Patent ID: 6711591
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for handling input/output (â€œI/Oâ€ ) requests and transactions to a multiple-layer aggregated logical volume of computer-readable media in a computer system, said logical volume having a plurality of computer-readable media partitions aggregated into a single computer-readable entity by one or more aggregators, one of said aggregators serving as the top-most aggregator, said multiple-layer aggregated logical volume having an logical beginning and a logical end, and said logical volume containing an extended boot record (â€œEBRâ€ ) for describing the construct of the logical volume, said EBR being stored in a partition of the logical volume, the method comprising the steps of:providing a logical volume manager function executable by said computer system; defining one or more logical volume manager (â€œLVMâ€ ) data areas within said multiple-layer logical volume, at least one of said LVM data area being stored at a predetermined position within said logical volume and being designated as the LVM data area for the top-most aggregator; creating a fake EBR stored within the top-most aggregator's LVM data area, said fake EBR containing indicators compatible with standard computer system disk utility functions, said indicators containing an indication of multiple layer logical volume construction for the logical volume; and re-directing I/O requests for said multiple layer logical volume so as to access the fake EBR, such that standard computer system disk utilities attempting to access the multiple layer logical volume will access the fake EBR.