Apparatus and method for controlling background processing in disk array device

摘要

An apparatus and method for controlling a background process in a disk array device including a disk array control unit which accesses the plurality of storage disk drives in parallel when a command for an access is issued from a host device and which executes a background process for the plurality of storage disk drives. The disk array control unit counts an amount of access, such as a data transfer amount to or from the host device, temporarily restrains an access requirement from the host device depending upon whether or not there is any background processing requirement when the data transfer amount reaches a predetermined transfer amount, and executes the background process. Access frequency of the host device may also be monitored as the amount of access. When one of working storage disk drives fails, data that was stored in the failed working storage disk drive is reconstructed from data stored in other working storage disk drives. The reconstruction is conducted during spare time during which there is no access from the host device. The data reconstruction amount may be changed in proportion to the amount of access until the spare time becomes available.