# US 8,543,789 B2 · System and method for managing a storage array > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,789 B2 - Document ID: US8543789B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/115,306 - Filed: 2008-05-05 - Published: 2009-11-05 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-05 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Ahmad A. J. Ali; Zafar Mahmood - Inventors: Ahmad A. J. Ali; Zafar Mahmood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543789B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0656: {Data buffering arrangements} - G06F 3/0619: {in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors} - G06F 3/0625: {Power saving in storage systems} - G06F 3/0634: {by changing the state or mode of one or more devices} - G06F 3/0689: {Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD} - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Systems and methods for managing a storage array are disclosed. A method may include segmenting each of a plurality of physical storage resources into a first storage area and a second storage area. The method may also include activating a first logical unit including each first storage area of the plurality of physical storage resources. The method may additionally include placing at least one designated physical resource of the plurality of physical storage resources in a powersave mode. The method may further include activating a second logical unit including the second storage areas of some of the plurality of physical storage resources but not the at least one designated physical storage resource. Moreover, the method may include storing data associated with a write operation intended for the at least one designated physical storage resource to the second logical unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing a storage array, comprising: segmenting each of a plurality of physical storage resources into a first storage area and a second storage area; activating a first logical unit including each first storage area of the plurality of physical storage resources; placing at least one designated physical resource of the plurality of physical storage resources in a powersave mode; activating a second logical unit including the second storage areas of some of the plurality of physical storage resources but not the at least one designated physical storage resource, wherein neither the second logical unit nor any virtual resource comprising the second logical unit is presented as a logical unit to any node communicatively coupled to the plurality of physical storage resources; and storing data associated with a write operation intended for the at least one designated physical storage resource to the second logical unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first logical unit and the second logical unit is a redundant storage array. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method according to claim 2, wherein the redundant storage array is a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein each of the first logical unit and the second logical unit is a RAID of the same RAID level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein each of the first logical unit and the second logical unit is a RAID, and the first logical unit and the second logical unit are of a different RAID level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein storing data associated with the write operation includes storing information associated with the destination of the data to be written. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising presenting the first logical unit to a node communicatively coupled to the plurality of physical storage resources as a single logical unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising: removing the at least one designated physical storage resource from the powersave mode; and updating the at least one designated physical storage resource based on information stored in the second logical unit. ### Claim 9 A system for managing a storage array, comprising: a plurality of physical storage resources; and a device communicatively coupled to the plurality of storage resources, the device configured to: segment each of the plurality of physical storage resources into a first storage area and a second storage area; activate a first logical unit including each first storage area of the plurality of physical storage resources; place at least one designated physical resource of the plurality of physical storage resources in a powersave mode; activate a second logical unit including the second storage areas of some of the plurality of physical storage resources but not the at least one designated physical storage resource, such that neither the second logical unit nor any virtual resource comprising the second logical unit is presented as a logical unit to any node communicatively coupled to the plurality of physical storage resources; and store data associated with a write operation intended for the at least one designated physical storage resource to the second logical unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the first logical unit and the second logical unit is a redundant storage array. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10, wherein the redundant storage array is a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, wherein each of the first logical unit and the second logical unit is a RAID of the same RAID level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, wherein each of the first logical unit and the second logical unit is a RAID, and the first logical unit and the second logical unit are of a different RAID level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A system according to claim 9, the device further configured to store information associated with the destination of the data to be written. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) A system according to claim 9, the device further configured to present the first logical unit to a node communicatively coupled to the plurality of physical storage resources as a single logical unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) A system according to claim 9, the device further operable to: remove the at least one designated physical storage resource from the powersave mode; and update the at least one designated physical storage resource based on information stored in the second logical unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) A system according to claim 9, wherein the device comprises a controller. ### Claim 18 A program of instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and operable to, when executed: segment each of a plurality of physical storage resources into a first storage area and a second storage area; activate a first logical unit including each first storage area of the plurality of physical storage resources; place at least one designated physical resource of the plurality of physical storage resources in a powersave mode; activate a second logical unit including the second storage areas of some of the plurality of physical storage resources but not the at least one designated physical storage resources, such that neither the second logical unit nor any virtual resource comprising the second logical unit is presented as a logical unit to any node communicatively coupled to the plurality of physical storage resources; and store data associated with a write operation intended for the at least one designated physical storage resource to the second logical unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A program of instructions according to claim 18, further operable to: remove the at least one designated physical storage resource from the powersave mode; and update the at least one designated physical storage resource based on information stored in the second logical unit.