Data storage array employing block checksums and dynamic striping

摘要

A storage system may include a plurality of storage devices each having a plurality of addressable locations for storing data. A storage controller may be coupled to the storage devices and configured to store and retrieve data from the storage devices. An indirection map may be stored within the system having a plurality of map entries each configured to map a virtual address to a physical address on the storage devices. Each map entry may also store a checksum for data stored at the physical address indicated by the map entry. The storage controller may receive storage requests specifying a virtual address and may access the indirection map for each storage request to obtain the corresponding physical address and checksum. Dynamic striping may be employed so that new writes form new parity groups. Thus, stripes of various sizes may be supported by the storage system.