JP3011158B2 - Magnetic disk array device and dummy module - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a magnetic disk array device of a magnetic disk array subsystem of an information processing apparatus and a cooling method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic disk array device is a system in which a plurality of drive modules are mounted via a backboard, and enables reading and writing of redundant data, making it easy to recover data even if a drive module fails. It is characterized by its high fault tolerance. FIG.
As shown in (a), the magnetic disk array device 1
A plurality of disk drive chassis 4 are attached to the housing 5, and the disk drive chassis 3 has a structure in which the drive module 2 is mounted. FIG.
As shown in (b), the board 6 is located behind the disk drive chassis 4, and the connector provided on the board 6 and the connector of the drive module 2 are joined. Behind the substrate 6, an air duct 8 having a plurality of exhaust fans 7
Has. The exhaust fan 7 is, as shown in FIG.
It is arranged at an appropriate position in the housing 5 and forcibly discharges air in the housing.

[0005] The flow of wind passing through the inside of the housing will be described with reference to FIG. The air taken in from the front of the housing or from under the floor by the function of the exhaust fan 7 passes through and around the drive module 2 of the disk drive chassis 4 as shown by an arrow 9, and is further exhausted on the substrate 6. The air passes through the mouth and the air duct 8 and is exhausted to the outside of the housing 5 as shown by an arrow 9.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drive module 2, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drive module 2 mounted on a disk drive chassis 4 and a board 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the outside of the drive module 2 has a box shape, a front mask 21 having an intake port 22 and an ejector 25 on the front, fins 23 on the upper and lower sides of the front mask, and A connector 24 is provided on the rear surface. The inside is composed of a magnetic disk drive, a power supply and circuits associated therewith. As shown in FIG.
When the drive module 2 is mounted on the disk drive chassis 4, the fins 23 of the drive module 2 are engaged with and inserted into the guides 41 provided on the disk drive chassis 4. The ejector 25 includes the drive module 2
When inserted into the disk drive chassis, it works to facilitate insertion and removal. When the drive module 2 is mounted, the connector 24 of the drive module 2 and the connector 6 on the board 6
1 connects. An exhaust port 62 is provided near the connector 61 on the board 6.

The heat generated by internal components such as a power supply
This raises the temperature inside the drive module chassis and further inside the housing, which shortens the life of the drive module components and causes malfunction. For this reason,
It is very important to take in air from the outside and cool the inside of the drive module chassis. Arrow 91 in FIG.
Shows the flow of air passing through the drive module 2. The air sucked into the housing passes through an air inlet 22 provided in the front mask 21, cools heat generated from inside the drive module 2, and is provided near the connector 61 on the board 6 to be joined to the connector 24. The exhaust gas passes through the exhaust port 62 and is discharged.

However, an empty slot may be generated depending on the system configuration of the magnetic disk array device.
At this time, the connector 61 on the board joined to the drive module 2 is exposed. Since the exhaust port 62 is provided in the vicinity of the connector 61, when a vacant slot is formed, dust entering the housing together with the atmosphere may adhere to the exposed connector. In addition, if there is an empty slot, the air flow concentrates on the empty slot portion, so that an appropriate air flow cannot be maintained, and the disk drive module cannot be uniformly cooled.

From such a viewpoint, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-2672
At 62, a substitute drive module is mounted in an empty slot. FIG. 6 shows a drive module and a substitute drive module described in JP-A-6-267262. The drive module 100 has a front panel 101.
It has a box-shaped structure, and is inserted into the disk drive chassis along a guide provided on the disk drive chassis, similar to the drive module described above, and the connector of the drive module and the connector on the back of the drive module chassis are joined. A fan is provided at the rear of the connector, and discharges air taken into the housing. As shown in FIG. 6A, this drive module 100
The front panel 101 is provided with a plurality of intake ports 102 and a handle 103 used when inserting and removing the drive module 100. The air taken into the housing passes through the front panel air inlet 102 of the drive module 100,
The drive module chassis cools and is exhausted from the fan behind the connector.

