Supports: cabinet structure – For storing audio or visual recording medium – Disk or parallelepiped shape
Reexamination Certificate
1995-10-24
2001-05-22
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
For storing audio or visual recording medium
Disk or parallelepiped shape
C312S334280, C312S223100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234591
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to data processing system and, more particularly, to a new and novel disk array subsystem for use in a data processing system.
One well known problem associated with data processing systems is computer system throughput, namely, the relatively slow rate at which mass storage devices are capable of accessing data.
Generally speaking, CPU's are capable of processing data much more quickly than mass storage devices are capable of delivering data. Consequently, a CPU often loses time, standing idle, while waiting for needed data to be transferred thereto from a mass storage device. As can readily be appreciated, this inefficiency frequently results in a waste of the tremendous horsepower of the CPU, which does not achieve maximum performance.
In the past, approaches utilizing disk caches and data base segmenting were developed to minimize this problem. However, none of these approaches met all of the requirements of a high-transaction processing environment.
Recently, subsystems comprising disk arrays, i.e., groups of small, independent disk drive modules used to store large quantities of data, have been developed and found to possess many advantages over a single large disk drive. For example, the individual modules of a disk array typically take up very little space and typically use less power and cost less than a single large disk drive, yet, when grouped together in an array, provide the same data storage capacity as single large disk drive. In addition, the small disks of an array retrieve data more quickly than does a single large disk drive because, with a small disk drive, there is less distance for the actuator to travel and less data per individual disk to search through. The greatest advantage to small disk drives, however, is the boost they give to I/O performance when configured as a disk array subsystem.
In a disk array configuration, multiple drives process concurrent data retrieval/storage requests. Supported by a software “device driver” and individual controllers, the disks operate simultaneously. While one disk drive is retrieving/storing data, another can be sending data to the CPU. With several disks performing overlapped seeks, data can be retrieved and delivered more rapidly to the CPU. The CPU spends less time idle, so overall system performance improves substantially.
Examples of known disk array subsystems are the Data General Corp. High Availability Disk Array (H.A.D.A.) subsystem and the Data General Corp. Combined Storage Subsystem 2 (CSS2) subsystem. Both of these disk array subsystems use 5.25 inch disk drives.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel disk array subsystem.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel disk drive module for use in a disk array subsystem.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a disk array subsystem having a plurality of disk drive modules and wherein the individual disk drive modules can be easily replaced when necessary.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a disk array subsystem as described above whose size and shape conform to industry standards for purposes of modularity and, yet, which has the capacity to include a maximal number of disk drive modules.
It Is a further object of the present invention to provide a disk array subsystem as described above which uses disk drive modules having 3.5 inch disk drives.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a disk array subsystem as described above which includes a chassis and a new and novel arrangement for slidably and removably mounting the disk drive modules in the chassis.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a disk array subsystem as described above which includes a new and novel arrangement for securing the disk drive modules in place within the chassis of the subsystem.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk array subsystem as described above which includes a new and novel arrangement for cooling the components contained in the disk array subsystem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A disk array subsystem adapted for use in a data processing system according to this invention comprises a chassis, a backplane fixedly mounted inside said chassis, disk drive module guide plate means, said disk drive module guide plate means including a first guide plate having a plurality of parallel slotted channels, said first guide plate being fixedly mounted inside said chassis, a plurality of disk drive modules slidably and removably mounted on said first guide plate, each disk drive module including an elongated T-bar slidably mounted in one of said parallel slotted channels, said disk drive module guide plate means serving to support said disk drive modules and to place the disk drive modules mounted thereon in approximate alignment with said backplane for electrical connection therewith, controller means for controlling the operations of said disk drive modules, and power supply means for powering said disk drive modules.
According to one feature of the invention, each disk drive module and its associated slotted channel on the first guide plate include a pawl and detente combination for securing the disk drive module in place on its associated slotted channel.
According to another feature of the invention, each disk drive module contains a 3.5 inch disk drive, and twenty such disk drive modules are mounted in the chassis, the subsystem having an outer length of 19 inches and an outer width of 14 inches.
According to still another feature of the invention, the chassis is a generally rectangular box-like structure, and air circulating means are provided at the rear end thereof to move air longitudinally from the front end through the back end.
According to still yet another feature of the invention, the disk drive module includes a frame and a regulator card having an edge connector and wherein the regulator card is movably mounted on the frame so as to facilitate mating the edge connector with an associated connector on the backplane.
Various other objects, as well as features and advantages, of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments for practicing the invention. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
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English-language translation of Germany 39 06 260.
English-language translation of France 76 15632.
Driscoll Edward K.
Fillio Thomas D.
Nigro Arthur R.
Anderson Jerry
Cuomo Peter M.
EMC Corporation
Kriegsman & Kriegsman
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