IP Library Granted Patent US 10,782,881
Granted Patent B2
US 10,782,881 · App. 16/236,836 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

Storage device for not allowing to write data based on end of life of a disk device

Inventor: Yasuyuki Yamamoto (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: BUFFALO INC.
G06F3/0604G06F3/0674G06F3/0679
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,782,881
App. No.
16/236,836
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A storage device includes: N (N is an integer of 2 or more) disk devices that records data redundantly, the N disk devices including NAND devices; and processing circuitry that checks a timing of reaching an EOL (End Of Life) for each of the N disk devices; and makes a setting that does not allow to write data into a disk device of the N disk devices for which a predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived.

Claims (43)

1. A storage device, comprising:

N disk devices configured to record data redundantly, N being an integer of 2 or more, the N disk devices including NAND devices; and

processing circuitry configured to

perform processing for configuring a virtual disk using a plurality of disk devices of the N disk devices;

check a timing of reaching an EOL (End Of Life) for each of the N disk devices;

determine whether redundant recording is disabled in the virtual disk;

determine whether the plurality of disk devices include a disk device for which a predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived; and

allow writing data into the virtual disk, when it is determined that the redundant recording is not disabled in the virtual disk and the plurality of disk devices include the disk device for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived.

2. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

estimate the timing of reaching the EOL for each of the N disk devices; and

make a setting that does not allow to write data into a disk device of the N disk devices for which the predetermined timing before the estimated timing of reaching the EOL has arrived.

3. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether or not the redundant recording is disabled in the plurality of disk devices of the N disk devices that include the disk device for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived.

4. The storage device according to claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to make a setting that does not allow to write data into the disk for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived, in response to determining that the redundant recording is disabled.

5. The storage device according to claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

configure one or a plurality of virtual disks using the N disk devices, and

make a setting that does not allow to write data into a virtual disk of the one or the plurality of virtual disks, which includes the disk device for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived, in response to determining that the redundant recording is disabled.

6. The storage device according to claim 3 , wherein

N is an integer that is equal to or more than 4, and

the processing circuitry is further configured to:

configure a first virtual disk using m (1<m<N) disk devices of the N disk devices;

configure a second virtual disk using p (1<p<N−m) disk devices each of which is different from disk devices constituting the first virtual disk; and

make the setting that does not allow to write data into the first or second virtual disk that includes the disk device for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived, in response to determining that the redundant recording is disabled.

7. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to make a setting that allows to write data into the disk device in response to the storage device being connected through iSCSI (internet Small Computer System Interface), even when the setting that does not allow to write data is applied to one of the N disk devices.

8. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to make a setting that allows to write data into a system area, and does not allow to write data into areas other than the system area.

9. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to notify of the disk device for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived.

10. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether each of the N disk devices satisfies a predetermined condition; and

check the timing of reaching the EOL for each of the N disk devices in response to determining that each of the N disk devices satisfies the predetermined condition.

11. The storage device according to claim 10 , wherein the predetermined condition includes at least one of a condition for a model of a disk device, a condition for a manufacturer of a disk device, and a condition for a manufacturing lot of a disk device.

12. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive an instruction to read data and write data from a host device, in response to the storage device being connected to the host device through iSCSI (internet Small Computer System Interface).

13. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to prohibit writing data into the virtual disk, when it is determined that the redundant recording is disabled in the virtual disk and the plurality of disk devices include the disk device for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores therein a program for causing a computer to:

perform processing for configuring a virtual disk using a plurality of disk devices of N disk devices configured to record data redundantly, N being an integer of 2 or more, the N disk devices including NAND devices;

check a timing of reaching an EOL (End Of Life) for each of the N disk devices;

determine whether redundant recording is disabled in the virtual disk;

determine whether the plurality of disk devices include a disk device for which a predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived; and

allow writing data into the virtual disk, when it is determined that the redundant recording is not disabled in the virtual disk and the plurality of disk devices include the disk device for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived.

15. A method, comprising:

performing processing for configuring a virtual disk using a plurality of disk devices of N disk devices configured to record data redundantly, N being an integer of 2 or more, the N disk devices including NAND devices;

checking, using processing circuitry, a timing of reaching an EOL (End Of Life) for each of the N disk devices,

determining whether redundant recording is disabled in the virtual disk;

determining whether the plurality of disk devices include a disk device for which a predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived; and

allowing writing data into the virtual disk, when it is determined that the redundant recording is not disabled in the virtual disk and the plurality of disk devices include the disk device for which the predetermined timing before the timing of reaching the EOL has arrived.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: MELCO HOLDINGS INC.
To: BUFFALO INC.
Reel/Frame 072988/0847 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 23, 2025
From: BUFFALO INC.
To: MELCO HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 072191/0806 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2018
From: YAMAMOTO, YASUYUKI
To: BUFFALO INC.
Reel/Frame 047876/0659 →