초록 ▼

A data storage system is provided wherein each one of a plurality of disk interfaces is coupled to a corresponding storage disk drive. The disk interfaces in one portion are coupled through a first unidirectional channel to a first disk controller and the disk interfaces in another portion of the di

A data storage system is provided wherein each one of a plurality of disk interfaces is coupled to a corresponding storage disk drive. The disk interfaces in one portion are coupled through a first unidirectional channel to a first disk controller and the disk interfaces in another portion of the disk interfaces are coupled through a second unidirectional channel to a second disk controller. Each disk interface includes a switch adapted to allow data to pass to another disk drive in the channel thereof; and, when the other channel becomes inoperative, coupling the disk drive in the inoperative channel to the operative fiber channel. With such arrangement, a disk drive may be removed without requiring a shut-down of the storage system (i.e., the disk drive may be "hot swapped"). In one embodiment, a pair of the switches is disposed on the common printed circuit board with the disk interface for enabling depopulation, or removal of, disk drives from the storage system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A disk interface adapted for coupling a disk drive to a fiber channel to control the disk drive, such interface having:an interface input port;an interface output port;a first switch having a pair of input ports and a pair of output ports, such first switch, in response t

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A disk interface adapted for coupling a disk drive to a fiber channel to control the disk drive, such interface having:an interface input port;an interface output port;a first switch having a pair of input ports and a pair of output ports, such first switch, in response to one state of a control signal coupling a first one of the pair of input ports to a first one of the pair of output ports and a second one of the pair of input ports to a second one of the pair of output ports, and in response to a second state, coupling the first one of the pair of input ports to the second one of the pair of output ports;a second switch having a pair of input ports and a pair of output ports, such second switch, in response to one state of a control signal coupling a first one of the pair of input ports to a first one of the pair of output ports and a second one of the pair of input ports to a second one of the pair of output ports, and in response to a second state, coupling the first one of the pair of input ports to the second one of the pair of output ports;a first one of the pair of first switch input ports being serially coupled to the interface through the disk drive;one of the pair of first switch output ports being coupled to a first one of the pair of second switch input ports;a first one of the second switch output ports being coupled to the interface output port;the other one of the pair of first switch input ports and the other one of the pair of first switch output ports being adapted for coupling to another disk interface; and,the other one of the pair of second switch input ports and the other one of the pair of second switch output ports being adapted for coupling to the fiber channel.