The substitute drive module 110 has a front panel of the same size as the drive module 100 and a frame of the same length as the drive module for inserting the substitute drive module along a guide provided on the drive module chassis. It is configured.
The front panel is entirely covered with a handle 111 as shown in FIG. When a substitute drive module is mounted in an empty slot, the path of air generated by the empty slot is blocked, and air flows into the drive module.

[0009]

However, since the substitute drive module of the prior art does not have the intake port provided in the drive module,
The flow of air taken into the housing from the outside is blocked by the front panel, and the air does not flow into the drive module chassis from the front of the substitute drive module. For this reason, sufficient air for cooling the drive module chassis did not flow inside, and the cooling efficiency of the entire magnetic disk array device was reduced. Further, since the positions of the empty slots are different depending on the system configuration, there has been a problem that the cooling is not uniformly performed in the housing.

Further, since the substitute drive module has a structure having only a front panel portion and a frame for insertion along a guide, a connection portion between a drive module chassis and a connector for a drive module is provided. There is no. For this reason, even when the substitute drive module is mounted, the connector part for joining with the drive module is exposed to the outside similarly to the state of the empty slot, and it is impossible to prevent dust from adhering to the connector. . Furthermore, since it is electrically neutral, the electrical effect on the drive module is the same as in the case of the empty slot.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a drive module and a plurality of drive modules. A magnetic disk array device comprising: a disk drive chassis to be held; a board disposed behind the disk drive chassis and joined to a connector of the drive module; a board having a plurality of exhaust ports; and an exhaust fan behind the board. The frame
And the substrate provided at one end of the frame.
Connector cap for engaging with connector, and such connector
Provided at the other end of the frame facing the cap.
Air inlets for allowing air to flow into both sides of the frame.
With at least one front panel.
The dummy module is mounted in an empty slot .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetic disk array device wherein the structure of the intake port of the dummy module is the same as that of the drive module. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the connector cap of the dummy module is provided near a connector of the board.
It is characterized in that it has a shape that blocks part or all of the vented exhaust port . Further, the invention described in claim 4 is adjacent.
The arm in contact with the drive module or dummy module
The finger is provided on the dummy module .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drive module, a disk drive chassis for holding a plurality of drive modules, a connector disposed behind the disk drive chassis and joined to a connector of the drive module, and a plurality of exhausts. In a magnetic disk array device including a board having an opening and an exhaust fan behind the board, a module mounted in an empty slot where a drive module is not mounted, and a frame,
The connector of the board provided at one end of the frame
Connector cap that engages with such a connector cap
Is provided at the other end of the frame so as to face the
The air inlets that allow air to flow into both sides of the frame
That it consists of one or more front panels
This is a dummy module that is a feature . The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the structure of the intake port of the dummy module is the same as that of the drive module. Claim 7
In the invention described in the above, the connector cap of the dummy module is provided with an exhaust port provided near the connector of the substrate.
It is characterized in that it has a shape that partially or completely blocks it. In the invention described in claim 8, the dummy modules are adjacent to each other.
And a ground finger that contacts the drive module or the dummy module .

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a dummy module mounted on a magnetic disk array device of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a state where the dummy module is mounted. Dummy module 3 includes a frame 3 7 of the same length as the drive module 2, and the upper and lower edges 3 3 of the frame 3 7, the front mask 3 1 of the same shape as the drive module 2, the drive module chassis connectors engage a connector cap 34, and a front mask 3 1 near the ground finger 3 6. Front mask 3 of the dummy module 3
1, a plurality of intake ports 32a and an intake port 32b provided near the center of the front mask are arranged. In the case of the dummy module 3 of FIG. 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention,
Front mask 3 1, exactly the same shape as the front mask 21 of the drive module 2, a structure. Edge 3 3 on both sides of the frame 3 7, drive module 2
Works in the same manner as the fin 23. That is, as shown in FIG.
When mounted to the edge 3 3 of the dummy module 3 to engage in contact inserted into the guide 41 provided in the disk drive chassis 4. When mounted, the connector cap 34 of the dummy module 3 engages with the connector 61 on the board 6.

