System and method with guaranteed maximum command response time

摘要

The present invention is directed to a system in method implemented in a data storage system that provides a status corresponding to a command initiated by a host server to the host server within a guaranteed maximum command response time. In one aspect, the system and method of the present invention accomplish this by associating a time stamp with the command before it is distributed to a number of data storage devices to be executed. The progress of the command's execution is monitored at an interval less than the maximum command response time. If the present invention determines that the command will not complete within the maximum command response time, the system method of the present invention sends a corresponding status to the host server.