Patent ID: 8122287

Claim:
A method for automatic failure detection and repair of a failed disk drive module comprising: configuring an array of disk drive modules in communication with a controller through a bus, said controller having a buffer for storage of data, and said controller being in communication with a processor and an associated operating system; storing drive information from a failed disk drive module in said buffer in communication with the failed module; generating an interrupt in response to said module failure and sending the interrupt to an operating system in communication with the failed module; unconfiguring said failed module from an associated slot of said failed module in response to said interrupt; designating a minimum quantity of modules within the array in communication with the controller as spare modules to replace the failed disk drive module in communication with the controller; listing said designated spare modules at said controller in descending order of characteristics; determining if there are any designated spare modules in excess of said minimum quantity of modules in dual loops of said controller; and selectively designating an excess spare module in a first dual loop as a non-spare module based upon a rank of the excess spare module in said listing.