METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED EFFICIENCY OF PARITY CALCULATION IN RAID SYSTEMS

The method and system for improved efficiency and parity calculation in RAID data storage system. RAID data storage systems permit recovery of data in the event of a drive failure by storing a parity value for each stripe of data on a separate drive. Each time data is written to a RAID data storage the parity value for the associated data stripe must be updated. Parity may be calculated utilizing two different algorithms. New parity may be calculated utilizing the old data value, the new data value and the old parity value, or calculated utilizing the new data value and all remaining old data within the associated data stripe. The number of input/output operations required to calculate parity utilizing each algorithm is predetermined and the method requiring the least number of input/output operations is selected, unless data sequentiality is detected. If sequential data is present the parity value is calculated utilizing the new data and all old data in the associated data stripe, even if a greater number of input/output operations are initially required, as further sequential input/output operations will be more efficient.