Patent ID: 7007141

Claim:
An archival storage apparatus for use in a hierarchical storage infrastructure having a primary memory, the archival storage apparatus comprising: an archival storage unit configured to store archival data, the archival storage unit including at least one spindle of disks configured to magnetically store archival data; an interconnect configured to couple the archival storage system to the primary storage system; and a control unit configured to process requests over the interconnect to either archive data stored in the primary memory in the archival storage unit or retrieve data from the archival storage unit and provide the retrieved data to the primary storare unit, the control unit further configured to extend the lifetime of the at least one spindle of disks by selectively controlling the at least one spindle of disks using an algorithm intended to extend the longevity of the at least one spindle of disks, the algorithm relying on the following parameters: the cost of the archival storage unit; the cost per watt to operate the archival storage unit; the spin lifetime of the at least one spindle of disks; the total number of start-and-stops of the at least one spindle of disks; the time taken to spin in the at least one spindle of disks; the number of watts consumed for read or write operation to the archival storage unit; and the number of watts consumed for a spin up of the at least one spindle of disks.