Abstract: A system and method for coupling a host to a drive in a high-capacity data storage system are disclosed. The data storage system comprises a number of drives arranged in a hierarchical manner. A control system is provided for controlling input/output of data and managing control signals. The control system comprises a hierarchy of controllers and switches. The control system receives a request for a drive from a host and couples the host to the requested drive through the hierarchy of controllers.

Abstract: Spare disk drive management in a storage system. The storage system comprises disk drives and spare disk drives. Spare disk drives are initially kept in power-off state. The storage system detects the failure of a disk drive and selects a spare disk drive to replace the failed disk drive. The spare disk drive is selected on the basis of spare selection criteria. The selected spare disk drive is powered-on and replaces the failed disk drive. Data on the failed disk drive can be reconstructed on the spare disk drive by using RAID parity techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for improving the fault tolerance of storage systems by replacing disk drives, which are about to fail, are disclosed. The set of disk drives in a storage system are monitored to identify failing disk drives. A processing unit identifies the failing disk drive and selects a spare disk drive to replace the failing disk drive. The selected spare disk drive is powered on, and data from the failing disk drive is copied to the selected spare disk drive. A memory unit stores attributes and sensor data for the disk drives in the storage system. The attributes and sensor data are used by the processing unit to identify a failing disk drive. Attributes for disk drives are obtained by using SMART, and sensor data is obtained from environmental sensors such as temperature and vibration sensors.

Abstract: A method and system for managing web content linked in a web page hierarchy, are provided. The method includes determining when a first web content, stored in a first storage medium, is accessed. Further, the method includes determining a second web content, linked to the first web content. The second web content may be accessible through a web page that includes the first web content. Furthermore, the method includes determining a second storage medium that is storing the second web content. When a portion of the second web content is requested, the second storage medium powers up from a lower power mode of operation to a power mode of operation that is higher than the lower power mode, such that the second web content can be accessed from the second storage medium quicker than if the second storage medium had remained in the lower power mode of operation.

Abstract: An interconnecting unit and method for data communication between a plurality of computer hosts and a plurality of storage devices. The interconnecting unit couples the hosts to the storage devices and enables the data communication. The interconnection includes a plurality device control units. Each of the device control unit allows multiple commands to be distributed to multiple storage devices. The communication through the interconnecting unit is strong enough to tolerate failure across one connection path between the hosts and the storage devices.

Abstract: A method for processing data on a particular storage device in a plurality of storage devices is disclosed. A system and a computer program product for processing data on a particular storage device in a plurality of storage devices are also disclosed. All the storage devices from among the plurality of storage devices are not powered-on at the same time. A storage device, which is powered-off is selected for background processing. Further, a data-enhancing operation is selected. The selected storage device is powered on and the selected data-enhancing operation is processed on the storage device.

Abstract: A method for preparing data units for access in a data storage system is disclosed. The data storage system includes multiple storage devices having data units. All the storage devices of the data storage system are not powered on at the same time. The method includes preparing and storing the auxiliary data. The auxiliary data is prepared for a data unit on a storage device that will be powered off during an access request of the data unit. The auxiliary data is stored on the storage devices so that the auxiliary data is likely to be available on a powered-on storage device when the data unit is the subject of an access request.

Abstract: Methods for preventing the failure of disk drives in storage systems are disclosed. A system and a computer program product for preventing the failure are also disclosed. Factors relating to the aging or early onset of errors in a disk drive are monitored. These factors are then compared to thresholds. In case the thresholds are exceeded, an indication for the replacement of the disk drive is given. Sudden rises in the factors are also used to indicate the impeding failure of disk drives.

Abstract: An interconnecting unit and method for data communication between a plurality of computer hosts and a plurality of storage devices. The interconnecting unit couples the hosts to the storage devices and enables the data communication. The interconnection includes a plurality device control units. Each of the device control unit allows multiple commands to be distributed to multiple storage devices. The communication through the interconnecting unit is strong enough to tolerate failure across one connection path between the hosts and the storage devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for creating a view for a plurality of data units is provided. A portion of the plurality of data units are stored in one or more storage drives that are in a lower power mode of operation in the storage system. The method includes determining a subset of data units stored in a storage system based on one or more filter criteria. Metadata is determined that represents the subset of data units in the storage system. A view is then created from the metadata. For example, a dynamic or static view may be created. The view is then stored such that it is always accessible on an always on storage drive. The metadata may be used to provide information about the data units in the storage drives that are in a lower power mode of operation without having to power on the storage drives.

