Patent ID: 6985971

Claim:
A testing method of array configuration for a multiple disk-array system, said testing method comprising steps of: providing an interface operable to access a plurality of disk-arrays coupled thereto, where data is distributed across each disk-array of said plurality of disk-arrays independently of said distribution across other disk-arrays of said plurality of disk-arrays; providing each disk drive of a corresponding disk-array of said plurality of disk-arrays with an array configuration structure, said array configuration structure including an indication of a number of disk drives in said corresponding disk-array and a serial check sum of each disk drive in said corresponding disk-array, said serial check sum of each said disk drive being arranged in said array configuration structure in accordance with a position and function of said disk drive in said corresponding disk-array; reading said array configuration structure; acquiring said indication of said number of disk drives from said array configuration structure and computing therefrom a corresponding number of disk drives; reading every said serial check sum in said array configuration structure; and comparing said number of disk drives computed in said indication acquiring step with a number of disk drives determined from said serial check sum reading step.