Protectable data storage system and a method of protecting and/or managing a data storage system

• US 7,454,529 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Inventors: Trimmer, Don Alvin, Stager, Roger Keith, Blaser, Rico
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz; Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUN, SCOTT C
• Application Number:
  US10/211,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/320, 713/323, 713/324, 713/330, 710/8, 710/15, 710/18
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device

Abstract

A method of protecting a data storage system including the steps of: providing a disk system including a plurality of disk modules, each disk module containing a disk controller and a disk driver, the disk driver being in detachable electrical communication with the disk controller; and physically disconnecting the disk controller from the disk driver for any of the plurality of disk modules that are not required by the data storage system for the transfer of data.

Claims

1. A protectable data storage system, the system comprising:

a disk system comprising a plurality of disk modules, each disk module including a disk, a disk driver, and a disk controller wherein the disk driver is disposed between the disk controller and the disk;

at least one power supply coupled to each disk module, wherein a total amount of power that can be generated from the at least one power supply is less than an amount of power required to power all disk modules in the disk system;

at least one conduit that supplies at least one of power and digital data to each disk module, the disk controller regulates the at least one of power and digital data supplied to the disk module so that power is supplied for data transfer in increments less than a maximum disk system power level from the at least one power supply based on a percentage of capacity that is being used within the disk system; and

at least one connector mechanism disposed within at least one of the plurality of disk modules between the disk controller and the disk driver, the at least one connector mechanism providing electrical communication between the disk controller and the disk driver, the at least one connector mechanism having a first position, in which the disk controller and the disk driver are in electrical communication, and a second position, in which the disk controller is physically and electrically disconnected from the disk driver preventing the at least one of power and digital data from reaching the disk driver and preventing data from being transferred between the disk and the at least one conduit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each connector mechanism is a solenoid.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one connector mechanism is disposed in each disk module between the disk controller and the disk drive.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a central controller that regulates the disk system, the central controller maintaining a minimum number of the at least one connector mechanisms in the first position so that each disk is only in communication with the disk controller when information is being transferred between that disk and the central controller.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the disk controller is configured to reduce thermal wear and stress for each disk module and provide increased power efficiency.

5. A protectable data storage system, the system comprising:

a disk system for storing data, wherein the disk system comprises a plurality of disk modules;

at least one power supply coupled to each disk module, wherein a total amount of power that can be generated from the at least one power supply is less than an amount of power required to power all disk modules in the disk system;

a central controller that regulates the disk system so that power is supplied for data transfer in increments less than a maximum disk system power level from the at least one power supply based on a percentage of capacity being used within the disk system, wherein the central controller is in detachable electrical communication with the disk system via at least one system conduit; and

at least one connector mechanism disposed on the at least one system conduit between the disk system and the central controller, the at least one connector mechanism providing electrical communication between the disk system and the central controller, the at least one connector mechanism having a first position, in which the disk system and the central controller are in electrical communication, and a second position, in which the disk system is physically and electrically disconnected from the central controller preventing signals from being received by the disk system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each connector mechanism a solenoid.

17. The system of claim 5, wherein the central controller is configured to reduce thermal wear and stress to the disk system and provide increased power efficiency.

23. The system of claim 5, wherein the central controller is configured to individually control the generation of power by each of the at least one power supply.

7. A method of protecting and managing the power consumption of a data storage system, the method comprising:

providing a disk system including a plurality of disk modules, each disk module containing a disk, a disk controller and a disk driver, the disk driver being in detachable electrical communication with the disk controller, wherein the disk driver is disposed between the disk controller and the disk;

coupling at least one power supply to each disk module, wherein a total amount of power that can be generated from the at least one power supply is less than an amount of power required to power all disk modules in the disk system;

providing power for data transfer in increments less than a maximum disk system power level from the at least one power supply based on a percentage of capacity being used within the disk system; and

physically and electrically disconnecting the disk controller from the disk driver for any of the plurality of disk modules that are not required by the data storage system for the transfer of data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of physically disconnecting the disk controller further comprises moving a solenoid from a first position, in which electrical communication is established between the disk controller and the disk driver, to a second position, in which the disk controller is disconnected from the disk driver.