Abstract: A method for preparing data units for access in a data storage system is disclosed. The data storage system includes multiple storage devices having data units. All the storage devices of the data storage system are not powered on at the same time. The method includes preparing and storing the auxiliary data. The auxiliary data is prepared for a data unit on a storage device that will be powered off during an access request of the data unit. The auxiliary data is stored on the storage devices so that the auxiliary data is likely to be available on a powered-on storage device when the data unit is the subject of an access request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: A method of accessing a plurality of storage devices is disclosed. A system and a computer program product for emulating tape libraries are also disclosed. First and second virtual storage devices with first and second address spaces, respectively, are defined. The first and second address spaces are mapped to portions on each of a plurality of storage devices. The storage devices can be part of a power managed RAID system where all the storage devices are not powered on at one time. A stream of contiguous address values are received and a storage device is selected. Finally, data is stored on the portion of the selected storage device so that multiple data streams can be written at all times, even though all the storage devices are not powered on. Similarly, stored data may be retrieved from the selected storage device by traversing the scattered streams.

Abstract: A method for adaptation of data organization by a data storage system controller is disclosed. Data organization in a data storage system is adapted according to varying workload profiles and system constraints. The data storage system also consists of a plurality of data storage units. On receipt of a request to write data, various workload and data storage system parameters are determined. On the basis of these parameters, target data storage units and appropriate data organization schemes are optimally selected. In the case where the volume of data to be written is less than a threshold value, a RAID organization scheme is preferred. In this scheme the data is written to the selected drives simultaneously. In the case where the volume of data to be written is more than the threshold value, a power managed RAID organization scheme, where all data drives need not be simultaneously powered on, is used.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: A secondary storage system for maintaining data units transferred from a primary storage system is provided. The secondary storage system includes secondary storage media. Not all of the secondary storage media are powered on at the same time. The secondary storage media includes at least one storage medium that is always in the powered-on mode. Metadata is stored in one or more of at least the one storage medium in the powered-on mode. The metadata includes at least one attribute of a data unit stored in a secondary storage medium that is in the lower power mode of operation than at least the one storage medium that is always in the powered-on mode.

Abstract: A user interface for a secondary storage system, where the secondary “backup” data resides in a power-managed disk array, is provided. The user interface enables a user of the secondary storage system to create and schedule archiving and retrieving tasks for files or directories. The user can manage the users of the secondary storage system. The user can also view details of currently executing tasks. Further, the user interface enables users to search for files and directories in the secondary storage system.

Abstract: A method for adaptation of data organization by a data storage system controller is disclosed. Data organization in a data storage system is adapted according to varying workload profiles and system constraints. The data storage system also consists of a plurality of data storage units. On receipt of a request to write data, various workload and data storage system parameters are determined. On the basis of these parameters, target data storage units and appropriate data organization schemes are optimally selected. In the case where the volume of data to be written is less than a threshold value, a RAID organization scheme is preferred. In this scheme the data is written to the selected drives simultaneously. In the case where the volume of data to be written is more than the threshold value, a power managed RAID organization scheme, where all data drives need not be simultaneously powered on, is used.

Abstract: A system for dampening vibrations of a plurality of disk drives in such a way that the packaging density of disk drives is optimized. This is achieved by attaching a device for dampening vibrations to a population set of disk drives. The population set of disk drives comprises a plurality of disk drives. The device for dampening vibrations comprises at least one rail assembly. A plurality of isolators is attached to the rail assembly. The isolators are composed of materials that attenuate vibration. The isolators dampen the vibrations of the population set and isolate the population set from external vibrations and shock.

Abstract: A hybrid centralized and distributed processing system includes a switching device that connects a storage processor to one or more servers through a host channel processor. The switching device also connects the storage processor to one or more storage devices such as disk drive arrays, and to a metadata cache and a block data cache memory. The storage processor processes access request from one or more servers in the form of a logical volume or logical block address and accesses the metadata cache to determine the physical data address. The storage processor monitors the performance of the storage system and performs automatic tuning by reallocating the logical volume, load balancing, hot spot removal, and dynamic expansion of storage volume. The storage processor also provides fault-tolerant access and provides parallel high performance data paths for fail over.