Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same

• US 20050149669A1
• 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:
  US11/055,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149669A1
• 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 transfer of data to a plurality of storage regions;

a plurality of first type disk drive units having a plurality of first disk drives which have first regions of said storage regions and each of said first type disk drive units having a first type interface;

a plurality of second type disk drive units having a plurality of second disk drives which have second regions of said storage regions and each of said second type disk drive units having a second type interface; and

an information device coupled to said controller and displaying addition or reduction of the number of disk drive units corresponding to a first logical unit or a second logical unit, said first logical unit being formed by said first regions and said second logical unit being formed by said second regions, so that a user can add or reduce the number of said disk drive units by operating said information device,

wherein said first logical unit or said second logical unit is an object to store data sent from said information device or an another information device and each of said first logical unit and said second logical unit has a logical unit number.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said controller acquires an interface type of said first type disk drive units and said second type disk drive units.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said controller acquires an interface type of said first type disk drive units and said second type disk drive units in case of said controller is operated.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said controller acquires an interface type of said first type disk drive units or said second type disk drive units in case of said first type disk drive units or said second type disk drive units is mounted in said storage system.

5. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said first type interface is a fibre channel interface, and

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

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

a data line having said first type interface and couples said controller to said first type disk drive units and said second type disk drive units.

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

a data line having said first type interface and couples said controller to said first type disk drive units and said second type disk drive units,

wherein said data line is a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL).

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

a plurality of housings having a first housing and a second housing, said first housing having said controller and said first type disk drive units, and said second housing having said second type disk drive units; and

a rack having said housings, one of said housings being laid on another of said housings.

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

a plurality of housings having a first housing, a second housing and a third housing, said first housing having said controller, and said second housing having said first type disk drive units, and said third housing having said second type disk drive units;

a rack having said housings, each laying on one of said housings; and

a data line having said first type interface and couples said first housing, said second housing and said third housing,

wherein said second housing is nearer a position of said first housing in said rack than said third housing.

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

a data line having said first type interface and couples said second type disk drive units; and

a plurality of converters coupled to said data line and converting said first type interface and said second type interface,

wherein each of said second type disk drive units corresponds to one of said converters.

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

a data line having said first type interface and couples said second type disk drive units;

a plurality of circuits, each coupled one of said second type disk drive units to said data line, controlling relay of data between said data line and said second type disk drive units and controlling to separate one of said second type disk drive units and relay of data between said controller and said second type disk drive units without said one of said second type disk drive units if said one of said second type disk drive units has a failure; and

a converter coupled to said data line and converting said first type interface and said second type interface.

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

a data line having said first type interface and couples said second type disk drive units; and

a plurality of circuits, each coupled one of said second type disk drive units to said data line, controlling to couple one of said second type disk drive units to said data line in conditions of relaying data in said data line; and

a converter coupled to said data line and converting said first type interface and said second type interface.

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

a data line having said first type interface and couples said second type disk drive units;

a plurality of circuits, each coupled one of said second type disk drive units to said data line, controlling to couple one of said second type disk drive units to said data line in conditions of processing to store data in the other of said second type disk drive units coupled to said data line; and

a converter coupled to said data line and converting said first type interface and said second type interface.

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

a first housing having said first type disk drive units and said second type disk drive units; and

a rack having said first housing and a second housing, one of said first housing and said second housing being laid on another of said first housing and said second housing.

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

a plurality of housings having a first housing and a second housing, said first housing having said first type disk drive units, and said second housing having said second type disk drive units; and

a rack having said housings, one of said housings being laid on another of said housings.

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

a data line having said first type interface and couples to said second type disk drive units; and

a plurality of converters coupled to said data line and converting said first type interface and said second type interface,

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

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

a data line having said first type interface and couples said second type disk drive units; and

a plurality of converters coupled to said data line and converting said first type interface and said second type interface,

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

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

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

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

wherein one of said second type disk drive units relays a control signal sent from said controller to said power controller.

19. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said second type interface is an (AT Attachment (ATA) interface, and

wherein some of said second type disk drives are used to store data, the data are used to back up.

20. A storage system, comprising:

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

a plurality of first type disk drive units having a plurality of first disk drives which have first regions of said storage regions and each of said first type disk drive units having a first type interface;

a plurality of second type disk drive units having a plurality of second disk drives which have second regions of said storage regions and each of said second type disk drive units having a second type interface; and

an information device coupled to said controller and displaying expansion or reduction of the capacity of a first logical unit or a second logical unit, said first logical unit being formed by said first regions and said second logical unit being formed by said second regions, so that a user can expand or reduce said capacity by operating said information device,

wherein said first logical unit or said second logical unit is an object to store data sent from said information device or an another information device and each of said first logical unit and said second logical unit has a logical unit number.

21. A storage system, comprising:

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

a plurality of first type disk drive units having a plurality of first disk drives which have first regions of said storage regions and each of said first type disk drive units having a first type interface;

a plurality of second type disk drive units having a plurality of second disk drives which have second regions of said storage regions and each of said second type disk drive units having a second type interface; and

an information device coupled to said controller and displaying information corresponding to an operational mode of each disk drive units of said first type disk drive units or said second disk drive units so that an user can confirm said operational mode,

wherein said operational mode has a first operational mode, a second operational mode and a third operational mode,

wherein each disk drive unit said can accept a read/write command in said first operational mode,

wherein said each disk drive unit is supplied power and can not accept said read/write command in said second operational mode, and

wherein said each disk drive unit is not supplied power.

