Patent ID: 7506201

Claim:
A method to reconfigure a storage array disposed in a data storage system, comprising the steps of: supplying a data storage system comprising a plurality of data storage devices, wherein each of at least a portion of said plurality of data storage devices is assigned to one of a plurality of data storage arrays, or is assigned as a spare data storage device; detecting an unassigned data storage device; determining if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises an intermixed data storage array; operative if any of said plurality of data storage devices comprises an intermixed data storage array, determining if said unassigned data storage device can be used to restore said intermixed data storage array to a homogeneous technology class; operative if said unassigned data storage device can be used to restore said intermixed data storage array to a homogeneous technology class, reconfiguring said intermixed data storage array to a homogeneous technology class comprising said unassigned data storage device; operative if any of said plurality of data storage arrays comprises a degraded data storage array, determining if said unassigned data storage device can be used to restore said degraded data storage array to optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency; and operative if said unassigned data storage device can be used to restore said degraded data storage array to an array comprising optimal reliability, optimal performance, and optimal efficiency, reconfiguring said degraded data storage array to comprise said unassigned data storage device.