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the shape of the connector cap 34 of the dummy module 3 as viewed from the direction A. The connector cap 34 is formed of a material having elasticity, and has a recess 35 inside. The recess 35 is the same as or larger than the connector 61 on the board behind the drive module chassis, and covers and protects the connector 31 on the board 6 behind the drive module chassis 4.
Further, by changing the shape or the size, the exhaust port 62 provided near the connector 61 can be covered. In this way, by adjusting the connector cap 34, it becomes possible to make the ventilation amount of the exhaust port 62 an appropriate amount.

The flow of air when the drive module and the dummy module 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention are mounted will be described with reference to FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 4A, the air sucked into the housing enters through the air inlet 22a provided in the front mask 21 of the drive module 2 and passes through the side of the drive module as indicated by the arrow 92. Then, it is discharged from the exhaust port 62 on the substrate. Further, the air that has entered through the central intake port 22b is discharged through the inside of the drive module as indicated by an arrow 94. Similarly, the flow of air when the inhaled air passes through the dummy module 3 is indicated by arrows 93 and 9.
Indicated by 5. The sucked air enters through the intake ports 32 a and 32 b of the dummy module 3, passes through the inside of the drive chassis, and is exhausted through the exhaust port 62. Dummy module 3
Since the front panel 31 of the drive module 2 and the front panel 21 of the drive module 2 are the same type, and the intake port 32 of the dummy module and the intake port 22 of the drive module are provided exactly the same, the amount of air passing through the intake port is Be even.

FIG. 4B shows the flow of air when the exhaust port 62 close to the dummy module 3 is completely closed by the connector cap 34. Since the air that has passed through the side surface of the dummy module 3 cannot pass through the exhaust port adjacent to the dummy module 3, the air passes through the exhaust port adjacent to the drive module 2 and is discharged to the outside. Therefore, the amount of air passing through the side surface of the drive module 2 increases.

The ground finger 36 provided near the front panel 31 of the dummy module 3 is mounted on the disk drive chassis while being supported in four directions.
At this time, the ground finger 36 contacts the drive module 2 or the dummy module 3 adjacent to each other,
By strengthening the electrical ground, electromagnetic waves generated from electronic circuits or other devices in the drive module are prevented from being emitted outside from the disk drive chassis.

[0019]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the disk drive chassis can be efficiently cooled. That is, by mounting the dummy module of the present invention in an empty slot, external air that has passed through the air inlet provided in the front mask of the dummy module sufficiently flows through the disk drive chassis and passes through the drive module. As a result, the cooling efficiency is improved. In addition, by covering the connector, which is provided near the exhaust port from which the air is discharged and is provided on the substrate through which the air flows, with the connector cap, the connector can be protected from dust. In the state of the empty slot, the connector on the board side that should be used originally is not used. Unused connectors are exposed to dust that enters with air,
When the disk module is inserted when it comes to the stage to be used, fit it with dust between the contacts of the connector,
Failure (dirt, rust, etc.) that may cause poor connection of the connector may occur. According to the present invention, such a problem can be prevented, and as a result, reliability is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the dummy module has the same intake port as the drive module, there is an advantage that the flow of air taken into the drive chassis becomes uniform. Furthermore, since the same parts as the front mask of the drive module can be used,
Another effect is that an inexpensive dummy module can be provided. Also, the design effect when the magnetic disk array device is viewed from the front is improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the air flow can be further concentrated on the disk drive module by closing the exhaust port on the substrate near the dummy module with the connector cap. For this reason, the cooling efficiency is further improved. The invention described in claim 4 is
By strengthening the electrical ground by the ground finger, it is possible to suppress the influence of electromagnetic waves that are undesirable for the magnetic disk array device. As a result, the reliability of the magnetic disk array device is improved.