22. A storage system according to claim 21, wherein said information device displays said information corresponding to said operational mode in units of a plurality of disk drives.

23. A storage system according to claim 21, wherein said each disk drive unit in said second operational mode can further accept a command which indicates to change said operational mode, said command is not said read/write command.

24. A storage system according to claim 21, wherein said each disk drive unit in said first operational mode is rotating with higher rotational speed than said each disk drive unit in said second operational mode.

25. A storage system according to claim 21, wherein said each disk drive unit in said first operational mode consumes more average power than said each disk drive unit in said second operational mode.

26. A storage system, comprising:

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

a plurality of first type disk drive units having a plurality of first disk drives which have first regions of said storage regions and each of said first type disk drive units having a first type interface;

at least one of first type disk drive groups having said first type disk drive units;

a plurality of second type disk drive units having a plurality of second disk drives which have second regions of said storage regions and each of said second type disk drive units having a second type interface;

at least one of second type disk drive groups having said second type disk drive units; and

an information device coupled to said controller and displaying information corresponding to an operational mode of each disk drive group of said first type disk drive groups or said second disk drive groups so that a user can confirm said operational mode.

27. A storage system according to claim 26, further comprising:

a plurality of first housings each having one of said first type disk drive groups;

a plurality of second housings each having one of said second type disk drive groups; and

a rack having said first housings and said second housings, one of said first housings and said second housings being laid on another of said first housings and said second housings.

28. A storage system according to claim 26, wherein said operational mode has a first operational mode, a second operational mode and a third operational mode,

wherein said each disk drive group can accept a read/write command in said first operational mode,

wherein said each disk drive group is supplied power and can not accept said read/write command in said second operational mode, and

wherein said each disk drive group is not supplied power.

29. A storage system according to claim 26, wherein said information device displays said information corresponding to said operational mode in units of a plurality of disk drives.

30. A storage system according to claim 26, wherein said each disk drive group in said second operational mode can further accept a command which indicates to change said operational mode, said command is not said read/write command.

31. A storage system according to claim 26, wherein said each disk drive group in said first operational mode is rotating with higher rotational speed than said each disk drive group in said second operational mode.

32. A storage system according to claim 26, wherein said each disk drive group in said first operational mode consumes more average power than said each disk drive group in said second operational mode.

33. A storage system, comprising:

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

a plurality of first type disk drive units having a plurality of first disk drives which have first regions of said storage regions and each of said first type disk drive units having a first type interface;

a plurality of second type disk drive units having a plurality of second disk drives which have second regions of said storage regions and each of said second type disk drive units having a second type interface; and

an information device coupled to said controller and being allotted a first logical unit to an unit to be sent data and being allotted a second logical unit to an unit to be stored data by a user,

wherein said first logical unit is formed by said first regions and is an unit to be stored data sent from said information device or an another information device and has a first logical unit number,

wherein said second logical unit is formed by said second regions and has a second logical unit number, and

wherein said controller controls to change at least one of said second type disk drive units corresponding to said second logical unit to first operational mode, said first operational mode is able to be stored data in said at least one of said second type disk drive units.

34. A storage system according to claim 33, wherein said controller controls to change second operational mode of said at least one of said second type disk drive units to said first operational mode, said second operational mode is not able to be stored data in said at least one of said second type disk drive units.

35. A storage system according to claim 33, wherein said controller controls to change third operational mode of said at least one of said second type disk drive units to said first operational mode, said at least one of said second type disk drive units is not supplied power in said third operational mode.

36. A storage system according to claim 33, wherein at least one of said first type disk drive units corresponding to said first logical unit is able to be read data.

37. A storage system according to claim 33, wherein said controller controls to change said at least one of said second type disk drive units from said first operational mode after that said controller finishes to store data in said at least one of said second type disk drive units.

38. A storage system according to claim 33, wherein said information device requests said controller to store data from said first logical unit in said second logical unit.

39. A storage system according to claim 33, wherein said controller controls to store data from said first logical unit in said second logical unit based on a request sent from said information device.

40. A storage system, comprising:

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

a plurality of first type disk drive units having a plurality of first disk drives which have first regions of said storage regions and each of said first type disk drive units having a first type interface;

a plurality of second type disk drive units having a plurality of second disk drives which have second regions of said storage regions and each of said second type disk drive units having a second type interface;

an information device coupled to said controller and being allotted a first logical unit to an unit to be sent data and being allotted a second logical unit to an unit to be stored data by an user; and

a first cooling device being used to cool to at least one of said second type disk drive units corresponding to said second logical unit and being changed to a higher cooling capacity,

wherein said first logical unit is formed by said first regions and is an unit to be stored data sent from said information device or an another information device and has a first logical unit number, and

wherein said second logical unit is formed by said second regions and has a second logical unit number.

41. A storage system according to claim 40, wherein said higher cooling capacity is actualized to be a higher rotational speed of a fan in said first cooling device.

42. A storage system according to claim 40, wherein said higher cooling capacity is actualized to be more the number of a fan in said first cooling device.

43. A storage system according to claim 40, further comprising:

a second cooling device being used to cool to at least one of said first type disk drive units corresponding to said first logical unit and being not changed to a higher cooling capacity.

44. A storage system according to claim 40, wherein said first cooling device is changed to a lower cooling capacity after that said controller finishes to store data in said at least one of said second type disk drive units.

45. A storage system according to claim 40, wherein said information device requests said controller to transfer data from said first logical unit in said second logical unit.

46. A storage system according to claim 40, wherein said controller controls to transfer data from said first logical unit in said second logical unit based on a request sent from said information device.