Removable disk storage array emulating tape library having backup and archive capability

Abstract

A hard disk drive based data archive system emulating a tape archive system includes a hot pluggable multi-drive magazine having a housing for holding a plurality of hard disk drives, each drive connected to receive power and data from the magazine in a controlled fashion, and at least one magazine receiving system for physically receiving the magazine and for thereupon providing power, data and control connections to the magazine, such that when the magazine is received within the magazine receiving system, the hard disk drives selectively receive power and data connections via the magazine and receiving system from a host computer. The magazine may be hot-disconnected from an active computing system environment and removed to an archive rack wherein each disk drive is periodically checked to ensure functionality and to provide some limited-bandwidth data retrieval functions via a network connection to the archive rack. A file mark structure enables a disk drive in the magazine to emulate functionality of a tape cartridge.

1 . A hard disk drive based data archive system emulating a tape archive system and comprising: 
 a hot pluggable multi-drive magazine comprising a housing and a plurality of hard disk drives installed within the housing, each drive upon installation being connected to receive power and data from the magazine in a controlled fashion, and    a magazine receiving system for physically receiving the magazine and for providing power and data connections to the magazine, such that when the magazine is received within the magazine receiving system, the hard disk drives selectively receive power and data connections with the magazine receiving system.    
     
     
         2 . The data archive system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a magazine controller for controlling application of power and data connections to each one of the plurality of hard disk drives installed in the magazine.  
     
     
         3 . The data archive system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising annunciation means associated with the magazine and operated by the magazine controller for annunciating predetermined conditions determined to be present in the magazine by the magazine controller.  
     
     
         4 . The data archive system set forth in  claim 3  wherein the annunciation means comprises a flashing visual indicator in which flash patterns provide said annunciation of predetermined conditions.  
     
     
         5 . The data archive system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the magazine housing provides shock protection to the hard disk drives installed therein.  
     
     
         6 . The data archive system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the magazine housing facilitates ventilation and cooling of the hard disk drives installed therein.  
     
     
         7 . The data archive system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the magazine receiving system is connected to a host computing system and is configured to provide power and data connections simultaneously to the plurality of hard disk drives.  
     
     
         8 . The data archive system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the magazine receiving system comprises an archival system remotely located from a host computing system in a secured environment, and is configured to provide power and data connections to a single hard disk drive of the magazine at a time.  
     
     
         9 . A hot pluggable multi-drive magazine for a hard disk drive based data archive system emulating a tape archive system and comprising: 
 a housing defining a plurality of receptacles for receiving and securing a plurality of standard form factor hard disk drives, an electrical interface structure within the housing for connecting each drive upon installation to receive power and data in a controlled fashion, and    magazine control and identification means associated with the multi-drive magazine for controlling the electrical interface structure.    
     
     
         10 . The multi-drive magazine set forth in  claim 9  wherein said housing defines a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles that are spaced apart and further defines an arrangement of air flow apertures arranged to facilitate convective cooling air flow between adjacently facing walls of hard disk drives secured within said receptacles.  
     
     
         11 . The multi-drive magazine set forth in  claim 10  wherein the magazine control and identification means comprises a controller embedded is within the magazine.  
     
     
         12 . The multi-drive magazine set forth in  claim 9  wherein the magazine control and identification means is part of a multi-magazine receiver, and wherein the multi-drive magazine includes a unique identifier readable by the magazine control and identification means when the multi-drive magazine is installed in the multi-magazine receiver.  
     
     
         13 . The multi-drive magazine set forth in  claim 12  wherein the unique identifier comprises a bar code pattern, and wherein the magazine control and identification means includes bar code reader means for reading the bar code pattern when the multi-drive magazine is installed in the multi-magazine receiver.  
     
     
         14 . The multi-drive magazine set forth in  claim 12  wherein the unique identifier comprises an internet protocol (IP) address within a TCP/IP network.  
     
     
         15 . A data storage box for connection to a host computing system via a universal serial bus (USB) structure and comprising: 
 a housing structure defining a plurality of wells,    each well configured to receive and secure a hard disk drive unit implementing an ATA interface structure and connector,    a plurality of USB bridge circuits in the housing, each USB bridge circuit being associated with a said well and electrically connectable to the ATA interface connector of a hard disk drive unit upon installation in said well,    a USB hub circuit connected between a single USB connector present at an external face of the housing for connecting to said USB structure and the plurality of USB bridge circuits for routing control and data signals, and power up/power down signals through a said USB bridge circuit to control its said hard disk drive unit, and    power connector means present at an external face of the housing structure for receiving operating power for said storage box.    
     
     
         16 . A data storage box for connection to a host computing system via a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) structures and comprising: 
 a housing structure defining a plurality of wells,    each well configured to receive and secure a hard disk drive unit implementing an ATA interface structure and connector,    a plurality of USB connectors present at an external face of the housing structure for connecting respectively to said plurality of USB structures,    a plurality of USB bridge circuits in the housing, each USB bridge circuit being associated with a said well and electrically connectable to the ATA interface connector of a hard disk drive unit upon installation in said well and to one of said USB connectors, and    power connector means present at an external face of the housing structure for receiving operating power for said storage box.    
     
     
         17 . A data storage box for connection to a host computing system via an internet network connection in accordance with the internet TCP/IP interface comprising: 
 a housing structure defining at least one well,    said well configured to receive and secure a hard disk drive unit having an IP interface address and having an interface connector, and    an interface connector present at an external face of the housing structure for connecting respectively to said TCP/IP interface.    
     
     
         18 . The data storage box set forth in  claim 17  wherein the hard disk drive unit includes an Ethernet physical interface, and wherein the interface connector comprises an Ethernet-compatible connector, and further comprising power connector means present at an external face of the housing structure for receiving operating power for said storage box.  
     
     
         19 . The data storage box set forth in  claim 17  wherein the housing structure defines a plurality of wells, and further comprising a plurality of hard disk drives, and a hub circuit for selectively connecting a said one of said plurality of hard disk drives to said interface connector.  
     
     
         20 . The data storage box set forth in  claim 19  wherein the housing structure has a unique IP interface address.  
     
     
         21 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . A method for testing data-archive functionality of a rotating hard disk drive holding user archive data within an archive array of rotating hard disk drives, comprising the steps of: 
 A. measuring a time-off interval of the rotating hard disk drive with an interval timer;    B. at an end of a measured time-off interval, selectively applying operating power to the rotating hard disk drive for a fixed operational interval;    C. during the fixed operational interval, checking the rotating hard disk drive to determine that it is functional as an archival data storage medium;    D. if the rotating hard disk drive is determined to be functional, selectively removing operating power to said drive and resetting the interval timer to begin measuring a next time-off interval for said drive; and,    E. If the rotating hard disk drive is determined to be non-functional, selectively removing operating power to said drive, and setting an error flag associated with said drive to signal non-functionality of said drive.    
     
     
         35 . The testing method set forth in  claim 34  comprising a further step: 
 F. if the rotating hard disk drive is determined to be functionally degraded below predetermined minimum criteria but currently operational, transferring the archive user data held by said drive to a spare rotating hard disk drive of said array, selectively removing power from said rotating hard disk drive determined to be functionally degraded, and setting an error flag associated with said drive.