High density array system with active movable media drawers

A data storage unit having a source of electronic communication and a source of electronic power, the data storage unit comprising:

• a frame defining a storage unit interior space;
• a media blade possessing a mid-plane frame, the mid-plane frame essentially possessing a first side and a second side wherein the first side accommodates a first plurality of disk drives and the second side accommodates a second plurality of disk drives, at least one of the first plurality of disk drives rotates in an opposite direction from at least one of the second plurality of disk drives;
• the first and the second plurality of disk drives are adapted to receive electronic communication from the source of electronic communication and electronic power from the source of electronic power via the media blade;
• and
• the media blade adapted to be at least partially moved into and out from the interior space without interruption to the communication and the power.

A data storage unit comprising:

• a frame defining a storage unit interior space;
• a means for supporting a plurality of disk drives on a media blade such that at least some of the plurality of disk drives are adapted to rotate in an opposite direction to that of others of the disk drives;
• a power source that provides power to the disk drives and a communication source that provides communication to the disk drives;
• a means moving the media blade between a first position, that is substantially within the interior space, and a second position, that is less than substantially within the interior space without interrupting the power and the communication to the plurality of disk drives.