Data Storage System Maintenance Controller for Disk Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current large-scale data storage systems relying on hot plug technology are expensive due to lack of standardization, leading to increased costs and reduced competition, and require complex designs for hot plug capability, which complicates disk replacement and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A data storage system with an equipment rack having shelves for trays with non-hotplug data storage disks, utilizing a maintenance controller to transfer data between modules, allowing for scheduled maintenance and redundancy without the need for hot plug technology, enabling efficient disk replacement and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hot plug technology is used to enable quick disk replacement, then data availability and accessibility are improved, but system cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs data migration proactively during scheduled maintenance windows before disks fail. The maintenance controller transfers data from disks approaching failure to replacement disks in advance, so that when maintenance occurs, the system can be taken offline briefly without data loss or availability impact during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses standard, inexpensive disks instead of expensive hot-plug disks. By accepting that disks will fail and requiring periodic maintenance, the system avoids the high cost of hot-plug technology while achieving similar reliability through scheduled maintenance and data migration protocols.
2Ease of operation
If hot plug technology is implemented with custom mechanical chassis and back planes, then easy disk replacement is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and competition is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses standard, universal disk drives that can be manufactured by any vendor according to industry standards. The maintenance controller and tray design accommodate standard disks, allowing any compatible disk to be used without custom mechanical interfaces, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and increasing market competition.
Solution Approach 2:
Disks are designed to be easily removable by users without requiring specialized tools or complex mechanical interfaces. The tray design allows straightforward insertion and removal of standard disks, enabling end-users to perform disk replacement themselves without needing proprietary hot-plug mechanisms.
3Quantity of substance
If disks are arranged in dense arrays without hot plug capability, then storage density is improved, but maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disk array is divided into multiple independent trays, each containing a subset of disks. This segmentation allows individual trays to be removed and serviced without affecting other trays, maintaining high storage density while enabling easy maintenance of specific disk subsets independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance controller acts as an intermediary that manages data migration between trays during maintenance. It coordinates data transfer from disks being serviced to replacement disks, simplifying the maintenance process even in dense arrays by providing automated data management rather than requiring manual intervention.
4Ease of manufacture
If standard disks are used instead of hot plug disks, then cost is reduced and competition is increased, but immediate data accessibility during maintenance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Data migration is performed in advance during scheduled maintenance windows before disks fail. The maintenance controller transfers data from disks approaching failure to replacement disks, ensuring that when maintenance occurs, the system can be taken offline briefly without data loss, and data accessibility is restored quickly after maintenance completes.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage system comprising an equipment rack having shelves for receiving trays, each tray carrying a plurality of data storage disks arranged as one or more modules. The equipment rack includes a maintenance controller, which is connectable to data storage disks of trays received in the shelves and is configured to transfer data stored on data storage disks of a first module to data storage disks of a second module whenever the first module is to be taken off-line.