Title:
INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT IMPLEMENTATION OF A STORAGE-SHELF ROUTER AND A PATH CONTROLLER CARD FOR COMBINED USE IN HIGH-AVAILABILITY MASS-STORAGE-DEVICE SHELVES THAT MAY BE INCORPORATED WITHIN DISK ARRAYS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2006065281
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
One embodiment of the present invention is an integrated circuit implementing a storage-shelf router (1102), used in combination with path controller cards (1110) and optionally with other storage-shelf routers (1104), to interconnect SA' disks (1108) within a storage shelf (1100) or disk array to a high-bandwidth communications medium, such as an FC arbitrated loop (1008). When two, four, six, or eight or more storage-shelf routers are used within a storage shelf, and tl interconnections between the storage-shelf routers, disk drives, and external communications media are properly designed and configured, the resulting storage shelf constitutes a discrete, highly-available component that may be included in a disk array or in other types of electronic devices. The storage-shelf router features a disk-drive adaptation layer (3604) that allows a storage-shelf router to interface to, and manage, any of many different types of disk drives (3608-3611). The disk-drive adaptation layer includes a disk-profile table (3902) and associated firmware logic.
Inventors:
STEINMETZ JOSEPH J (US)
NIDUMBUR AVINASH (US)
SIDHU RANDEEP S (US)
NIDUMBUR AVINASH (US)
SIDHU RANDEEP S (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2005/022731
Publication Date:
October 12, 2006
Filing Date:
June 23, 2005
Export Citation:
Assignee:
SIERRA LOGIC INC (US)
International Classes:
G06F13/00; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F12/00; G06F12/08; G06F13/38; G06F13/42; H04L29/08; G06F
Foreign References:
| US6965956B1 | 2005-11-15 | |||
| US6098129A | 2000-08-01 |
Other References:
See also references of EP 1839161A4
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