drive, is located in the LVM data area of one of the partitions in the logical volume. A âbottom-to-topâ control methodology is used to locate the LVM data area containing the fake EBR, including setting a special flag in the LVM data area containing the fake EBR. Aggregators search for this flag when creating aggregates, and set a flag in the LVM data area of the aggregate being created if any of the items being aggregated has this flag set.

US Patent:

6711591, Mar 23, 2004

Filed:

Jul 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/616146

Inventors:

Benedict Michael Rafanello - Round Rock TX
Mark A. Peloquin - Austin TX
Cuong Huu Tran - Austin TX
Cristi Nesbitt Ullmann - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1200

US Classification:

707200, 707201, 707202, 707203, 707204, 707205, 707206, 711111, 711112, 711114, 711162, 713 1, 713 2

Abstract:

A system and method for control of data and boot records associated with multi-layer logical volumes allows the logical volume data area containing the fake EBR to be deterministically and efficiently accessed by using a âtop downâ control methodology. Control of the logical volume manager (âLVMâ) data area is distributed. An LVM data area is placed on each aggregate as well as on each partition, and the fake EBR is placed in the LVM data area of the topmost aggregate. The topmost aggregator controls access to the fake EBR, and only this aggregator must provide API functionality to access the fake EBR. This allows the fake EBR to be found and accessed only by new software applications which are âawareâ of the fake EBR, while allowing legacy aggregators to continue to function correctly and allowing legacy software applications to continue to interwork with legacy aggregators through their unchanged APIs.

US Patent:

6751719, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Oct 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/697449

Inventors:

Mark A. Peloquin - Austin TX
Benedict Michael Rafanello - Round Rock TX
Cuong Huu Tran - Austin TX
Cristi Nesbitt Ullmann - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1206

US Classification:

711210, 711112, 707514, 707100

Abstract:

A method and apparatus to dynamically order features and resolve conflicts in a logical volume management environment is provided. The method and apparatus classifies features of a logical volume into partition level, aggregate level and volume level classes. Based on these classes and the attributes associated with each feature, ordering of the features in a feature stack is performed and conflicts between features identified for conflict resolution. In addition, the apparatus and method provides a mechanism by which a default ordering of features selected by a user may be generated for a logical volume. The user may accept this default ordering or edit the ordering as long as the user does not generate any conflicts. Any conflicts generated will be reported to the user and the attempted ordering will not be allowed.