Patent ID: 8856477

Claim:
A method for utilizing a networked redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) configuration in a networked storage cluster having two or more storage server computers that exposes a storage capacity to one or more initiators, each of the storage server computers being operative to read and write data to one or more mass storage devices, the method comprising: allocating a first portion of the storage capacity of the storage cluster to a first tier, wherein data stored in the first tier is organized in a chained declustered configuration, the first portion of the storage capacity comprising a first plurality of mass storage devices including at least one mass storage device associated with each of the storage server computers; allocating a second portion of the storage capacity of the storage cluster to a second tier, wherein data stored in the second tier is organized in a networked RAID-5 configuration, the second portion of the storage capacity comprising a second plurality of mass storage devices including at least one mass storage device associated with each of the storage server computers; monitoring a frequency at which the data stored in the first tier and the data stored in the second tier is accessed, respectively; and promoting data that is accessed frequently from the second tier to the first tier, and demoting data that is accessed infrequently from the first tier to the second tier, wherein the first tier and the second tier are subdivided into zones having a same size, and wherein the first plurality of mass storage devices is different than the second plurality of mass storage devices.