18. The method of claim 7, further comprising configuring the disk controller to reduce thermal wear and stress to the disk system and provide increased power efficiency.

9. A method of protecting a data storage system, the method comprising:

providing a disk system;

coupling at least one power supply to each disk module, wherein a total amount of power that can be generated from the at least one power supply is less than an amount of power required to power all disk modules in the disk system;

providing a central controller in detachable electrical communication with the disk system to regulate at least one of power and data transferred to the disk system so that power is supplied for data transfer in increments less than a maximum disk system power level from a the at least one power supply based on a percentage of capacity being used within the disk system; and

physically and electrically disconnecting the disk system from the central controller when at least one of data transfer to and data transfer from the disk system is not needed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of physically disconnecting the disk system further comprises moving a solenoid from a first position, in which electrical communication is established between the disk system and the central controller, to a second position, in which the disk system is disconnected from the central controller.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising configuring the central controller to reduce thermal wear and stress to the disk system and provide increased power efficiency.

24. The method of claim 9, wherein the central controller is configured to individually control the generation of power by each of the at least one power supply.

11. A protectable data storage system, the system comprising:

a disk system for storing data;

at least one power supply coupled to the disk system, wherein a total amount of power that can be generated from the at least one power supply is less than an amount of power required to provide full power to the disk system;

a central controller that regulates the disk system so that power is supplied for data transfer in increments less than a maximum disk system power level from the at least one power supply based on a percentage of capacity being used within the disk system, wherein the central controller is in electrical communication with the disk system;

at least one storage system conduit in electrical communication with the disk system for transferring at least one of data to and data from the protectable data storage system; and

at least one connector mechanism disposed on the at least one storage system conduit, the at least one connector mechanism providing at least one of electrical communication to and electrical communication from the protectable data storage system, the at least one connector mechanism having a first position, in which at least one of electrical communication to and electrical communication from the protectable data storage system is possible, and a second position, in which the protectable data storage system is physically and electrically isolated to prevent at least one of electrical communication to and electrical communication from the protectable data storage system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each connector mechanism is a solenoid.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the central controller is configured to reduce thermal wear and stress to the disk system and provide increased power efficiency.

25. The system of claim 11, wherein the central controller is configured to individually control the generation of power by each of the at least one power supply.

13. A method of protecting a data storage system, the method comprising:

providing a data storage system having a disk system, a central controller, and at least one storage system conduit for transferring at least one of data to and data from the data storage system;

coupling at least one power supply to the disk system, wherein a total amount of power that can be generated from the at least one power supply is less than an amount of power required to provide full power to the disk system;

providing power for data transfer in increments less than a maximum disk system power level from the at least one power supply based on percentage of capacity being used within the disk system; and

physically and electrically isolating the data storage system preventing at least one of data transfer to and data transfer from the data storage system by creating a physical gap in the at least one storage system conduit.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising configuring the central controller to reduce thermal wear and stress to the disk system and provide increased power efficiency.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein the central controller is configured to individually control the generation of power by each of the at least one power supply.

14. A method of managing the power consumption of a data storage system, the method comprising:

providing a disk system including a plurality of disk modules, each disk module containing a disk, a disk controller and a disk driver, the disk driver being in detachable electrical communication with the disk controller, wherein the disk driver is disposed between the disk controller and the disk;

coupling at least one power supply to each disk module, wherein a total amount of power that can be generated from the at least one power supply is less than an amount of power required to power all of the disk modules in disk system;

providing power for data transfer in increments less than a maximum disk system power level from a the at least one power supply based on a percentage of capacity being used within the disk system; and

physically and electrically disconnecting the disk controller from the disk driver for any of the plurality of disk modules that are not required by the data storage system for the transfer of data to minimize power consumption by the data storage system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of physically and electrically disconnecting the disk controller further comprises moving a solenoid from a first position, in which electrical communication is established between the disk controller and the disk driver, to a second position, in which the disk controller is physically and electrically disconnected from the disk drive.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising configuring each disk controller to reduce thermal wear and stress to the disk system and provide increased power efficiency.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the central controller is configured to individually control the generation of power by each of the at least one power supply.