Device sequencing and placement protection using a digital signature

摘要

A method and apparatus for verifying the organization of a magnetic disk storage system in which individual storage logical volumes are grouped in sequence as components of a meta device. Data concerning the organization of the meta device is stored in each storage logical volume in a dedicated storage area and in a global memory accessible to the data processing system. Whenever the integrity of the meta device is tested, the data in the configuration file and the data in the dedicated storage area are analyzed and compared. If identity exists, integrity is assumed. If identity does not exist various errors are generated to prevent use of the storage logical volume until the problem is resolved.