Patent ID: 8572430

Claim:
A storage apparatus for providing a logical storage area as a data storage area to an external apparatus, comprising: a physical storage medium for creating the logical storage area; first and second storage control modules each of which is communicatively coupled to the physical storage medium to control data input/output processing between the external apparatus and the logical storage area; and first and second power supply modules each of which supplies power to the physical storage medium and the first and second storage control modules and includes a blower for generating a cooling airflow to cool down the physical storage medium and the first and second storage control modules, wherein the blower of the first power supply module generates a first cooling airflow which flows through the physical storage medium, the first storage control module, and the first power supply module, the blower of the second power supply module generates a second cooling airflow which flows through the physical storage medium, the second storage control module, and the second power supply module, and in a case where the first power supply module is removed from the storage apparatus, the blower of the second power supply module generates a third cooling airflow which flows through the physical storage medium, the first storage control module, and the second power supply module as a replacement for the first cooling airflow, wherein: a first vent is provided on a first partitioning plate between the first storage control module and the second storage control module, a second vent is provided on a second partitioning plate between the first storage control module and the first power supply module, wherein the second vent is provided with a shutter for opening and closing the second vent, a third vent is provided on a third partitioning plate between the second storage control module and the second power supply module, and the path of the first cooling airflow changes to the path of the third cooling airflow by closing the second vent by the shutter.