A storage enclosure includes a plurality of hard drive sub-boards, each configured to include a plurality of hard drives. A local logic device manages each hard drive sub-board. A master logic device manages the local logic devices. The master logic device receives management commands from a host computer system coupled to the storage enclosure, and routes those commands to specific local logic devices. The local logic devices then relay the commands to specifically targeted hard drives. Thus, each hard drive within the storage enclosure can be independently controlled, allowing a single hard drive to be powered down without powering down other hard drives in the enclosure.

A checking unit configured to check whether or not each of the plurality of storage devices is a speed-changeable storage device capable of processing data at a plurality of rotation speeds, and a control unit configured to set a storage device among the plurality of storage devices that is checked to be the speed-changeable storage device to a first state operating at a first rotation speed that is a first threshold or less in a case where a data access to the storage device does not occur are included, whereby effective power saving can be realized in a simple manner.

A data storage rack may only have a subset of the HDDs therein operating in an active mode where read/write operations may be performed. Other HDDs may operate in an idle mode, which is a power-saving state that permits the HDDs to quickly change-over to the active mode, when needed. In storage racks containing numerous HDDs, a majority of the HDDs may be operated at idle mode for a majority of the time. Where a large number of HDDs are operated at idle mode, a fixed common idle speed shared by the numerous HDDs can cause unwanted excitation, vibration, and resonance. This can yield increased wear on rack components, decreased performance from the HDDs therein, and increased noise. Variable HDD idle spindle speeds mitigate the foregoing, which is caused by an idle spindle speed previously common to many, if not all HDDs within the data storage rack.

A server box embodiment is disclosed that generally comprises an array of dummy HDDs that share a common set of universal disk drive components in a master components module, or power module. Each dummy HDDs is constructed without expensive onboard chipsets that control the normal functionality of a standard HDD. By sharing expensive chipsets in a master components module (power module) money can be saved in building and selling the dummy HDD server. Embodiments envision a power module possessing the needed chipset functionality that is missing in a dummy HDD. The power module can be made to move from dummy HDD to dummy HDD supplying the necessary chipset in a shared manner when data is being stored or retrieved for client or end-user.

A server box embodiment is disclosed that generally comprises an array of dummy HDDs that share a common set of universal disk drive components in a master components module, or power module. Each dummy HDDs is constructed without expensive onboard chipsets that control the normal functionality of a standard HDD. By sharing expensive chipsets in a master components module (power module) money can be saved in building and selling the dummy HDD server. Embodiments envision a power module possessing the needed chipset functionality that is missing in a dummy HDD. The power module can be made to move from dummy HDD to dummy HDD supplying the necessary chipset in a shared manner when data is being stored or retrieved for client or end-user.

A server box embodiment is disclosed that generally comprises an array of dummy HDDs that share a common set of universal disk drive components in a master components module, or power module. Each dummy HDDs is constructed without expensive onboard chipsets that control the normal functionality of a standard HDD. By sharing expensive chipsets in a master components module (power module) money can be saved in building and selling the dummy HDD server. Embodiments envision a power module possessing the needed chipset functionality that is missing in a dummy HDD. The power module can be made to move from dummy HDD to dummy HDD supplying the necessary chipset in a shared manner when data is being stored or retrieved for client or end-user.

A load/unload ramp assembly for a hard disk drive includes a support plate having at least one interlock slot and a plurality of ramp units interconnected with the support plate. At least one of the ramp units includes an interlock structure that protrudes into a corresponding interlock slot of the support plate, and is configured to move within the interlock slot in response to shrinkage of the ramp unit upon cooling associated with manufacturing of the ramp assembly. The ends of the interlock slot may be configured to manage the shrinkage and/or to maintain design dimensions.

Example redundant array of independent disks (RAID) storage systems and methods provide rebuild of logical data groups in priority order. Storage devices are configured as a storage array for storing logical data groups distributed among the storage devices. The logical data groups are written in a configuration of RAID stripes in the storage devices. A logical group index includes a logical group map for each logical data group and identifies corresponding logical blocks. When a storage device fails, the rebuild queue is ordered based on the priority of the logical data groups and rebuild to the replacement storage device is completed in the priority order.

Provided is a hard disk peak shift starting system, including: a power supply unit, a mainboard and a hard disk backplane. The power supply unit provides power to hard disks via a first power connector, a second power connector, E-Fuse chips and hard disk connectors. A Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) unit sets a power-up starting sequence of the hard disks and a power-up starting time interval between the hard disks, and the CPLD unit is connected to a logical control end of each of the E-Fuse chips to control, based on the set power-up starting sequence and the set power-up starting time interval, on-off of a power supply end of each of the E-Fuse chips, to realize control of peak shift powering up and starting of the hard disks.

A server box embodiment is disclosed that generally comprises an array of dummy HDDs that share a common set of universal disk drive components in a master components module, or power module. Each dummy HDDs is constructed without expensive onboard chipsets that control the normal functionality of a standard HDD. By sharing expensive chipsets in a master components module (power module) money can be saved in building and selling the dummy HDD server. Embodiments envision a power module possessing the needed chipset functionality that is missing in a dummy HDD. The power module can be made to move from dummy HDD to dummy HDD supplying the necessary chipset in a shared manner when data is being stored or retrieved for client or end-user.