Patent ID: 8225038
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a RAID storage array having a controller and plurality of drives configured into a plurality of groups, wherein the plurality of drives are in a plurality of drive trays, and wherein the controller comprises a main memory, a method operable in the controller, comprising: storing a set of configuration information on a central nonvolatile memory device, wherein the set of configuration information includes group configuration information corresponding to each group of the plurality of groups with which a corresponding drive is associated; storing the set of configuration information on a plurality of remote nonvolatile memory devices each associated with at least one of the plurality of drive trays; loading a bootware control process into the main memory; executing the bootware control process; loading a plurality of service layer processes into the main memory; wherein each of the service layer processes is independently coupled to the bootware control process; executing the plurality of service layer processes in parallel under the control of the bootware control process; and, reading the configuration information from the central nonvolatile memory device.