HIGH DENSITY ARRAY SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE STORAGE UNITS WITH ACTIVE MOVABLE MEDIA DRAWERS

Abstract

A storage system is provided having at least one primary storage unit, the primary storage unit having a power source, a server mother board, an expander device connected to a second data storage unit and a plurality of retractable media drawers wherein each of the retractable media drawers comprise a plurality of data storage elements. Each of the retractable media drawers maintain connectivity to the power source, the server mother board and the expander device when each of the media drawers is between a first position that is extended partially away from the primary data storage unit and a second position that is at least partially retracted from the first position towards the primary data storage unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a data storage arrangement constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a commercial embodiment of a High Density Array (HDA) unit consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a side view of the HDA unit illustrating one embodiment of a means to provide uninterrupted power and communication to a retractable media drawer when the retractable media drawer is moved between a retracted and extended position.

FIG. 1D is a side view of the HDA unit illustrating an alternative embodiment of a means to provide uninterrupted power and communication to a retractable media drawer when the retractable media drawer is moved between a retracted and extended position.

FIG. 1E is a side view of the HDA unit illustrating yet another alternative embodiment of a means to provide uninterrupted power and communication to a retractable media drawer when the retractable media drawer is moved between a retracted and extended position.

FIG. 2A is one commercial configuration of a retractable media drawer populated with ten disk drives consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows a back view of the retractable media drawer populated with nine disk drives consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2C shows the back side of a bezel module consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2D shows an alternative embodiment of a retractable media drawer consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2E shows another alternative embodiment of a retractable media drawer consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2F shows yet another alternative embodiment of a retractable media drawer consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the retractable media drawer of FIG. 2A without disk drives consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment consistent with the present invention of a retaining mechanism of the illustrative commercial HDA embodiment in more detail.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment consistent with the present invention of a top view of a drawer plate board of the illustrative commercial HDA embodiment in more detail.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment consistent with the present invention of an illustration of a drawer board schematic layout of the drawer plate board of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative embodiment of one optional configuration of an HDA unit schematic layout consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is an illustration of an interconnected multi-HDA system schematic layout consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8B is an illustration of a master HDA and add-on storage media unit layout consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8C is an illustration of a looped connected multi-HDA system schematic layout consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8D is an illustrative embodiment of a storage system comprised in part of data storage units having retractable media drawers consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows the commercial embodiment of an HDA unit with the back surface presented consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows the commercial embodiment of an HDA unit with the back surface presented without the removable panel and a server module partially removed consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a top view of the HDA unit without the cover and removable panel consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A primary data storage unit comprising: a power source;at least one server mother board;at least one expander device connected to a second data storage unit;a plurality of retractable media drawers wherein each of said retractable media drawers comprise a plurality of data storage elements,each of said retractable media drawers maintaining connectivity to said power source, said at least one server mother board and said at least one expander device when each of said media drawers is between a first position that is extended partially away from said primary data storage unit and a second position that is at least partially retracted from said first position towards said primary data storage unit.

2. The primary data storage unit of claim 1 further comprising a communication source that is linked to said plurality of data storage elements wherein each of said retractable media drawers maintain connectivity when between said first and second positions, said communication source communicatively linked with a host.

3. The primary data storage unit of claim 1 wherein each of said retractable media drawers are moveable from between said first position and said second position in a drawer like motion.

4. The primary data storage unit of claim 1 further comprises a plurality of accommodating openings wherein each of said retractable media drawers are moveable via one of said plurality of accommodating openings and wherein each of said accommodating openings is tailored for moving one of said media blades between said first and second positions.

5. The primary data storage unit of claim 1 wherein said primary data storage unit and said second data storage units are stackable.

6. The primary data storage unit of claim 5 wherein said primary data storage unit and said second data storage unit are substantially disposed in a data storage system frame.

7. The primary data storage unit of claim 5 further comprising a third data storage unit.

8. The primary data storage unit of claim 7 further comprising at least a second expander device associated with said second data storage unit and at least a third expander device associated with said third data storage unit wherein said primary data storage unit, said second data storage unit and said third data storage unit are interconnected via said respective associated expander devices.

9. The primary data storage unit of claim 8 further comprising at least a second server mother board associated with said second data storage unit and at least a third server mother board associated with said third data storage unit wherein said primary data storage unit, said second data storage unit and said third data storage unit are interconnected via said respective associated mother boards.

10. The primary data storage unit of claim 7 wherein either said storage unit, said second storage unit or said third storage unit is switchable to be a master storage unit.

11. The primary data storage unit of claim 1 wherein said second data storage unit comprises just a bunch of data storage elements.

12. The primary data storage unit of claim 1 wherein said second data storage unit is substantially like said primary data storage unit.

13. The storage unit of claim 1 wherein said data storage elements are selected from one of a group consisting of: disk drives, solid state memory, compact disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy disk drives, and holographic drives.

14. A method of operating a first data storage unit, the method comprising the steps of: providing said first data storage unit with at least one server mother board, at least one expander device and at least one power source and a plurality of retractable media drawers wherein each of said plurality of retractable media drawers comprise a plurality of data storage elements;receiving a first data package from a host;storing said first data package to at least one of said plurality of data storage elements;extending one of said plurality of retractable media drawers at least partially from said first data storage unit;receiving a second data package from said host; andstoring said second data package to at least one of a plurality of additional data storage elements associated with a second data storage unit that is connected to said first data storage unit via said at least one expander device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising maintaining connectivity between said one of said plurality of retractable media drawers and said at least one server mother board, said at least one expander device and said at least one power source during said extending step.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving a third data package by said second data storage unit and transmitting said third data package from said second data storage unit to said first data storage unit.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising switching functionality associated with any of said at least at least one server mother board, said at least one expander device and said at least one power source associated with said first data storage unit to at least a back-up server mother board, back-up expander device or back-up power source associated with said second data storage unit.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said first and said second data storage units are disposed in a data storage system cabinet in a stacked arrangement.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said storing step includes creating a retrievable version of said first data package should any portion of said first data package become lost.

20. A primary data storage unit comprising: a power source;a communication source;a plurality of retractable media drawers wherein each of said retractable media drawers comprise a plurality of data storage elements, said plurality of data storage elements adapted to store data received from said communication source;each of said retractable media drawers maintaining connectivity to said power source and said communication source when each of said media drawers is between a first position that is extended partially away from said primary data storage unit and a second position that is retracted from said first position towards said primary data storage unit;means for connecting at least a second data storage unit with said primary data storage unit.