Patent ID: 7594051
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A storage apparatus comprising: a plurality of physical storing devices; a plurality of host interface adapter units coupled to a host and to other storage apparatuses, and controlling data transfer between the host and the host interface adapter units, and controlling data transfer between the other storage apparatuses and the host interface adapter units, at least one of the other storage apparatuses using a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) technique; a disc interface adapter unit controlling data transfer between the disk interface adapter unit and the plurality of physical storing devices; a cache memory unit storing data temporarily; a switch unit coupled to the host interface adapter units, the disc interface adapter unit, and the cache memory unit; a compressed data circuit unit creating, if the storage apparatus receives a write command sent from the host, a plurality of first compressed data corresponding to a plurality of first data to be transferred to the plurality of physical storing devices, the plurality of first data being transferred according to the RAID technique; and a compressed data saving unit storing the plurality of first compressed data created in the compressed data circuit unit, wherein, when the storage apparatus receives a first read command sent from the host after completion of a process of the write command sent from the host, the compressed data circuit creates a plurality of second compressed data based on the plurality of first data stored in the plurality of physical storing devices and corresponding to the first read command, and compares each of the plurality of first compressed data stored in the compressed data saving unit and one of the plurality of second compressed data to detect inconsistent data, wherein, if one of the plurality of first data is inconsistent data, consistent data corresponding to the one of the plurality of first data is restored according to the RAID technique, wherein the compressed data circuit unit creates a plurality of third compressed data corresponding to a plurality of second data to be transferred to the other storage apparatuses, the plurality of second data being transferred according to the RAID technique, wherein the compressed data saving unit storing the plurality of third compressed data created in the compressed data circuit unit, wherein, when the storage apparatus receives a second read command sent from the host, the compressed data circuit unit creates a plurality of fourth compressed data based on the plurality of second data stored in the other storage apparatuses and corresponding to the second read command, and compares each of the plurality of third compressed data stored in the compressed data saving unit and one of the plurality of fourth compressed data to detect the inconsistent data, and wherein, if one of the plurality of second data is the inconsistent data and if one of the other storage apparatuses storing the one of the plurality of second data uses the RAID technique, consistent data corresponding to the one of the plurality of second data is restored in the one of the other storage apparatuses.