Multiple drive failure tolerant RAID method and apparatus

摘要

A method and apparatus for providing data backup in a computer system is provided in which check information can be calculated and stored on a sequential arrangement of data drives such that the loss of a single data drive does not impair the reading or writing of information on that data drive. Should more than one data drive fail or several drives fail, data can still be resurrected by chaining back through the arrangement of drives to calculate lost information. An optimum number of drives can be determined when the known number of data drives and known number of check drives and known number of check drives associated with each data drive is known. Should a data drive fail, a system for re-establishing a new data drive out of the existing check drives can be implemented.