Patent ID: 6532548
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for storing data in a storage system having N storage elements arranged in parallel for concurrent access, wherein N is an integer greater than three, wherein Nâˆ’2 of the N storage elements are designated as data storage elements for each row of data and the remaining two of the N storage elements are designated as first and second redundant information storage elements for each row of data, the method comprising:determining first redundancy information based on a first row of data to be striped across the Nâˆ’2 storage elements; determining first additional redundancy information based on the first row of data to be striped across the Nâˆ’2 storage elements and the determined first redundancy information; determining which of the Nâˆ’2 storage elements are responsive for receiving data; striping the first row of data across the responsive storage elements of the Nâˆ’2 storage elements if at least Nâˆ’3 of the Nâˆ’2 storage elements are responsive for receiving data; writing the first redundancy information to the first redundant information storage element; writing the first additional redundancy information to the second redundant information storage element if all of the Nâˆ’2 storage elements are responsive for receiving data; and writing the data to be received by one of the Nâˆ’2 storage elements to the second redundant information storage element if the one of the Nâˆ’2 storage elements is unresponsive for receiving data.