Tape library rack module with environmentally isolated interior

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10271463-B2
Application number	US-201815887822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2018
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	Apr 23, 2019
Grant date	Apr 23, 2019

Abstract

A data center may include a tape library rack module along with rack computer systems. The rack computer systems may be configured to provide computing capacity within a data center environment. In some embodiments, the tape library rack module may include an enclosure encompassing an interior of the tape library rack module, a rack within the interior, and a tape library unit mounted on the rack. The tape library rack unit may include tape cartridges configured to store data within a tape environment that is different than the data center environment. The tape library rack unit may be within a portion of the interior that is enclosed such that it is environmentally isolated from the data center environment. In some examples, the tape library rack module may include a cooling unit and/or a humidifier unit, which may provide the tape environment to the environmentally isolated portion of the interior of the tape library rack module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A data center, comprising:
a rack computer system configured to provide computing capacity within a data center environment inside the data center, wherein the data center environment is maintained within a data center temperature range and a data center relative humidity range; and
a tape library rack module, including:
a tape library unit mounted within an enclosed portion of an interior of the tape library rack module, wherein the enclosed portion of the interior is environmentally isolated from the data center environment;
one or more sensors configured to detect environmental parameters within the enclosed portion; and
one or more controller processors configured to maintain a tape environment within the enclosed portion of the interior based at least in part on the detected environmental parameters, wherein the tape environment is maintained within a tape temperature range different than the data center data range and a tape relative humidity range different than the data center relative humidity range.

2. The data center of claim 1 , wherein:
the tape library rack module further includes:
a partition structure that partitions the first portion of the interior into a plurality of portions, comprising: the enclosed portion; and a second portion is environmentally isolated from the enclosed portion of the interior.

3. The data center of claim 2 , wherein:
the partition structure includes a passage between the enclosed portion and the second portion, wherein the passages is configured to be selectively open or closed, wherein when the passage is open, heat from one or more electronic devises operating within the second portion is transferred to the enclosed portion.

4. The data center of claim 3 , wherein:
the one or more controller processors are configured to selectively open or close the passage between the enclosed portion and the second portion based at least in part on the detected environmental parameters.

5. The data center of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controller processors are further configured to maintain the tape environment within the enclosed portion of the interior based at least in part on one or more of:
weather forecast data;
historical information associated with environmental parameters detected with the data center; and
historical information associated with environmental parameters detected within the tape library rack module.

6. An apparatus, comprising:
an enclosure configured to encompass an interior of the apparatus;
a rack within the interior, the rack configured to have a tape library unit configured to store data within an tape environment within an enclosed portion of the interior of the apparatus, wherein the enclosed portion is environmentally isolated from a data center environment external to the apparatus;
wherein the data center environment is maintained within at least one of an data center temperature range or an data center relative humidity range;
one or more sensors configured to detect environmental parameters within the enclosed portion; and

one or more controller processors configured to:
process information from the one or more sensors; and
maintain the tape environment within the portion of the interior based at least in part on the detected environmental parameters, wherein the tape environment is maintained within a tape temperature range different than the data center data range or a tape relative humidity range different than the data center relative humidity range.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the apparatus further includes:
a partition structure that partitions the interior into a plurality of portions, comprising:
the enclosed portion; and
a second portion of the interior environmentally isolated from the enclosed portion of the interior.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the partition structure comprises a passage physically coupled to the enclosed portion and the second portion, wherein the passage is configured to be selectively open or closed, wherein when the passage is open, heat from one or more electronic devices operating within the second portion is transferred to the enclosed portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the enclosure includes:
a top wall;
a bottom wall opposite the top wall;
a front wall that includes a door configured to provide access to the interior of the apparatus;
a rear wall opposite the front wall;
a first side wall; and
a second side wall opposite the first side wall;

wherein the one or more controller processors are configured to control whether the door is locked based at least in part on the detected environmental parameters.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein: the apparatus includes:
a cooling unit;
a humidifier unit; and
a drain tank physically coupled to the cooling unit and the humidifier unit, wherein the drain tank is configured to:
capture condensate produced by the cooling unit for use as a water supply to the humidifier unit; and
deliver the condensate, as a water source, to the humidifier unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the tape temperature range is narrower than the data center temperature range.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a heating unit configured to heat the enclosed portion, wherein the one or more controller processors are further configured to control the output of the heating unit based at least in part on the detected environmental parameters.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the tape relative humidity range is narrower than the data center relative humidity range.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein: the one or more controller processors are further configured to maintain the tape environment based at least in part on one or more of:
weather forecast data;
historical information associated with environmental parameters detected with the data center; and
historical information associated with environmental parameters detected within the tape library rack module.

15. A method, comprising:
maintaining a tape environment within an enclosed portion of a tape library rack module, wherein:
the tape library rack module includes:
a tape library unit mounted within an enclosed portion of the tape library rack module;

the enclosed portion is environmentally isolated from a data center environment that is maintained external to the tape library rack module; and
one or more controller processors configured to maintain a tape temperature range of the tape environment different than a data center temperature range of the data center environment and a tape relative humidity range of the tape environment different than a data center relative humidity range of the data center environment based at least in part on the detected environmental parameters.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said maintaining the environment comprises:
providing heat to the enclosed portion via at least one of:
selectively opening and closing, based at least in part on the detected environmental parameters, a passage between the enclosed portion and another portion of an interior of the tape library rack module, wherein when the passage is open, heat produced by one or more electronic components operating within the second portion is transferred to the enclosed portion; and
controlling, by the one or more controller processors based at least in part on the detected environmental parameters, heat produced by a heating unit configured to heat the enclosed portion.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Frink Darin Lee
• Bailey Kevin
• Ross Peter George
• Donlan Bryan James
• Kirschner James Caleb
• Calansingin Mary Crys
• Franklin Paul David
• Kubo Mastaka

Classifications

• G11B33/144

  by detection, control, regulation of the temperature · CPC title

• G11B33/1406

  Reducing the influence of the temperature · CPC title

• H05K7/20745 Primary

  within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device · CPC title

• G11B15/68

  Automatic cassette changing arrangements; {automatic tape changing arrangements} · CPC title

• H05K7/1498

  Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location (thermal management H05K7/20836) · CPC title