Apparatus, system, and method for rapid grading of computer storage operating condition

1. An apparatus comprising:

a storage log module that logs error information regarding any error in a storage subsystem that occurs during normal operation of the storage subsystem;

a storage test module that performs a cursory check of the storage subsystem as requested by a user; and

a storage diagnostic module that

provides a grade of the operating condition of the storage subsystem on an operating condition scale having at least three grades ranging from pristine to failing with at least one intermediate grade, the grades based at least in part upon the error information logged and upon results of the cursory check, and

instructs the storage test module to perform a comprehensive test of the storage subsystem according to the grade provided, upon request by a user

wherein the storage log module, storage test module, and storage diagnostic module comprise one or more of circuitry and executable code, the executable code stored on non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the storage subsystem is graded as pristine if no error has been logged and no error was detected by the cursory check, as potentially failing if any error has been logged but no error was detected by the cursory check, and as failing if any error was detected by the cursory check.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the comprehensive test of the storage subsystem, including a full media test, is performed upon request by the user if the storage subsystem was graded as potentially failing.

4. A system comprising:

a storage subsystem;

a storage log module that logs error information regarding any error in the storage subsystem that occurs during normal operation of the storage subsystem;

a storage test module that performs a cursory check of the storage subsystem as requested by a user; and

a storage diagnostic module that

provides a grade of the operating condition of the storage subsystem on an operating condition scale having at least three grades ranging from pristine to failing with at least one intermediate grade, the grades based at least in part upon the error information logged and upon results of the cursory check, and

instructs the storage test module to perform a comprehensive test of the storage subsystem according to the grade provided, upon request by a user; and

a computer, having access to the storage subsystem, that incorporates the foregoing modules.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the storage subsystem is graded as pristine if no error has been logged and no error was detected by the cursory check, as potentially failing if any error has been logged but no error was detected by the cursory check, and as failing if any error was detected by the cursory check.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the comprehensive test of the storage subsystem, including a full media test, is performed upon request by the user if the storage subsystem was graded as potentially failing.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the storage test module further checks adjacent media for errors during normal operation of the storage subsystem.

8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the storage test module further patrols the storage subsystem during normal operation such that a full media test is repeatedly performed in an address-wise piecemeal fashion over time.

9. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computer is mobile.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the storage test module further patrols the storage subsystem during normal operation such that a full media test is repeatedly performed in an address-wise piecemeal fashion at a variable rate over time.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the variable rate is reduced when the computer is operating on battery power.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the variable rate is reduced when motion of the computer is detected.

13. The system of claim 4 , wherein the storage subsystem comprises one or more hard disk drives.

14. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code executable to perform operations, the operations of the computer program product comprising:

logging error information regarding any error in a storage subsystem that occurs during normal operation of the storage subsystem;

performing a cursory check of the storage subsystem as requested by a user; and

providing a grade of the operating condition of the storage subsystem on an operating condition scale having at least three grades ranging from pristine to failing with at least one intermediate grade, the grades based at least in part upon the error information logged and upon results of the cursory check; and

performing a comprehensive test of the storage subsystem according to the grade provided, upon request by a user.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the storage subsystem is graded as pristine if no error has been logged and no error was detected by the cursory check, as potentially failing if any error has been logged but no error was detected by the cursory check, and as failing if any error was detected by the cursory check.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the comprehensive test of the storage subsystem, including a full media test, is performed upon request by the user if the storage subsystem was graded as potentially failing.

17. A machine-implemented method comprising the steps of:

logging error information regarding any error in a storage subsystem that occurs during normal operation of the storage subsystem;

performing a cursory check of the storage subsystem as requested by a user;

providing a grade of the operating condition of the storage subsystem on an operating condition scale having at least three grades ranging from pristine to failing with at least one intermediate grade, the grades based at least in part upon the error information logged and upon results of the cursory check; and

performing a comprehensive test of the storage subsystem according to the grade provided, upon request by a user.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the storage subsystem is graded as pristine if no error has been logged and no error was detected by the cursory check, as potentially failing if any error has been logged but no error was detected by the cursory check, and as failing if any error was detected by the cursory check.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the comprehensive test of the storage subsystem, including a full media test, is performed upon request by the user if the storage subsystem was graded as potentially failing.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the cursory check comprises basic operational testing of the storage subsystem and a partial media test.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of checking adjacent media for errors during normal operation of the storage subsystem.

22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of patrolling the storage subsystem during normal operation such that a full media test is repeatedly performed in an address-wise piecemeal fashion over time.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of grading further comprises a heuristic based upon the error information logged.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the heuristic infers a poorer operating condition of the storage subsystem if the error information logged exhibits a repeated failure.