초록 ▼

A modular and highly available RAID system has a fiber channel arbitrated loop (FC-AL) interface coupled with a disk array. Fault-tolerant operation is assured. The system provides dual and isolated arbitrated host and storage device loop circuits for redundant, independent input/output (I/O) paths

A modular and highly available RAID system has a fiber channel arbitrated loop (FC-AL) interface coupled with a disk array. Fault-tolerant operation is assured. The system provides dual and isolated arbitrated host and storage device loop circuits for redundant, independent input/output (I/O) paths to local and/or remote host computers. Each loop includes bypass circuits which prevent the failure of any device (host computer or storage device) from affecting the operation of loop. Orthogonal data striping may be used to further assure data integrity.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A controller for controlling communications between a plurality of host computer systems and a data storage subsystem, comprising:a first host loop; anda first plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit connecting one of said plurality of host computer sy

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A controller for controlling communications between a plurality of host computer systems and a data storage subsystem, comprising:a first host loop; anda first plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit connecting one of said plurality of host computer systems to said host loop, each port bypass circuit bypassing its associated host computer system if said associated host computer system becomes unavailable, wherein communication with remaining host computer systems is uninterrupted by said unavailable host computer system.