SELECTIVE INITIALIZATION OF STORAGE DEVICES FOR A LOGICAL VOLUME

摘要

Methods and structure for initializing storage devices for a logical volume. One embodiment includes a storage controller with an interface and a control unit. The control unit generates a logical volume, assigns storage devices to the logical volume, generates Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) MODE SENSE commands, and transmits the SCSI MODE SENSE commands via the interface, thereby accessing SCSI mode pages. The control unit also analyzes the SCSI mode pages to determine whether the assigned storage devices have already been initialized by setting available bits in the logical volume to a uniform value. If the control unit determines that each of the assigned storage devices has not already been initialized, the control unit initializes at least one of the assigned storage devices. If the control unit determines that each of the assigned storage devices has already been initialized, the control unit foregoes initialization for the storage devices.

主权项

1. A storage controller, comprising:
an interface operable to communicate with coupled storage devices; and a control unit operable to generate a logical volume, to assign storage devices to the logical volume, to generate Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) MODE SENSE commands, and to transmit the SCSI MODE SENSE commands via the interface, thereby accessing SCSI mode pages of the assigned storage devices, wherein the control unit is further operable to analyze the SCSI mode pages to determine whether the assigned storage devices have already been initialized by setting available bits in the logical volume to a uniform value, and:
if the control unit determines that each of the assigned storage devices has not already been initialized, the control unit is operable to initialize at least one of the assigned storage devices; andif the control unit determines that each of the assigned storage devices has already been initialized, the control unit is operable to forego initialization for the assigned storage devices.