Maintaining data access during failure of a controller

A method for maintaining data access during failure of a controller in a multiple controller storage subsystem (103) is provided. The storage subsystem (103) has an array of data storage devices (109) and more than one controller (104, 105) for managing the data storage. The method comprises a first...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors WOOD BARRY JOHN, NICHOLSON ROBERT BRUCE, FRANCIS MICHAEL HUW, WALSH SIMON, ASHMORE PAUL, FAIRHURST JOHN MATTHEW
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 11.03.2004
Edition7
Subjects
CALCULATING
COMPUTING
COUNTING
ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
PHYSICS
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Summary:A method for maintaining data access during failure of a controller in a multiple controller storage subsystem (103) is provided. The storage subsystem (103) has an array of data storage devices (109) and more than one controller (104, 105) for managing the data storage. The method comprises a first controller (201) saving its internal state information (212) and, optionally, resetting itself (213). One or more of the other controllers (202, 203) carry out the steps of pausing operation of the controller (221, 231), saving internal state information of the controller at the time of pausing (222, 232), and continuing operation of the controller (223, 233). The one or more other controllers (202, 203) may pause operation and save their internal state information when they receive a message broadcast (220, 230) from the first controller (201) which has detected an error.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20030608721