Patent ID: 8074018
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling a disk array apparatus having a plurality of units redundantly, each of the plurality of units including a first storage area and a second storage area, each of the first storage area and second storage area being stored firmware, respectively, each of the plurality of units executing the firmware stored in the first storage area, the method comprising: detecting replacement of one of the plurality of units, the replaced unit including a first storage area and a second storage area, each of the first and second storage areas of the replaced unit being stored firmware, respectively; starting the replaced unit so as to execute the firmware stored in the first storage area; reading out a version of the firmware stored in the first storage area of the replaced unit and a version of the firmware stored in the first storage area of the plurality of units other than the replaced unit; comparing the version of the firmware stored in the storage area of the replaced unit with the version of the firmware stored in the first storage area of each of the plurality of units other than the replaced unit; writing, into the second storage area of the replaced unit, firmware having the version corresponding to the version of the firmware stored in the first storage area of the plurality of units other than the replaced unit when the version of the firmware stored in the first storage area of the replaced unit is different from the version of the firmware stored in the first storage area of the plurality of units other than the replaced unit during execution of the replaced unit; restarting the replaced unit so as to execute the firmware stored in the second storage area after the firmware stored in the second storage area has been written to the firmware having the version corresponding to the version of the firmware stored in the first storage area of the plurality of units other than the replaced unit; writing, into the first storage area of the replaced unit, the firmware having the version corresponding to the version of the firmware stored in the first storage area of the plurality of units other than the replaced unit by using the firmware stored in the second storage area of the replaced unit after the replaced unit has been restarted by using the firmware stored in the second storage area; and restarting the replaced unit so as to execute the firmware stored in the first storage areas after the firmware stored in the first storage area has been written.