Storage system controlling power supply module and fan

• US 8,125,726 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akira, Iwamura, Takashige, Kaneda, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L
• Application Number:
  US12/731,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20100246058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 360/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0634 by changing the state or mode of one or more devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/144 by detection, control, regulation of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

When a disk device corresponding to a logical volume is started, a disk system determines and starts a disk device and a fan to be started, while comprehensively considering heat quantity generated by the disk device to be started, the cooling capacity of the fan, and the electric power consumption of the fan or the electric power consumption of the disk device.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of disk devices;

a plurality of cooling devices; and

a controller, coupled to the plurality of disk devices and a computer, configuring a plurality of logical volumes provided to the computer;

wherein the controller is configured to confirm whether or not at least one disk device is a disk device which can be stopped,

if the at least one disk device is a disk device that can be stopped, the controller is configured to stop the at least one disk device,

the controller is configured to identify whether or not at least one cooling device may be controlled to reduce electric power consumption based on stopping the at least one disk device,

if the at least one cooling device may be controlled to reduce the electric power consumption, the controller is configured to control the at least one cooling device, and

wherein the controller is configured to confirm whether or not the at least one disk device is allocated to the plurality of logical volumes.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to stop the at least one disk so as to reduce the electric power consumption.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to reduce fan speed of the at least one cooling device so as to reduce the electric power consumption.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the at least one disk device is to be started in response to information regarding the storage system.

5. A storage system according to claim 4, wherein the information regarding the storage system includes information concerning starting of and stopping of the plurality of disk devices, and calorific power generated by a state in which the plurality of disk devices processes a request from the controller.

6. A storage system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of power supply modules that supply electric power to the controller, the plurality of disk devices and the plurality of cooling devices.

7. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to confirm whether or not the at least one disk is in operation based on a determination that the disk has not been accessed for a predetermined period of time.

8. A method for controlling a storage system which includes a plurality of disk devices, a plurality of cooling devices, and a controller, coupled to the plurality of disk devices and a computer, configuring a plurality of logical volumes provided to the computer, wherein the method comprises the controller:

confirming whether or not at least one disk device is a disk device that can be stopped,

if the at least one disk device is a disk device that can be stopped, stopping the at least one disk device,

identifying whether or not at least one cooling device may be controlled to reduce electric power consumption based on stopping the at least one disk device,

if the at least one cooling device may be controlled to reduce the electric power consumption, controlling the at least one cooling device, and

the controller confirming whether or not the at least one disk device is allocated to the plurality of logical volumes.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the controller stopping the at least one disk so as to reduce the electric power consumption.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the controller reducing fan speed of the at least one cooling device so as to reduce the electric power consumption.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the controller determining whether the at least one disk device is to be started in response to information regarding the storage system.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the information regarding the storage system includes information concerning starting of and stopping of the plurality of disk devices, and calorific power generated by a state in which the plurality of disk devices processes a request from the controller.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

supplying, via a plurality of power supply modules, electric power to the controller, the plurality of disk devices and the plurality of cooling devices.

14. The method for controlling a storage system according to claim 8, further comprising confirming whether or not the at least one disk is in operation based on a determination that the disk not been accessed for a predetermined period of time.

15. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of disk devices providing a plurality of logical volumes;

a plurality of cooling devices; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of disk devices and a computer, wherein the controller is configured to;

specify at least one of the disk devices configuring one of the logical volumes which has a low possibility of being accessed;

stop the disk device if the disk device is in operation and not allocated to any other of the logical volumes, and

stop at least one cooling device for cooling the disk device stopped.

16. A method for controlling a storage system including a plurality of disk devices providing a plurality of logical volumes, a plurality of cooling devices, and a controller coupled to the plurality of disk devices and a computer,

the method controller comprising:

specifying, via the controller, at least one of the disk devices configuring one of the logical volumes which has a low possibility of being accessed;

stopping, via the controller, the disk device if the disk device is in operation and not allocated to any other of the logical volumes, and

stopping, via the controller, at least one cooling device for cooling the disk device stopped.