Patent ID: 6298415
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method in a data storage system for updating stored data with received data in a cache associated with said data storage system, where said data storage system comprises N data storage drives, where data and calculated parity are striped across said N data storage drives, where a stripe comprises a plurality of data sectors on each of said N data storage drives, said method comprising the steps of:receiving data into a cache associated with said data storage system, said data for updating stored data in said data storage system;determining if said received data in said cache includes all sequential data sectors contained within a complete stripe within said data storage system;calculating parity for said complete stripe by:calculating a range of sectors between which all sectors received into said cache for said complete stripe fall,reading from said N data storage drives into said cache only said sectors within said range of sectors which are not included in said received data in said cache for said complete stripe, andlogically combining said plurality of sectors in said cache for said complete stripe, such that input/output operations within said data storage system are minimized.