System and method for calculating RAID 6 check codes

摘要

Systems and methods for performing the check code calculations for RAID 6 computer mass storage arrays are disclosed such that it becomes computationally feasible to implement a RAID 6 system in software on a modern high-speed computer. For a standard "P+Q" RAID 6 array, the system and method of the present invention allow the calculation of both RAID 6 check codes in less than twice the time it takes to calculate simple RAID 5 parity. The system and method of the present invention are based on a careful matching of the characteristics of the Commutative Ring in which calculations take place to the capabilities of modern high-speed computers. In a particular embodiment, defining the mapping of data and check symbols to computer storage locations in a transposed manner affords a further reduction of computation time.