Low power consumption storage array

摘要

Disclosed is a low power consumption storage array. Read and write cycles are separated so that a multiple disk array can be spun down during periods when there are no write requests. Cooling fans are operated with a pulse-width modulated signal in response to cooling demand to further reduce energy consumption.

主权项

1. A method of reducing power consumption in a storage array comprising:
writing data to a multiple disk array in response to a write command; synchronously copying said data from said multiple disk array to a read spare drive; reading data from said read spare drive, and not from said multiple disk array; spinning down said multiple disk array whenever a write cycle has not been initiated for a predetermined period so that said multiple disk array enters a passive state and consumes less energy; writing additional data to solid state storage whenever an additional write cycle is initiated and said multiple disk array is in said passive state; synchronously copying said additional data written to said solid state storage to said read spare drive; spinning up said multiple disk array in response to initiation of said additional write cycle when said multiple disk array is in said passive state; writing said additional data written to said solid state storage to said multiple disk array after said multiple disk array is spun up; flushing said additional data written to said solid state storage after said data written to said solid state storage is written to said multiple disk array.