When the dummy module according to the present invention is mounted in an empty slot of the magnetic disk array device, the same effect as that of the magnetic disk array device can be obtained. When the dummy module according to the present invention is mounted in an empty slot of the magnetic disk array device, the same effect as that of the magnetic disk array device according to the second aspect can be obtained. When the dummy module according to the present invention is mounted in an empty slot of the magnetic disk array device, the same effect as that of the magnetic disk array device according to the third aspect can be obtained. When the dummy module according to the present invention is mounted in an empty slot of the magnetic disk array device, the same effect as that of the magnetic disk array device according to the fourth aspect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a dummy module mounted on a magnetic disk array device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a drive module mounted on the magnetic disk array device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the dummy module of FIG. 1 and the drive module of FIG. 2 are mounted on a drive module chassis in the magnetic disk array device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the flow of external air according to the cooling method of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a front view of a magnetic disk array device. (B) Side view of the magnetic disk array device. (C) Rear view of the magnetic disk array device.

FIG. 6A is a front view of a drive module of a conventional magnetic disk array device. (B) Front view of a substitute drive module of the conventional magnetic disk array device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic disk array device 2 Drive module 3 Dummy module 4 Disk drive chassis 5 Case 6 Substrate 7 Exhaust fan 21 Drive module front mask 22 Drive module intake 23 Drive module fin 24 Drive module connector 31 Dummy module front mask 32 Dummy module intake Port 33 Dummy module edge 34 Dummy module connector cap 36 Dummy module ground finger 61 Connector 62 Exhaust port

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-94495 (JP, A) JP-A-7-66577 (JP, A) JP-A-60-145647 (JP, A) JP-A-7-231186 (JP) , A) JP 5-21492 (JP, U) JP 3 69292 (JP, U) JP 59-77235 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) H05K 7/20

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A drive module, a disk drive chassis holding a plurality of drive modules, a board disposed at the rear of the disk drive chassis and joined to a connector of the drive module, and a board having a plurality of exhaust ports, A magnetic disk array device comprising: an exhaust fan behind the substrate ;
The connector of the board installed at one end of the frame
Connector cap that engages with such a connector cap
Is installed at the other end of the frame facing the
The air inlets that allow air to flow into both sides of the frame
Dummy consisting of one or more front panels
A magnetic disk array device comprising a module mounted in an empty slot . 2. The magnetic disk array device according to claim 1, wherein the structure of the intake port of the dummy module is the same as that of the drive module. 3. The connector cap of the dummy module,
Part of the exhaust port provided near the connector of the board or
3. The magnetic disk array device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic disk array device has a shape that covers the whole . 4. An adjacent drive module or dummy module
The ground finger in contact with the module
4. The magnetic disk array device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic disk array device is provided on a disk. 5. A drive module, a disk drive chassis for holding a plurality of drive modules, a board disposed behind the disk drive chassis and joined to a connector of the drive module, and a board having a plurality of exhaust ports; The drive module of the magnetic disk array device including the exhaust fan behind the substrate is not yet provided.
A module mounted in a vacant slot, which is a mounting, and is provided at a frame and one end of the frame.
A connector cap to be engaged with a connector of the board,
The other side of the frame facing the connector cap
Provided at the ends, and allows air to flow into both sides of the frame.
Front panel with at least one intake port
And a dummy module. 6. The dummy module according to claim 5, wherein the structure of the intake port is the same as that of the drive module. 7. A connector according to claim 7, wherein said connector cap is connected to said connector cap.
The dummy module according to claim 5, wherein the dummy module has a shape that closes a part or all of an exhaust port provided in the vicinity of a cubic member. 8. An adjacent drive module or dummy module
8. The dummy module according to claim 5, wherein the dummy module has an earth finger in contact with the joule .