Ronald E Parks

US Patent:

6571354, May 27, 2003

Filed:

Dec 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/461779

Inventors:

Ronald L. Parks - Danville CA
Alastair Taylor - San Jose CA
James A. Taylor - Livermore CA

Assignee:

Dell Products, L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

714 7

Abstract:

A method and apparatus used in a storage network facilitates the protection of data in, and replacement of, storage devices about to fail before the failure happens. In a network that includes a plurality of sets of storage devices which store respective data sets, a storage device about to fail in one set can be replaced by another storage device from another set of storage devices which is being used to store data having a lower priority. The method comprises assigning priorities to sets of storage devices in the network which store respective data sets. In addition, the method includes detecting a condition of a first particular storage device in a particular set of storage devices that has a first priority. Conditions which are detected according to various embodiments indicate that the first particular storage device is suffering events indicating that it is likely to fail, or otherwise suffering from reduced performance. The conditions are detected for example, by the receipt of a signal from the storage device itself, or by the monitoring of statistics concerning the performance of the storage device.

US Patent:

6598174, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/559713

Inventors:

Ronald Parks - Danville CA
Alastair Taylor - San Jose CA
James A. Taylor - Livermore CA

Assignee:

Dell Products L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 1116

US Classification:

714 6, 714 7, 714 5, 711162

Abstract:

A method and apparatus used in a storage network facilitates the protection of data in, and replacement of, storage devices about to fail before the failure happens. In a network that includes a set of storage devices organized as a non-redundant (for example RAID 0) array, a storage device about to fail in the non-redundant array can be replaced by another storage device, typically from a pool of spares. The method includes detecting a condition of a first particular storage device in the non-redundant array. Conditions which are detected according to various embodiments indicate that the first particular storage device is suffering events indicating that it is likely to fail, or otherwise suffering from reduced performance. The conditions are detected for example, by the receipt of a signal from the storage device itself, or by the monitoring of statistics concerning the performance of the storage device. The method further provides for selecting a particular spare storage device, which can be used in place of the first particular storage device.

US Patent:

6654830, Nov 25, 2003

Filed:

Dec 6, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/455106

Inventors:

James A. Taylor - Livermore CA
Alan R. Merrell - Fremont CA
Ronald L. Parks - Danville CA
Alastair Taylor - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Dell Products L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 1516

US Classification:

710 74, 709203, 709213, 709223, 709232

Abstract:

A storage network that facilitates the transfer of a data set from a first storage device to a second storage device, without blocking access to the data set during the transfer is provided. An intermediate device for the storage network is provided. The intermediate device comprises a plurality of communication interfaces. Data transfer resources are coupled to the plurality of interfaces, and are used for transferring data access requests identifying the data set from a third interface at least one of a first and second interfaces. A logic engine within the intermediate device is coupled to the interfaces, and is responsive to a control signal to manage the transfer of the data set through the interfaces.