IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,644,304
Granted Patent B2
US 7,644,304 · App. 11/467,682 · Granted Jan 5, 2010

Using SAS address zoning to add/replace hot spares to RAID set

Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,644,304
App. No.
11/467,682
Filed
Aug 28, 2006
Granted
Jan 5, 2010
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2113
USPC
714/7
Abstract

Certain ones of a plurality of SAS hard disk drives are assigned to different SAS zones using a SAS zoning expander(s). A processor and SAS RAID controller have access to only those SAS hard disk drives assigned to the same zone(s) as the processor and SAS RAID controller. Each SAS RAID controller determines when a RAID hard disk drive in its zone fails, and then notifies the RAID hard disk drive failure to a service enclosure processor (SEP) of the SAS zoning expander. The SEP re-allocates an available hot-spare hard disk drive to the zone of the failed RAID hard disk drive. When the SAS RAID controller detects that a functional hard disk drive is now available in its zone, the RAID image is rebuilt using the zone reassigned hot-spare hard disk drive that then becomes one of the RAID hard disk drives of that zone.

Claims (54)

1. A method for detecting and replacing a failed serial attached SCSI (SAS) hard disk drive of a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) set in an information handling system having a SAS zoning expander, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a failure of a SAS hard disk drive of a RAID set with a RAID controller;

notifying a SCSI enclosure processor (SEP) of the SAS hard disk drive failure, wherein the SEP is associated with a SAS zoning expander controlling access to a plurality of SAS zones and the failed SAS hard disk drive is assigned to one of the plurality of SAS zones;

determining whether a SAS hot-spare hard disk drive is available in the SAS zone configured to contain SAS hot-spare hard disk drives, wherein if the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive is available then assigning the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive to the one of the plurality of SAS zones of the failed SAS hard disk drive;

detecting the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive with the RAID controller; and

rebuilding the RAID set with the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of turning on a failure indicator associated with the failed SAS hard disk drive.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a just a bunch of disks (JBOD) enclosure comprises a plurality of SAS hard disk drives, whereas the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive is one of the plurality of SAS hard disk drives in the JBOD enclosure.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the JBOD enclosure includes the SAS zoning expander and the SEP.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the RAID controller is part of a host server.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the host server is a blade server.

7. A method for detecting and replacing a failed serial attached SCSI (SAS) hard disk drive of redundant array of independent disks (RAID) sets in an information handling system having SAS zoning expanders, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a failure of a SAS hard disk drive of a RAID set of a plurality of RAID sets with a RAID controller associated with that RAID set;

notifying a SCSI enclosure processor (SEP) of the SAS hard disk drive failure, wherein the SEP is associated with a one SAS zoning expander of a plurality SAS zoning expanders, wherein the plurality of SAS zoning expanders control access to a plurality of SAS zones and the failed SAS hard disk drive is assigned to one of the plurality of SAS zones;

determining whether a SAS hot-spare hard disk drive is available in the SAS zone configured to contain SAS hot-spare hard disk drives, wherein if the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive is available then assigning the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive to the one of the plurality of SAS zones of the failed SAS hard disk drive;

detecting the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive with the associated RAID controller; and

rebuilding the failed RAID set of the plurality of RAID sets with the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of turning on a failure indicator associated with the failed SAS hard disk drive.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein a plurality of just a bunch of disks (JBOD) enclosures each comprise a plurality of SAS hard disk drives, whereas the SAS hot-spare hard disk drive is one of the plurality of SAS hard disk drives in a one of the plurality of JBOD enclosures.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of JBOD enclosures includes a one of the plurality of SAS zoning expanders and a one of the associated SEPs.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of RAID controllers is associated with a one of a plurality of host servers.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of host server are a plurality of blade servers.

13. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality SAS zoning expanders are coupled together with SAS physical links.

14. An apparatus for detecting and replacing a failed serial attached SCSI (SAS) hard disk drive of a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) set in an information handling system having a SAS zoning expander, comprising:

a host processor;

a RAID controller coupled to the host processor;

a SAS zoning expander coupled to the RAID controller;

a SCSI enclosure processor (SEP) coupled to the SAS zoning expander;

a plurality of first SAS hard disk drives arranged as a RAID set and coupled to the SAS zoning expander;

at least one second SAS hard disk drive coupled to the SAS zoning expander;

wherein the SAS zoning expander assigns the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives to a first SAS zone and the at least one second SAS hard disk drive to another SAS zone;

wherein the RAID controller detects when a one of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives of the RAID set fails and then notifies the SEP of the failure of the one of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives of the RAID set;

wherein the SEP reassigns the at least one second SAS hard disk drive to the first SAS zone; and

wherein the RAID controller detects the at least one second SAS hard disk drive and rebuilds the RAID set with the at least one second SAS hard disk drive.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a failure indicator associated with the failed one of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives, the failure indicator being turned on by the SEP.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives and the at least one second SAS hard disk drive are enclosed in a just a bunch of disks (JBOD) enclosure.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the SAS zoning expander and SEP are enclosed in the JBOD enclosure.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the host processor is a host server.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the host processor is a blade server.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a plurality of host servers each having a RAID input-output controller (IOC) coupled to the SAS zoning expander; and

a plurality of RAID sets comprising a plurality of SAS hard disk drives coupled to the SAS zoning expander, wherein each of the RAID sets is assigned to a different zone that is in the same zone as an associated RAID IOC.

21. An information handling system having a plurality of host processors and associated redundant array of independent disks (RAID) sets, said system comprising:

a plurality of host processors;

a plurality of RAID controllers, each of the plurality of RAID controllers coupled to a respective one of the plurality of host processors;

at least one SAS zoning expander coupled to the plurality of RAID controllers;

a SCSI enclosure processor (SEP) coupled to the at least one SAS zoning expander;

a plurality of first SAS hard disk drives coupled to the at least one SAS zoning expander, wherein a plurality of RAID sets are comprised of certain ones of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives and each one of the plurality of RAID sets is assigned to a different SAS zone;

at least one hot-spare SAS hard disk drive coupled to the at least one SAS zoning expander, the at least one hot-spare SAS hard disk drive being assigned to a SAS zone other than the different SAS zones assigned to the plurality of RAID sets;

wherein when a one of the plurality of RAID controllers detects a failed one of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives, the one of the plurality of RAID controllers notifies the SEP of the failure of the one of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives;

wherein the SEP reassigns the at least one hot-spare SAS hard disk drive to the SAS zone of the failed one of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives; and

wherein the one of the plurality of RAID controllers detects the at least one hot-spare SAS hard disk drive and rebuilds the associated one of the plurality of RAID sets with the at least one hot-spare SAS hard disk drive.

22. The system according to claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives has a failure indicator actuated by the SEP when a respective one of the plurality of first SAS hard disk drives fails.

23. The system according to claim 21 , wherein the plurality of host processors are a plurality of blade servers.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2006
From: KOTZUR, GARY B.; MARKS, KEVIN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 018180/0202 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080126849A1 · May 29, 2008