Patent ID: 6598174
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for managing data in a network, the network comprising a plurality of storage devices, the method comprising:(A) assigning a first set of storage devices to a non-redundant storage array; (B) storing at least one data set on the array; (C) detecting a condition of a first particular storage device comprised within the array and wherein the first particular storage device stores a subset of the at least one data set; (D) selecting a second particular storage device; (E) migrating, in response to said detecting, migrating the subset to the second particular storage device, the migrating including (1) providing an intermediate device in the network, the intermediate device being coupled to the first particular storage device, the intermediate device further being coupled to the second particular storage device, the intermediate device having a buffer; (2) transferring a plurality of copies of blocks of data from the subset to the buffer; (3) re-transferring the plurality of copies of blocks of data from the buffer to the second particular storage device and fulfilling, via the intermediate device, a plurality of data access requests relating to data in the subset during an act selected from a list consisting of the transferring and the re-transferring the plurality of copies of blocks of data from the buffer to the second particular storage device and fulfilling, via the intermediate device, a plurality of data access requests relating to data in the subset during an act selected from a list consisting of the transferring and the re-transferring; and, (F) identifying the second particular storage device as a member of the array.