Abstract: This invention, in the interface coupled to the server, the disk interface coupled to the second memory to store final data, the cache to store data temporarily, and in the storage system with the MP which controls them, specifies the area by referring to the stored data, and makes the virtual memory area resident in the cache by using the storage system where the specified area is made resident in the cache.

Abstract: Provided is a storage system superior in fault tolerance. This storage system is composed of a controller having a plurality of processors and other units. When an error occurs in any one of the components in the controller, the storage system cuts off an I/O path of the controller, specifies the failed component in the cutoff status, and invalidates such failed component. Further, after invalidating the failed component, the storage system determines whether it is operable only with the normal components, cancels (releases) the cutoff of the I/O path when it determines that it is operable, and resumes operation by rebooting itself.

Abstract: A printer-plotter includes first and second heads which are supported by a guide rail and are movable along a longitudinal direction of the guide rail, independently. A driving member is supported by the guide rail and configured to move along the longitudinal direction between the first head and the second head. A first connecting mechanism is configured to connect the first head to the driving member detachably. A second connecting mechanism is configured to connect the second head to the driving member detachably. The first head is connected to the driving member by the first connecting mechanism and the second head is separated from the driving member in order to make the first head operate. The second head is connected to the driving member by the second connecting mechanism and the first head is separated from the driving member in order to make the second head operate.

Abstract: There is provided a storage system capable of handling a large amount of control data at low cost in high performance. The storage system includes a cache memory for temporarily storing data read/written between a host computer and a disk array, a CPU for making a control related to data transfer, and a local memory for storing control data utilized by the CPU. The disk array has a first user data storing area for storing user data and a control data storing area for storing all control data. A control unit has a virtualization unit for allocating a memory space of the control data storing area to a virtual address accessible from the CPU, reading the control data specified by the virtual address to a physical address of the local memory, and transferring the control data to the CPU.

Abstract: In order to calculate the power of logically-partitioned areas without using a power meter in a storage system logically partitioning a storage area, there is provided a power estimating method in a computer system including a management computer and a storage system connected to the management computer and a host computer. The storage system prepares logical storage-volumes in a real area of plural disk drives. The power estimating method includes the steps of: allowing a third processor to calculate operation rates of the disk drives for access to the logical storage-volumes from operating times of the disk drives for access to the logical storage-volumes; and allowing the third processor to calculate power consumption increments of the disk drives for access to the logical storage-volumes by access types from incremental power consumption information and the calculated operation rates of the disk drives.

Abstract: In a storage system including a host computer, and a disk control device connected to the host computer for communications therewith, and performs control over a disk device that stores therein data requested for writing from the host computer, for data transmission from a host interface section or a disk interface section to a memory section, when the data asked by a transmission source for storage is stored in a transmission destination, the transmission destination is put in a first mode for communications of forwarding a response back to the transmission source. With such a configuration, favorably provided is the storage system that offers a guarantee of reliability with the improved processing capabilities thereof.

Abstract: When data of HDD of computer is backed up to a a data center and a failure occurs in the HDD, the computer notifies failure information to the data center, and the data center stores the backed up data in a storage medium substituting HDD for subsequent delivery. Further, the computer executes processing, using a VNC server, from failure occurrence until recovery.

Abstract: Power consumption is calculated in accordance with an operation state of disk devices without using a power meter in a storage system. The power consumption in accordance with the operation state is calculated as follows. That is, information on the power consumption for every type of hard disks is stored in advance when types of I/O process (random/sequential of read and write) operate at idle time up to a limit state in every type of hard disks. A control unit of the storage system aggregates time waiting a response from the hard disks in every type of I/O process. The power consumption of the disks is calculated on the basis of the information on the power consumption stored in advance and a sum of the waiting time of the response from the hard disks.

Abstract: For at least one of storage unit, processor and cache memory which are I/O process-participating devices related to I/O command process, when a load of one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is a low load equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, a processing related to a state of one or more of the I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is redirected to another one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof, and the state of the one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is shifted to a power-saving state.

Abstract: Provided is a storage system superior in fault tolerance. This storage system is composed of a controller having a plurality of processors and other units. When an error occurs in any one of the components in the controller, the storage system cuts off an I/O path of the controller, specifies the failed component in the cutoff status, and invalidates such failed component. Further, after invalidating the failed component, the storage system determines whether it is operable only with the normal components, cancels (releases) the cutoff of the I/O path when it determines that it is operable, and resumes operation by rebooting itself.

Abstract: A printer including a medium supporting member that supports a print medium in a state placed thereon, a print head that has nozzles for ejecting ink droplets downward and freely reciprocates above the medium supporting member, and a maintenance device. The maintenance device is disposed to face the lower surface of the print head when the print head is in a standby position and receives residual ink in the nozzles which is ejected from the nozzles when the print head is in the standby position. The maintenance device has an ink receiving chamber that opens upward for receiving the residual ink ejected from the nozzles and a liquid injection member that injects liquid into the ink receiving chamber when the print head is away from a position where the print head faces the ink receiving chamber in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A printer-plotter includes first and second heads which are supported by a guide rail and are movable along a longitudinal direction of the guide rail, independently. A driving member is supported by the guide rail and configured to move along the longitudinal direction between the first head and the second head. A first connecting mechanism is configured to connect the first head to the driving member detachably. A second connecting mechanism is configured to connect the second head to the driving member detachably. The first head is connected to the driving member by the first connecting mechanism and the second head is separated from the driving member in order to make the first head operate. The second head is connected to the driving member by the second connecting mechanism and the first head is separated from the driving member in order to make the second head operate.

Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes a feeding roller configured to rotate around a rotational axis. A guide rail extends along the rotational axis. A slider is supported by the guide rail and movable along the rotational axis. A rotatable pinch roller is configured to clamp medium between the feeding roller and the pinch roller to move the medium. A lever is connected to the pinch roller and movable to change a clamping state with respect to the medium between the feeding roller and the pinch roller. An arm is connected to the slider and configured to take an engaging position where the arm moves the lever to change the clamping state when the slider moves along the rotational axis and a standby position where the arm is not engaged with the lever when the slider moves along the rotational axis.

Abstract: A printer-plotter includes a guide rail, a first head, a second head, a driving device, a first connecting mechanism and a second connecting mechanism. The guide rail extends in a longitudinal direction. The first head is supported by the guide rail and movable along the longitudinal direction. The second head is supported by the guide rail and movable independently of the first head along the longitudinal direction. The driving device includes a driving force transmitting member and a driving mechanism configured to move the driving force transmitting member. The first connecting mechanism is configured to detachably connect the first head to the driving force transmitting member. The second connecting mechanism is configured to detachably connect the second head to the driving force transmitting member.

Abstract: There is provided a storage system capable of handling a large amount of control data at low cost in high performance. The storage system includes a cache memory for temporarily storing data read/written between a host computer and a disk array, a CPU for making a control related to data transfer, and a local memory for storing control data utilized by the CPU. The disk array has a first user data storing area for storing user data and a control data storing area for storing all control data. A control unit has a virtualization unit for allocating a memory space of the control data storing area to a virtual address accessible from the CPU, reading the control data specified by the virtual address to a physical address of the local memory, and transferring the control data to the CPU.