International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
G11B027/36 G11B005/09 G11B021/02
US Classification:
360/031000, 360/053000, 360/075000
Abstract:
A method for detecting head-to-disk interference events in a disk drive is provided. The invention comprises coupling a transducer to an air filter in the disk drive, wherein the transducer detects changes in magnetic readings due to debris produced by physical contact between a read/write head and a magnetic storage medium (head crash). The is monitored during disk drive operations and comparing magnetic readings from the transducer with defined parameters. If the transducer readings exceed the defined parameters, the spindle motor of the disk drive is shut off, thus stopping the rotation of the disk and minimizing data loss and damage due to the head crash.
Method And Apparatus For Managing Operation Of A Storage Device Based On Operating Temperatures In The Storage Device
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
G06F012/00
US Classification:
711/112000
Abstract:
A method, apparatus and computer instructions for managing a storage device. An operating temperature is monitored in the storage device. Responsive to the operating temperature exceeding a threshold temperature, operation of the storage device is altered to reduce effects of the storage device operating when the operating temperature exceeds the threshold temperature.
Method And System For Simultaneously Supporting Different Block Sizes On A Single Hard Drive
Thomas Forrer - Round Rock TX, US Jason Moore - Austin TX, US Abel Zuzuarregui - Paige TX, US
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
G06F012/00
US Classification:
711/220000, 711/171000
Abstract:
A method and system where a hardware platform such as a disk drive is formatted to the largest block length it is desired to read from or write to. Using commands, data can be accessed from the drive in any block length that is equal to or less than the formatted block length.
System And Method For On-Demand Computing For Parallel Scsi
Rafael Cabezas - Austin TX, US Thomas Forrer - Round Rock TX, US Michael Leary - Austin TX, US Jason Moore - Austin TX, US
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
H04K001/00
US Classification:
713183000
Abstract:
A system and method for managing parallel SCSI device functionality is presented. A user sends a request to a vendor whereby the request corresponds to the user changing the functionality of one of the user's SCSI devices. The vendor generates and sends a key that includes a password and a functionality value to the user. The user extracts the password, extracts the functionality value, and includes them in a command descriptor block. The user includes the command descriptor block in a SCSI command, and sends the SCSI command to the user's SCSI device whereupon the SCSI device validates the password and reconfigures itself based upon the functionality value. The SCSI device returns a message to the user indicating whether the reconfiguring process was successful. In turn, the user forwards the message to the vendor so the vendor may bill the user accordingly.
Method, System, And Product For Improved Storage Device Media Verification
Thomas Forrer - Round Rock TX, US Jason Moore - Austin TX, US Abel Zuzuarregui - Paige TX, US
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
G06F011/00
US Classification:
714008000
Abstract:
A system, method, and product are disclosed for verifying a condition of a storage drive's media. A command is received within the storage drive to verify the condition of the storage drive's media. In response to a receipt of the command, the storage drive attempts to read each one of the logical block addresses included in the storage drive. The condition of the media is verified by the storage drive by determining ones of the logical block addresses that are not in a readable condition.
Thomas Forrer - Round Rock TX, US Jason Moore - Austin TX, US Abel Zuzuarregui - Paige TX, US
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
G06F012/16
US Classification:
711112000, 711162000
Abstract:
A method and system are disclosed for recovering lost data with redundancy in an individual hard drive. A mirroring-type process is used in a single hard drive to maintain a backup copy of all data stored on that hard drive. The hard drive maintains two copies of the stored data on different storage media segments or partitions defined by separate read/write heads. In the event that a hard drive media defect or error occurs with respect to any of the data stored on a segment defined by one head, that data can be restored from the segment defined by the other head(s).
Method And Apparatus For Recovering From Inefficient Behavior Of Devices On I/O Buses
Thomas Forrer - Round Rock TX, US Asghar Tavasoli - Austin TX, US Vahid Tyau - Round Rock TX, US
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
G06F 13/10
US Classification:
710015000
Abstract:
A method, system and computer instructions for mitigating and recovering from the inefficient behavior of one or more peripheral devices attached to a shared I/O bus are disclosed. In one implementation, a Host Bus Adapter (HBA) for a drive monitors the time duration that a shared bus is busy, and can cause an interruption of the operation of that drive if a predetermined time threshold is exceeded. The HBA for that drive can cause the bus to be reset, if necessary, and can cause the target device utilizing the bus to be disconnected so that another target device can access the bus. Alternatively, the HBA for a drive can note that the bus is busy and restart any timers needed if relatively lengthy bus operations occur.
Thomas Forrer - Round Rock TX, US Jason Moore - Austin TX, US Abel Zuzuarregui - Paige TX, US
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
G06F 11/00
US Classification:
714006000
Abstract:
Method, system and computer program product for reporting and recovering from uncorrectable data errors in a data processing system using the Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) or the Serial ATA (SATA) protocol. The invention utilizes the data scrubbing functionality of SCSI hard drives to provide a higher level of data integrity in an operating system implemented RAID environment. If an uncorrectable data error is found on a hard drive during a background data scrubbing operation, information concerning the data error is logged in a S.M.A.R.T. (Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) error data structure. When the host operating system identifies the uncorrectable data error during normal operation, a Host Array Manager issues a Write Command to write the data from a redundant drive after the defective Logical Block Address (LBA) has been reassigned.
Thomas Forrer (1957-1961), Mark Hutchinson (1966-1971), Joan Bauer (1961-1965), Effiem Obasi (1997-2001), Helene Brown (1964-1968), Christopher Morton (2000-2004)