Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same

• US 20050149671A1
• 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:
  US11/056,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149671A1
• 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; and

a plurality of second type disk drive units having a plurality of second disk drives which have second regions of said storage regions,

wherein said second type of disk drive units have stored therein data used for a purpose different from a purpose of data stored in said first type disk drive units and each of said second type disk drive units having a second type interface,

wherein one of said first type disk drive units is in a first operational mode,

wherein one of said second type disk drive units is controlled to change to a mode among a plurality of second operational modes in which case said first type disk drive units is in said first operational mode,

wherein said second operational modes has at least two modes of three modes,

wherein a first mode of said second operational modes is that said second type disk drive units can accept a read/write command,

wherein a second mode of said second operational modes is that said second type disk drive units is supplied power and can not accept said read/write command, and

wherein a third mode of said second operational modes is that said second type disk drive units is not supplied power.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said purpose of data stored in said second type disk drive units is used for back up.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said purpose of data stored in said second type disk drive units is to fix contents.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein data stored in at least one of said second type disk drive units are migrated from/to said first type disk drive units in accordance with frequencies of access.

5. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said first operational mode is that said first type disk drive units is supplied power.

6. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said first operational mode is one mode of two modes,

wherein a first mode of the two modes is that said one of said first type disk drive units can accept a read/write command, and

wherein a second mode of the two modes is that said one of said first type disk drive units is supplied power and can not accept said read/write command.

7. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said one of said second type disk drive units in a third mode of said second operational modes waits to be accessed.

8. 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 power lines and supplying power to said second type disk drive units; and

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

wherein another of said second type disk drive units relays a signal sent from said controller to said power controller and is not in a third mode of said second operational modes.

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

a cooling device being used to cool said one of said second type disk drive units,

wherein a cooling capacity of said cooling device is changed based on said mode of said second operational modes.

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

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

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

a power controller coupled to another of said second type disk drive units and said cooling device and controlling supply of power to said second type disk drive units and said cooling device.

11. 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 AT Attachment (ATA) interface.

12. 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.

13. 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).

14. 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; and

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,

wherein said first type disk drive units are in a first operational mode, and

wherein said second type disk drive units are in a second operational mode, said second operational mode is different from said first operational mode.

15. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said second operational mode is one mode of three modes,

wherein a first mode of the three modes is that said second type disk drive units can accept a read/write command,

wherein a second mode of the three modes is that said second type disk drive units are supplied power and can not accept said read/write command, and

wherein a third mode of the three modes is that said second type disk drive units are not supplied power.

16. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein a purpose of data in said second type disk drive units is different from a purpose of data in said first type disk drive units.

17. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein data in at least one of said second type disk drive units is used for back up.

18. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein data in at least one of said second type disk drive units is to fix contents.

19. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein data stored in at least one of said second type disk drive units are migrated from/to said first type disk drive units in accordance with frequencies of access.

20. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said first operational mode is that said first type disk drive units is supplied power.

21. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said first operational mode is one mode of two modes,

wherein a first mode of the two modes is that said first type disk drive units can accept a read/write command,

wherein a second mode of the two modes is that said first type disk drive units are supplied power and can not accept said read/write command, and

wherein said second operational mode is that said second type disk drive units are not supplied power.

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

a first housing having said first type disk drive units;

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

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

23. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said second type disk drive unit waits to be accessed and is not supplied power.

24. A storage system according to claim 14, 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 supply of power to said second type disk drive units,

wherein at least one of said second type disk drive units relay a signal sent from said controller to said power controller and is not in a mode that said at least one of said second type disk drive units is not supplied power.

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

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

wherein a cooling capacity of said cooling device is changed based on said second operational mode.

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

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

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

a power controller coupled to one of said second type disk drive units and said cooling device and controlling supply of power of said second type disk drive units and said cooling device.

27. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein said first type interface is a fibre channel interface, and

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

28. A storage system according to claim 14, 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.

29. A storage system according to claim 14, 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, and

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