Storage Control Device for Energy-Saving Hard Disk Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current archive storage systems using hard disks face challenges in implementing energy-saving controls like MAID (Massive Arrays of Idle Disks) and power-off management due to the lack of precise control over individual hard disks, leading to higher storage costs.
Innovation Solution
A storage control device that directly manages data storage devices to perform energy-saving operations such as power-off or dormancy on specific hard disks, by sending control instructions to control the storage medium after writing or reading files, thereby enabling precise energy-saving controls like MAID or power-off on individual storage mediums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a distributed file system is used for archive storage, then access efficiency is improved, but precise control over individual hard disks for energy saving is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a file management system as an intermediary layer between the distributed file system and the hard disk array. This intermediary maintains mapping relationships between files and specific hard disks, enabling precise control over individual disks for energy-saving operations while preserving the distributed file system's access efficiency. The file management system translates high-level file access requests into specific disk operations without compromising the distributed architecture's performance benefits.
2Loss of energy
If entire storage systems are managed for power saving, then energy consumption is reduced, but control precision over individual storage mediums is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into individually controllable hard disk units, each capable of independent power management. Instead of managing the entire storage system as a single unit, the system can selectively power off or put into dormant state specific hard disks based on their usage patterns. This segmentation enables precise control over individual storage mediums while achieving energy savings, resolving the contradiction between energy reduction and control precision.
3Loss of energy
If individual hard disks are controlled for energy saving, then archive storage cost is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the existing file management system: file metadata management, file-to-disk mapping, and energy-saving control. By merging these functions rather than adding separate independent systems, the patent reduces the overall system complexity while enabling individual hard disk control for energy savings. The unified approach leverages existing infrastructure to achieve cost reduction without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a storage control device, a data archive storage system, and a data archive access method. The system includes: a data storage device and a storage control device, where the storage control device controls the data storage device to write a first file into a first storage location, and then sends a first hard disk control instruction to the data storage device, so as to control an energy saving control performed on a storage medium where the first storage location is located, controls the data storage device to perform power on or dormancy recovery on a storage medium where a second location is located, and then reads a second file from the second storage location; and the data storage device executes corresponding operations under the control of the storage control device. In the technical solutions of the present invention, the storage control device directly works in cooperation with the data storage device, thereby implementing an energy saving control on a storage hard disk, and reducing a storage cost.