Failure trend detection and correction in a data storage array

Abstract

Method and apparatus for detecting and correcting parametric failure trends in a data storage array. A plurality of data storage devices, such as hard disc drives, are arranged to form a multi-device addressable memory array space. A controller controls access to the array space, and is configured to accumulate operational performance data from each of the devices into a history log. A statistical analysis engine of the controller analyzes the data to detect anomalous operation of the devices, including a horizontal analysis of data across multiple devices. The controller initiates a data storage device specific corrective action event in response to the analysis, as required. The analysis by the engine can be in addition to, or in lieu of, analysis by the individual devices. A data request block requests additional data samples for a given parameter, or requests additional parametric data to further the analysis.

1 . An apparatus comprising a plurality of data storage devices arranged to form a multi-device array space and a controller which controls access to the array space, the controller configured to accumulate operational performance data from each of the plurality of data storage devices into a history log, to analyze said data to detect anomalous operation of said devices, and to initiate a data storage device specific corrective action event in relation to said analysis.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of plurality of data storage devices analyzes the operational performance data that is accumulated into the history log associated with said device to detect anomalous operation of said device.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the analysis of said data by the controller comprises parametric data associated with multiple ones of the plurality of the data storage devices.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a statistical analysis engine which operates upon the data stored in the data log to analyze said data.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller further comprises a corrective action module which forwards an alarm indication to a user of the system in response to detection of said anomalous operation of said devices.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a graphical user interface in communication with the engine to facilitate user-specified analysis by the engine upon the data accumulated in the data log.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a data request block in communication with the engine which issues a request to at least a selected one of the data storage devices to provide additional data to the data log in response to the engine.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the data log is stored in the array space established by the plurality of data storage devices.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of data storage devices is characterized as a hard disc drive comprising at least one rotatable data storage medium accessed by a moveable transducer.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a plurality of data storage devices arranged to form a multi-device memory array space; and    first means for accumulating operational performance data from each of the plurality of data storage devices, for performing an analysis of a subset of said data associated with multiple ones of said devices, and for providing an alarm indication to a user in response to detection of an anomalous event as a result of said analysis.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of data storage devices performs an analysis of the accumulated operational performance data, and wherein the first means operates in response to the analysis performed by the at least one of the plurality of data storage devices.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first means further issues a data request command to at least one of the plurality of data storage devices to supply additional data for accumulation and analysis by the first means.  
   
   
       13 . A method comprising: 
 arranging a plurality of data storage devices to form a multi-device memory array space; and    providing a controller which controls access to the array space, the controller configured to accumulate operational performance data from each of the plurality of data storage devices into a history log, to analyze said data to detect anomalous operation of said devices, and to initiate a data storage device specific corrective action event in relation to said analysis.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a step of configuring each of the plurality of data storage devices to separately analyze the operational performance data that is accumulated into the history log associated with said device to detect anomalous operation of said device.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the analysis of said data during the providing step comprises an analysis of parametric data associated with multiple ones of the plurality of the data storage devices.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the controller of the providing step comprises a statistical analysis engine which operates upon the data stored in the data log to analyze said data.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the controller of the providing step further comprises a corrective action module which forwards an alarm indication to a user of the system in response to detection of said anomalous operation of said devices.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the controller of the providing step further comprises a data request block in communication with the engine which issues a request to at least a selected one of the data storage devices to provide additional data to the data log in response to the analysis performed by the engine.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data log of the providing step is stored in the array space formed from the plurality of data storage devices.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of data storage devices is characterized as a hard disc drive comprising at least one rotatable data storage medium accessed by a moveable transducer.