Steven Michael Peters

US Patent:

6453396, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Jul 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/353683

Inventors:

Steven E. Boone - Monument CO
Steven J. Peters - Shrewsbury MA

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1200

US Classification:

711162, 711161, 707204, 714 6

Abstract:

A system, method and computer program product for hardware assisted backup for a computer mass storage subsystem wherein files to be backed up from a source storage medium (e. g. disk) to a formatted storage medium (e. g. tape) are written in logical block number (âLBNâ) order regardless of the files on-disk layout. If the source file structure information is available it is used or the disk blocks containing the file structure are marked in a used (or âfreeâ) block bit map which may then be modified to exclude files that are âopen for writeâ, marked as âno backupâ or not part of the selected file save operation. In operation, the blocks are written to tape using a Tape Copy Data (âTCDâ) command. Blocks that were selected, but excluded as âopen for writeâ may then be written to the tape utilizing more conventional methodologies. Where possible, the entire disk volume is locked during the backup operation, however, individual files may be selectively locked if all of the files are not being saved.

US Patent:

6311240, Oct 30, 2001

Filed:

Dec 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/213760

Inventors:

Steven E. Boone - Monument CO
Steven J. Peters - Shrewsbury MA

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston CO

International Classification:

G11B 364
G06F 1338

US Classification:

710 74

Abstract:

A system and method for hardware assisted formatted data transfer allows a formatting storage controller to read and record data on a formatted storage medium and avoids a requirement of continuous interaction by a host system in the transfer process. The host system can initiate the transfer process by sending a command block, a data definition, and an on-media structure definition to a formatting storage controller, which performs the formatted transfer and notifies the host system when the transfer is completed or an exception occurs. Alternately, the formatting storage controller can access one or more on-media structure definitions stored in a persistent storage unit in accordance with an on-media structure selector provided by the host system in the command block. In alternative implementations, the system and method of the present invention allows for the performance of a "verify copy" operation which causes the formatting storage controller to compare the formatted data recorded on the formatted storage medium with the data stored on an alternate storage medium (e. g. a source or destination storage medium) and a "formatted read" operation, which causes the formatting storage controller to read the formatted data stored on the formatted storage medium and transfer it to a destination storage medium.