Patent ID: 7353306
Filing Date: 2008-04-01
Classification: G06F,H04B,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of performing a rebind operation to copy a mirrored block of buffer data of a failed storage controller from a surviving storage controller to a replacement storage controller, wherein at least the surviving storage controller provides network-based access to a set of storage devices, the method comprising: placing the surviving storage controller in a rebind mode in which, when a processor of the surviving storage controller reads data from a buffer of the surviving storage controller, a reflective memory controller of the surviving storage controller automatically transfers the data over a reflective memory channel to the replacement storage controller; with the surviving storage controller operating in said rebind mode, performing the rebind operation in which said processor performs a sequence of read operations to read the mirrored block of buffer data from the buffer of the surviving storage controller, causing the reflective memory controller to automatically transfer the mirrored block of buffer data across the reflective memory channel to the replacement storage controller, wherein the processor performs the sequence of read operations via execution of firmware, and the reflective memory controller transfers the mirrored block of buffer data across the reflective memory channel via automated circuitry without executing firmware; and performing a write operation to the buffer of the surviving storage controller to cause the reflective memory controller to reflect the write operation across the reflective memory channel to the replacement storage controller; wherein the method is performed without the surviving storage controller discontinuing network-based access to the set of storage devices.