Method and system for preserving data resident in volatile cache memory in the event of a power loss

A data storage unit, comprising:

• a controller having a volatile memory;
• a non-volatile storage medium having at least one rotatable disk platter;
• a motor connected to said at least one rotatable disk platter for rotating said at least one rotatable disk platter;
• an auxiliary power generator, coupled to said non- volatile storage medium, that converts kinetic energy in said at least one rotatable disk platter into electrical energy upon a loss of a normal supply power to said motor;
• a power control that monitors a status of said normal supply power to said motor;
• and
• means for preserving data resident in said volatile memory in the event of a loss of said normal supply power to said motor by writing said data to said at least one rotatable disk platter using said electrical energy converted from said kinetic energy, said data being written to a reserved section, of said at least one rotatable disk platter, that is not utilized for storing data in a normal operation of said data storage unit, said normal operation being a condition in which there is not a loss of said normal supply power to said motor.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for implementing a method for preserving data resident in a volatile memory of a data storage unit having at least one rotatable disk platter in the event of an interruption of a normal supply power, said computer executable instructions when executed perform the steps of:
• monitoring the status of said normal supply power to said data storage unit;
• converting kinetic energy in said at least one rotatable disk platter into electrical energy in response to detecting a loss of said normal supply power to said data storage unit;
• and
• with the use of said electrical energy converted from said kinetic energy, writing said data to a reserved section, of said at least one rotatable disk platter, that is not utilized for storing data in a normal operation of said data storage unit, said normal operation being a condition in which there is not a loss of said normal supply power to said data storage unit.