Power Supply Control Device for Disk Array Data Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing power supply for disk array units with different control specifications across multiple host devices is complex, leading to complications in data loss during power failures.
Innovation Solution
A power supply control device that collects fault information using a management control protocol, switches to a secondary power source, and notifies the disk array unit of primary power disconnection, ensuring data is saved without losing cache memory data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a uninterruptible power supply device is used to supply electric power during power failure, then data loss is prevented, but management complexity increases due to different control specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized control interface as an intermediary between the uninterruptible power supply device and host devices. This mediator translates various host device control specifications into a unified protocol, allowing the power supply device to serve multiple hosts without requiring separate control software for each device, thus reducing management complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The uninterruptible power supply device is designed with universal control capabilities that can handle multiple host device types through a single standardized interface. This multi-functional design allows one power supply device to replace multiple specialized devices, simplifying the overall system architecture while ensuring continuous power supply and data protection
2Adaptability or versatility
If power supply control software is customized for each company's uninterruptible power supply device, then device-specific control requirements are met, but management of multiple host devices with different specifications becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed with universal adaptability to work with multiple host device types and uninterruptible power supply devices through a standardized protocol. This eliminates the need for multiple customized control softwares, allowing a single control device to manage diverse equipment while maintaining device-specific control capabilities through the standardized interface
3Reliability
If the disk array unit waits for host device to finish writing before backing up cache memory data, then data consistency is maintained, but response time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The disk array unit performs preliminary backup of cache memory data to the recording medium in advance, before power failure occurs. This preliminary action ensures that cached data is preserved without waiting for the host device to complete its write operations, thus maintaining both data consistency and improving write processing response time by decoupling the backup operation from host write completion
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply control device including: a control unit which controls power supplied from a first device to a disk array unit accessible from host devices through a network device; and a second device which supplies power to the disk array unit and the power supply control device when the power supply from the first device is disconnected, the control unit including: a collecting unit which collects power supply fault information regarding at least one of the host devices and the network device; a starting unit which starts power supply from the second device when power supplied from the first device is disconnected; and a transmitting unit which transmits a notification to the disk array unit in response to collection of power supply fault information after starting the power supply from the second device, the notification indicating that the power supplied from the first device is disconnected.