On Demand Storage Array

• US 20080104280A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,952,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3268 Power saving in hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/125 the apparatus comprising a plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. modular arrangements, arrays of disc drives
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A computer storage library is configured to include a plurality of storage media, with individual storage media housed in respective individual storage slots. Each of the storage media slots may communicate with a storage controller, which in turn may communicate with a host through a network connection. A delivery device is provided for enabling a connection between individual storage slots and a host via the controller on demand. The delivery device enables the storage media to remain stationary during the connection process.

Claims

1. A data storage system comprising:

a plurality of storage media storage slots;

a plurality of storage media removably disposed within said storage slots;

a storage controller in communication with said storage slots;

a delivery device to selectively complete an electrical connection between said storage controller and a select storage slot, wherein said storage slot in communication with said storage controller remains stationary during completion of said electrical connection and said delivery device controls delivery of;

power, I/O, and data communication, to an individual storage slot.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communication connection between a host processor and one or more of said storage media slots formed by said robotic arm connection to said storage media.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a signal connection adapted to be actuated by said delivery device to control activation of individual storage media.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising delivery power to said individual storage media by said electrical connection.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said connection is an element selected from a group consisting of:

a relay, a cable, a power of Ethernet cable, an optical cable, and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage media is selected from a group consisting of:

a hard disk drive, a flash drive, an optical storage drive, a holographic drive, a flexible disk drive, and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of storage media arranged on a shelf, and a plurality of shelves stacked to form a three dimensional array of storage media.

8. A method for managing a data storage system comprising:

configuring said storage system with a plurality of storage media storage slots, a plurality of storage media removably disposed within said storage slots, and a storage controller in communication with the storage slots; and

controlling an electrical connection between said storage controller and each one of said storage slots, including issuing communication instructions to a delivery device to complete an electrical connection between said storage controller and a select storage slot, wherein said storage slot in communication with said storage controller remains stationary during completion of said electrical connection; and

controlling delivery of;

power, I/O, and data communication, to an individual storage slot through said delivery device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising forming a communication connection between a host processor and one or more of said storage media slots through connection of said delivery device to said storage media.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising said delivery device actuating a signal connection to control activation of individual storage media.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising delivering power to said individual storage media by said electrical connection.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said connection is an element selected from a group consisting of:

a relay, a cable, a power of Ethernet cable, an optical cable, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said storage media is selected from a group consisting of:

a hard disk drive, a flash drive, an optical storage drive, a holographic drive, a flexible disk drive, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 8, further arranging a plurality of storage media on a shelf, and stacking a plurality of shelves to form a three dimensional array of storage media.

15. A computer system comprising:

a processor in communication with a data storage system;

said data storage system having a plurality of storage media storage slots with individual storage media removably disposed within individual storage slots;

a delivery device to control an electrical connection to each one of said storage media in communication with said storage slots;

a computer readable medium with a first computer readable instruction issued by said processor and delivered to said delivery device through said storage controller, said delivery device to complete an electrical connection between said storage controller and a select storage slot in response to said first instruction, wherein said storage slot in communication with said storage controller remains stationary during completion of said instruction; and

a second computer readable instruction to control delivery of;

power, I/O, and data communication, to an individual storage media slot.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a signal connection adapted to be actuated by said delivery device to control activation of individual storage media.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising delivery of power to said individual storage media by said electrical connection.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said connection is an element selected from a group consisting of:

a relay, a cable, a power of Ethernet cable, an optical cable, and combinations thereof.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said storage media is selected from a group consisting of:

a hard disk drive, a flash drive, an optical storage drive, a holographic drive, a flexible disk drive, and combinations thereof.