Power switching technique for archival data storage enclosure

Abstract

A method of power management of a multiple-data-storage-devices enclosure is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes: receiving a network connection and power from a data connection port detachably coupled to a network cable; identifying a subset of data storage devices within the enclosure to activate; powering off components within the enclosure other than the subset of the data storage devices; for each data storage device in the subset that is not yet powered, activating the data storage device by: monitoring power consumption drawn from the data connection port; identifying a sequence of components associated with the data storage device, wherein the components within the sequence, when powered, together provide access to the data storage device; and powering on each component in the sequence when a previous component in the sequence has reached a steady state power consumption level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 in response to receiving a request to access data in an enclosure powered by a data connection port,
 identifying a first storage device within the enclosure to activate based, at least in part, on the request; 
 identifying a component associated with the first storage device, wherein the component facilitates access to the first storage device; and 
 supplying power received via the data connection port to activate the first storage device; 
 monitoring power consumption at the data connection port; and 
 in response to the power consumption reaching a steady state, supplying power received via the data connection port to activate the component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises data to be stored in the enclosure, wherein identifying the first storage device within the enclosure to activate based, at least in part, on the request comprises determining that the first storage device is capable of storing the data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining that the power consumption has reached the steady state when the component can be activated without exceeding a maximum power consumption level of the data connection port. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying power to activate the first storage device is in response to determining that the first storage device is not currently activated. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in response to determining that a second storage device is currently activated, deactivating the second storage device prior to supplying power to activate the first storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein deactivating the second storage device comprises placing the second storage device in a state which reduces an amount of power drawn by the second storage device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request to access data in the enclosure is received via the data connection port; wherein the component is a storage controller in communication with the first storage device. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory machine readable medium having stored thereon instructions for activating components and storage devices in an enclosure powered by a data connection port comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one machine, causes the machine to:
 in response to receipt of a request to access data in the enclosure,
 identify a first storage device within the enclosure to activate based, at least in part, on the request; 
 identify a component associated with the first storage device, wherein the component facilitates access to the first storage device; and 
 supply power received via the data connection port to activate the first storage device; 
 monitor power consumption at the data connection port; and 
 in response to the power consumption reaching a steady state, supply power received via the data connection port to activate the component. 
   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the request comprises data to be stored in the enclosure, wherein the machine executable code which when executed by the machine, causes the machine to identify the first storage device within the enclosure to activate based, at least in part, on the request comprises machine executable code which when executed by the machine, causes the machine to determine whether the first storage device is capable of storing the data. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 8  further comprising machine executable code which when executed by the machine, causes the machine to determine that the power consumption has reached the steady state when the component can be activated without exceeding a maximum power consumption level of the data connection port. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the machine executable code which when executed by the machine, causes the machine to supply power to activate the first storage device occurs in response to a determination that the first storage device is not currently activated. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 8  further comprising machine executable code which when executed by the machine, causes the machine to, in response to a determination that a second storage device is currently activated, deactivate the second storage device prior to supplying power to activate the first storage device. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the machine executable code which when executed by the machine, causes the machine to deactivate the second storage device comprises machine executable code which when executed by the machine, causes the machine to place the second storage device in a state which reduces an amount of power drawn by the second storage device. 
     
     
         14 . An enclosure comprising:
 a data connection port configured to supply power to the enclosure;   a first storage device;   a component which facilitates access to the first storage device;   a memory containing machine readable medium comprising machine executable code having stored thereon instructions for activating components and storage devices in the enclosure; and   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the machine executable code to cause the enclosure to:
 in response to receipt of a request to access data in the enclosure,
 activate the first storage device based, at least in part, on the request, wherein the machine executable code executable by the processor to cause the enclosure to activate the first storage device comprises machine executable code executable by the processor to cause the enclosure to supply power received via the data connection port to the first storage device; 
 monitor power consumption at the data connection port; and 
 in response to the power consumption reaching a steady state, supply power received via the data connection port to activate the component. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the request comprises data to be stored in the enclosure, wherein the machine executable code executable by the processor to cause the enclosure to activate the first storage device based, at least in part, on the request occurs in response to a determination that the first storage device is capable of storing the data. 
     
     
         16 . The enclosure of  claim 14  further comprising machine executable code executable by the processor to cause the enclosure to determine that the power consumption has reached the steady state when the component can be activated without exceeding a maximum power consumption level of the data connection port. 
     
     
         17 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the machine executable code executable by the processor to cause the enclosure to activate the first storage device occurs in response to a determination that the first storage device is not currently activated. 
     
     
         18 . The enclosure of  claim 14  further comprising machine executable code executable by the processor to cause the enclosure to, in response to a determination that a second storage device is currently activated, deactivate the second storage device prior to activating the first storage device. 
     
     
         19 . The enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein the machine executable code executable by the processor to cause the enclosure to deactivate the second storage device comprises machine executable code executable by the processor to cause the enclosure to place the second storage device in a state which reduces an amount of power drawn by the second storage device. 
     
     
         20 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the request to access data in the enclosure is received via the data connection port; wherein the component is a storage controller in communication with the first storage device.