Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same

• US 7,523,258 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hirasawa, Akihisa, Suzuki, Katsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Kevin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRADLEY, MATTHEW A
• Application Number:
  US11/056,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 711/114
• 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, coupled to at least one information processing device, and controlling transfer of data sent from said at least one information processing device to a plurality of storage regions;

a data line having a serial interface which is a different type from a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interface and coupled to said controller and being used to relay data from/to said controller;

at least one of first disk drives each having said serial interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of second disk drives each having said SATA interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of first disk drive units coupled to said data line and each having one of said first disk drives;

at least one of second disk drive units coupled to said data line and each having one of said second disk drives;

at least one of converters each being in one of said second disk drive units and converting between said serial interface and said SATA interface;

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

a rack having said first housing and a second housing, said first housing and said second housing being stacked.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said serial interface is a Fibre Channel (FC).

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said second housing has said first disk drive units and said second disk drive units.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein:

all disk drive units in said second housing are either said first disk drive units or said second disk drive units.

5. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said data line is a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL).

6. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein each of said converters is installed in one of said second disk drives.

7. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein each of said converters is coupled to said one of said second disk drives and is in one of said second disk drive units.

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

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

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

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

9. A storage system according to claim 1,

wherein some of storage regions in said first disk drive units form a first logical unit, said first logical unit is an object to store data sent from said at least one information processing device which is coupled to said controller,

wherein some of storage regions in said second disk drive units form a second logical unit, and

wherein each of said first logical unit and said second logical unit has a logical unit number.

10. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some of storage regions in said second disk drive units are used to store data, the data being used as back up data.

11. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein each of said converters is bolted onto one of said second disk drives.

12. A storage system, comprising:

a controller, coupled to at least one information processing device, and controlling transfer of data sent from said at least one information processing device to a plurality of storage regions;

a data line having a serial interface which is a different type from a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interface and coupled to said controller and being used to relay data from/to said controller;

at least one of first disk drives each having said serial interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of second disk drives each having said SATA interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of first disk drive units coupled to said data line and each having one of said first disk drives;

at least one of second disk drive units coupled to said data line and each having one of said second disk drives;

at least one of converters each being in one of said second disk drive units and converting between said serial interface and said SATA interface;

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

a second housing having said controller; and

a rack having said first housing and said second housing, said first housing and said second housing being stacked.

13. A storage system, comprising:

a controller, coupled to at least one information processing device, and controlling transfer of data sent from said at least one information processing device to a plurality of storage regions;

a loop having a Fibre Channel (FC) interface and coupled to said controller and being used to relay data from/to said controller;

at least one of first disk drives each having a FC interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of second disk drives each having a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of first disk drive units coupled to said loop and each having one of said first disk drives;

at least one of second disk drive units coupled to said loop and each having one of said second disk drives;

at least one of converters each being in one of said second disk drive units and converting said FC interface and said SATA interface;

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

a second housing having said controller; and

a rack having said first housing and said second housing, said first housing and said second housing being stacked.

14. storage system, comprising:

a controller, coupled to at least one information processing device, and controlling transfer of data sent from said at least one information processing device to a plurality of storage regions;

a data line having a Fibre Channel (FC) interface and coupled to said controller and being used to relay data from/to said controller;

at least one of first disk drives each having a FC interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of second disk drives each having a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of first disk drive units coupled to said data line and each having one of said first disk drives;

at least one of second disk drive units coupled to said data line and each having one of said second disk drives;

at least one of converters each being in one of said second disk drive units and converting between said FC interface and said SATA interface;

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

a rack having said first housing and a second housing, first housing and said second housing being stacked.

15. A storage system, comprising:

a controller, coupled to at least one information processing device, and controlling transfer of data sent from said at least one information processing device to a plurality of storage regions;

a data line having a Fibre Channel (FC) interface and coupled to said controller and being used to relay data from/to said controller;

at least one of first disk drives each having a FC interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of second disk drives each having an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) interface and having some of said storage regions;

at least one of first disk drive units coupled to said data line and each having one of said first disk drives;

at least one of second disk drive units coupled to said data line and each having one of said second disk drives;

at least one of converters each being in one of said second disk drive units and converting between said FC interface and said ATA interface;

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

a rack having said first housing and a second housing, said rack in which said first housing and said second housing being stacked.