Patent ID: 6170063
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A storage system for storing data records, said storage system comprising: a storage medium for storing data records, said data records being indexed by addresses which specify the location of said data records in said storage medium; a controller for receiving, write messages from processors coupled to said controller, each write message including a data segment to be written to said storage medium at a specified address, and coordination information specifying a timestamp, and the addresses of other data records on other storage systems that were written in the same write operation, said timestamp specifying the time at which said processors sent said write messages to said controller a log for storing said write messages; wherein said controller further comprises a clock and wherein said controller periodically reads said timestamps of said write messages in said log and compares said timestamps to said clock to determine said message having the oldest timestamp and wherein said controller writes said data segment contained in said message having the oldest timestamp to said storage medium at said specified address if said timestamp is less than said clock by more than a predetermined amount.