Patent ID: 6301625
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A disk array controller which operatively couples a computer to an array of disk drives, the disk array controller comprising:a plurality of controllers, each of which controls at least one disk drive of the array;an automated completion monitoring circuit that monitors the status of multiple concurrently-pending input/output I/O requests, including I/O requests that invoke multiple controllers and disk drives; anda microcontroller which is responsive to an I/O request from the computer by transferring to each of the controllers invoked by the I/O request a token that identifies the I/O request;wherein each invoked controller forwards the token associated with the I/O request to the automated completion monitoring circuit upon completion of a respective portion of the I/O request, and the completion monitoring circuit uses the tokens received from the controllers to track the completion statuses of the pending I/O requests.