Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same

• US 20050149668A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Akihisa Hirasawa, Katsuyoshi Suzuki
• Original Assignee: Akihisa Hirasawa, Katsuyoshi Suzuki
• Inventors: Hirasawa, Akihisa, Suzuki, Katsuyoshi
• Application Number:
  US11/055,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/415 Redundant array of inexpensive disks [RAID] systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/144 by detection, control, regulation of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.

Claims

1. A storage system, comprising:

a controller controlling to transfer data to a plurality of storage regions;

a plurality of disk drive units coupled said controller and having a plurality of disk drives which have said storage regions;

a power supply coupled to said disk drive units by at least one of power lines and supplying power to said disk drive units; and

a power controller coupled to said power supply and controlling to supply power to said disk drive units;

wherein at least one of said disk drive units have an AT Attachment (ATA) interface and relay a signal sent from said controller to said power controller.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said controller being able to control said power controller by said signal so that said controller controls to supply power from said power supply.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cooling device is used to cool said disk drive units; and

wherein said power controller controls cooling capacity of said cooling device; and

wherein said controller being able to control said power controller by said signal so that said controller controls said cooling capacity.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said disk drive units have a SCSI Enclosure Service (SES) prescribed in Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) standard.

5. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said disk drive units have an Enclosure Service IFEATURES (ESI) prescribed in Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) standard.

6. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an another disk drive unit of said disk drive units having an another type interface; and

a data line having said another type interface and coupled said controller to said disk drive units.

7. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an another disk drive unit of said disk drive units having a fibre channel interface; and

a data line having said fibre channel interface and coupled said controller to said disk drive units.

8. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

another disk drive unit of said disk drive units having an another type interface;

a data line having said another type interface and coupled said controller to said disk drive units; and

a converter included in said at least one of said disk drive units and converting said another type interface and said AT Attachment (ATA) interface.

9. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first housing having some of said disk drive units, said at least one of said disk drive units, said power supply and said power controller; and

a second housing having the other of said disk drive units, an another power supply and an another power controller,

wherein a first disk drive unit of said other of said disk drive units has a fibre channel interface, and

wherein a second disk drive unit of said other of said disk drive units has an AT Attachment (ATA) interface.

10. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first housing having some of said disk drive units, said at least one of said disk drive units, said power supply and said power controller; and

a second housing having the other of said disk drive units, another power supply and an another power controller,

wherein said other of said disk drive units has a same type interface.

11. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a data line having a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) and coupled said controller to said disk drive units.

12. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a data line having an another type interface and coupled to said disk drive units; and

a plurality of converters coupled to said data line and converting said another type interface and said AT Attachment (ATA) interface,

wherein each of said converters is installed in one of said disk drives.

13. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a data line having an another type interface and coupled to said disk drive units; and

a plurality of converters coupled to said data line and converting said another type interface and said AT Attachment (ATA) interface,

wherein each of said converters is installed outside of one of said disk drives and in one of said disk drive units.

14. A storage system, comprising:

a controller controlling transfer of data to a plurality of storage regions;

a plurality of disk drive units coupled to said controller and having a plurality of disk drives which includes said storage regions;

a power supply coupled to said disk drive units by at least one of power lines and supplying power to said disk drive units; and

a power controller coupled to said power supply and controlling supply of power to said disk drive units,

wherein said disk drive units can relay a signal sent from said controller to said power controller, and

wherein said controller sends a first signal to said power controller via a first disk drive unit of said disk drive units and sends a second signal to said power controller via a second disk drive unit of said disk drive units.

15. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said signal sent from said controller to said power controller is relayed via one of said disk drive units, said one of said disk drive units is sequentially changed to another disk drive unit of said disk drive units.

16. A storage system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a first housing having some of said disk drive units, said first disk drive unit, said second disk drive unit, said power supply and said power controller,

wherein said some of said disk drive units, said first disk drive unit and said second disk drive unit each has an AT Attachment (ATA) interface, and

wherein said signal sent from said controller to said power controller is relayed via a disk drive unit in said first housing, said disk drive unit in said first housing is sequentially changed to other disk drive unit in said first housing.

17. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said signal sent from said controller to said power controller is relayed via one of said disk drive units, said one of said disk drive units is sequentially changed to other disk drive unit of said disk drive units based on a predetermined time.

18. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said signal sent from said controller to said power controller is relayed via one of said disk drive units, said one of said disk drive units is sequentially changed to another disk drive unit of said disk drive units based on a predetermined time.

19. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said signal sent from said controller to said power controller is relayed via one of said disk drive units, said one of said disk drive units is sequentially changed to another disk drive unit of said disk drive units in accordance with a request sent from an information device which is used by a user.

20. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said signal sent from said controller to said power controller is relayed via one of said disk drive units, said one of said disk drive units is sequentially changed to another disk drive unit of said disk drive units, and

wherein said one of said disk drive units and said other disk drive unit are changed condition of processing in accordance with said sequential changing.

21. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said signal sent from said controller to said power controller is relayed via one of said disk drive units, said one of said disk drive units is sequentially changed to another disk drive unit of said disk drive units,

wherein said one of said disk drive units and said other disk drive unit are changed to a condition of processing in accordance with said sequential changing,

wherein said one of said disk drive units is changed to a condition of not waiting a signal sent to said power controller, and

wherein said other disk drive unit is changed to a condition of waiting a signal.

22. A storage system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a cooling device being used to cool said disk drive units,

wherein said signal sent from said controller to said power controller is relayed via one of said disk drive units, said one of said disk drive units is sequentially changed to other disk drive unit of said disk drive units, and

wherein said cooling capacity corresponding to each of said one of said disk drive units and said other disk drive unit are changed in accordance with said sequential changing.

23. A storage system comprising:

a controller controlling to transfer data to a plurality of storage regions;

a plurality of disk drive units coupled to said controller and having a plurality of disk drives which have said storage regions;

a power supply coupled to said disk drive units by at least one of power lines and supplying power to said disk drive units;

a power controller coupled to said power supply and controlling supply of power to said disk drive units; and

a first disk drive unit of said disk drive units having a first type interface and relaying a signal sent from said controller to said power controller,

wherein a second disk drive unit of said disk drive units having a second interface.

24. A storage system according to claim 23, wherein said first type interface is a fibre channel interface, and

wherein said second type interface is an AT Attachment (ATA) interface.