Method and system for disk drive exercise and maintenance of high-availability storage systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for maintaining a particular disk drive that is powered off in a storage system are disclosed. The method includes powering on the particular disk drive and executing a test on the particular disk drive. The method further includes powering off the particular disk drive on completing the test.

1 . A method for maintaining a particular disk drive in a storage system, wherein the storage system includes a plurality of disk drives and the particular disk drive that is powered-off, the method comprising: 
 powering-on the particular disk drive;    executing a test on the particular disk drive; and    powering-off the particular disk drive.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test includes a buffer test.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the buffer test includes a write/read/compare test of sector buffer random access memory in the particular disk drive.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test includes a write test on a plurality of heads in the particular disk drive.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the write test includes a write/read/compare operation on each head in the particular disk drive.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein write the test includes accessing non-user accessible sectors on the particular disk drive.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test includes a random read test.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the random read test includes a read operation on randomly selected logical block addresses.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the random read test includes auto defect reallocation.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test includes a read scan test.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the read scan test includes auto defect reallocation.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the read scan test is performed over an entire surface of the particular disk drive.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disk drives is power-managed according to a power budget, the method further comprising: 
 determining that powering-on the particular disk drive would cause the power budget to be exceeded; and    postponing powering-on of the particular disk drive and executing the test.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disk drives is power-managed according to a power budget, the method further comprising: 
 determining after powering-on the particular disk drive that a request to power-on an additional disk drive would cause the power budget to be exceeded;    suspending the test; and    powering-off the particular disk drive.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test is performed after a predetermined interval.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined interval is approximately 30 days.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 detecting a request for access of the particular drive;    suspending the test to fulfill the request for access; and    resuming the test.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining whether the test has failed; and    indicating whether the particular disk drive should be replaced in response to determining whether the test has failed.    
     
     
         19 . A method for maintaining data in a disk drive, the method comprising: 
 performing a check on the disk drive; and    if a predetermined criterion is not met as a result of the test then performing a recovery action.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the check includes a seek error rate.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the check includes an RSC rate.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the check includes a timeout error.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the check includes a buffer test.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the check includes a write test on a plurality of heads in the disk drive.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the check includes a random read test.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the random read test includes auto defect reallocation.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the check includes a read scan test.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the read scan test includes auto defect reallocation.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for maintaining a particular disk drive in a storage system, wherein the storage system includes a plurality of disk drives and the particular disk drive that is powered-off, the apparatus comprising: 
 a power controller for controlling power to the disk drives and the particular disk drive; and    a test-moderator for executing a test on the particular disk drive;    whereby, the particular disk is powered-on by the power controller before the test is to be executed and the particular disk drive is powered-off after the test is executed.    
     
     
         30 . A machine-readable medium including instructions executable by a processor for maintaining a particular disk drive in a storage system, wherein the storage system includes a plurality of disk drives and the particular disk drive that is powered-off, the machine readable medium comprising: 
 one or more instructions for powering-on the particular disk drive;    one or more instructions for executing a test on the particular disk drive; and    one or more instructions for powering-off the particular disk drive.    
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for maintaining a particular disk drive in a storage system, wherein the storage system includes a plurality of disk drives and the particular disk drive that is powered-off, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processor for executing instructions; and    a machine-readable medium including: 
 one or more instructions for powering-on the particular disk drive;  
 one or more instructions for executing a test on the particular disk drive; and  
 one or more instructions for powering-off the particular disk drive.