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HP Integrity rx4640 Server User Manual

Page 77

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Drive Arrays and Fault Tolerance

S1

S2

S3

S4

B1

B4

B7

B2

B5

B8

B11

B10

B12

B6

B3

B9

Figure D-3: Data striping (S1-S4) of data blocks B1-B12

For data in the logical drive to be readable, the data block sequence must be the same
in every stripe. This sequencing process is performed by the array controller, which
sends the data blocks to the drive write heads in the correct order.

A natural consequence of the striping process is that each physical drive in a given
logical drive will contain the same amount of data. If one physical drive has a larger
capacity than other physical drives in the same logical drive, the extra capacity is
wasted because it cannot be used by the logical drive.

The group of physical drives containing the logical drive is called a drive array (or
just array). Because all the physical drives in an array are commonly configured into
just one logical drive, the term array is also often used as a synonym for logical drive.
However, an array can contain several logical drives, each of a different size (refer to
Figure D-4).

HP Smart Array 5300 Controller User Guide

D-3

HP CONFIDENTIAL

Writer: Kimberly Koch File Name: m-appd drive arrays and fault tolerance.doc

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