Patent ID: 6636871
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for handling input/output (â€œI/Oâ€ ) requests and transactions to multiple-layer aggregated logical volumes of computer-readable media in a computer system, said logical volumes having a plurality of computer-readable media partitions aggregated into a single computer-readable entity by one or more aggregators, and said logical volume containing a fake extended boot record (â€œEBRâ€ ) for describing the construct of the logical volume, said fake 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; creating a plurality of logical volume manager (â€œLVMâ€ ) data areas within said multiple-layer logical volume, each said partition containing an LVM data area and each said aggregator having an LVM data area; setting a first EBR present flag in the LVM data area corresponding to the partition in which said fake EBR is stored; setting a second EBR present flag in the LVM data area corresponding to the aggregator for the partition in which the first EBR present flag was found; and setting additional EBR present flags in the LVM data areas corresponding to the aggregators for the aggregator in which the second EBR present flag is set until the topmost aggregator is reached such that the partition containing the LVM data area having the first EBR present flag may be quickly and efficiently found by following the path of EBR present flags set in the LVM data areas of the aggregators which aggregate the partition.