Integrating Content-Laden Storage Media with Storage System

Abstract

Integrating content into a storage system with substantially immediate access to that content. Providing high reliability and relatively easy operation with a storage system using redundant information for error correction. Having the storage system perform a “virtual write,” including substantially all steps associated with writing to the media to be integrated, except for the step of actually writing data to that media, including rewriting information relating to used disk blocks, and including rewriting any redundant information maintained by the storage system. Integrating the new physical media into the storage system, including accessing content already present on that media, free space already present on that media, and reading and writing that media. Recovering from errors during integration.

1 . A method, comprising:
 coupling a new disk to be integrated into a storage system, wherein the storage system includes both a set of disks and at least some redundant information from which the storage system is capable of recovering content in the event of a failed disk operation; and   adjusting the redundant information in response to content on a disk block without necessarily performing any write operations to the disk block, whereby the storage system becomes capable of recovering content on the new disk.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting an error associated with an operation performed by the storage system; and   computing information associated with at least one disk block in a stripe associated with the error.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the operation includes a read operation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the computing includes adjusting a set of parity information for the stripe associated with the error. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising optionally writing to the new disk one or more of the following: information responsive to file system operations performed with regard to the new disk; information responsive to one or more sets of blocks associated with the new disk; information responsive to updating one or more file directories associated with the new disk; information responsive to creating, deleting, modifying, or updating one or more files associated with the new disk. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the computing information is performed concurrently with a set of file system operations performed in association with the storage system, whereby content associated with the new disk is available for the file system operations without substantial delay after the coupling. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each file system operation in the set of file system operations is performed atomically. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein operations comprising the computing information are each performed atomically. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising integrating a file system associated with the new disk into the storage system, wherein the file system includes at least a set of files and a set of free disk blocks, and further whereby operations for the file system need not necessarily distinguish between the new disk and a set of disks already integrated into the storage system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the integrating a file system includes designating at least some of the free disk blocks as parity blocks. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 coupling a new disk to be integrated into a storage system, wherein the storage system includes both a set of disks and at least some redundant information from which the storage system is capable of recovering content in the event of a failed disk operation; and   adjusting the redundant information based at least in part on content on the new disk independent of performing write operations to the new disk, whereby the storage system becomes capable of recovering content on the new disk.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting an error associated with an operation performed by the storage system; and   computing information associated with at least one disk block in a stripe associated with the error.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the operation includes a read operation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the computing includes adjusting a set of parity information for the stripe associated with the error. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising optionally writing to the new disk one or more of the following: information responsive to file system operations performed with regard to the new disk; information responsive to one or more sets of blocks associated with the new disk; information responsive to updating one or more file directories associated with the new disk; information responsive to creating, deleting, modifying, or updating one or more files associated with the new disk. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the computing information is performed concurrently with a set of file system operations performed in association with the storage system, whereby content associated with the new disk is available for the file system operations without substantial delay after the coupling. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each file system operation in the set of file system operations is performed atomically. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein operations comprising the computing information are each performed atomically. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising integrating a file system associated with the new disk into the storage system, wherein the file system includes at least a set of files and a set of free disk blocks, and further whereby operations for the file system need not necessarily distinguish between the new disk and a set of disks already integrated into the storage system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the integrating a file system includes designating at least some of the free disk blocks as parity blocks.