Abstract:
A first communication path, which is coupled to a first controller and to a plurality of storage devices (PDEV), and a second communication path, which is coupled to a second controller and to these plurality of PDEVs are provided. Each communication path has a plurality of expanders coupled in series. In order to shorten the time during which the communication path is not used for I/O, either (A) the length of time for which I/O suppression is set for the communication path is shortened, or (B) the overall time it takes for processing other than I/O processing is shortened. In the (A), a determination as to whether or not the coupling between the expanders has been disconnected is made for the I/O-suppressed communication path, and in a case where the result of this determination is negative, a discover process is carried out after releasing the I/O suppression with respect to this communication path. In the (B), the number of command issue times of updating routing control information of the expander is reduced.
Abstract:
Port management information is prepared for managing information related to the status of each of a plurality of ports possessed by a storage system in a unified manner. Change of the status related to any one of a plurality of ports from 'normal' to anomalous is detected. For a subject external device which is using the anomalous path as an I/O path, a 'normal' port is selected, on the basis of the port management information, from one or more ports related to one or more paths which are being used as alternate paths. And information related to this 'normal' port which has been selected is notified to the subject external device. During path changeover, the subject external device selects as an I/O path an alternate path which is related to the 'normal' port specified from the notified information.
Abstract:
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for providing data redundancy in a plurality of storage devices. In operation, storage commands are received for providing data redundancy in accordance with a first data redundancy scheme. Additionally, the storage commands are translated for providing the data redundancy in accordance with a second data redundancy scheme. Furthermore, the translated storage commands are outputted for providing the data redundancy in a plurality of storage devices.
Abstract:
A data storage system includes a first and second boards disposed in a chassis. The first board has disposed thereon a first Serial Attached Small Computer Systems Interface (SAS) expander, a first management controller (MC) in communication with the first SAS expander, and management resources accessible to the first MC. The second board has disposed thereon a second SAS expander and a second MC. The system also has a communications link between the first and second MCs. Primary access to the management resources is provided in a first path which is through the first SAS expander and the first MC, and secondary access to the first management resources is provided in a second path which is through the second SAS expander and the second MC.
Abstract:
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically verifying access to a multipathed target at boot time. The apparatus is provided with a logic unit containing a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of identifying a plurality of paths to a target device, automatically selecting one of the plurality of paths to the target device, and verifying access on at least one path to the target device. Beneficially, the disclosed embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method reduce false errors during the boot cycle, improve reliability of the multipathed network, simplify traffic load balancing, and provide for topology mapping for troubleshooting and network metrics. The disclosed embodiments provide a means for verifying multipathed targets automatically, without requiring user assistance, intervention, or interaction.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit implementing a storage-shelf router (2402, 2403, 2404, 2405) used alone, or in combination with other storage-shelf routers (2402, 2403, 2404, 2405), and in combination with path controller cards, to interconnect the disks within a storage shelf or disk array to a high-bandwidth communications medium, such as an FC arbitrated loop, through which data is exchanged between the individual disk drives of the storage shelf and a disk-array controller. A set of interconnected storage-shelf routers (2402, 2403, 2404, 2405) within a storage shelf can be accessed through a single port of an FC arbitrated loop or other high-bandwidth communications medium. Because, in one implementation, eight storage-shelf routers (2402, 2403, 2404, 2405) can be interconnected within a storage shelf to provide highly available interconnection of sixty-four disk drives within the storage shelf to an FC arbitrated loop via a single FC-arbitrated-loop port, a single FC arbitrated loop including a disk-array controller, may interconnect 8,000 individual disk drives to the disk-array controller within a disk array. The storage-shelf router can serve to translate FC-based communications protocols into one or more communication protocols appropriate to the internal links, providing for use of less expensive, non-FC-compatible disk drives within the storage shelf.
Abstract:
A high speed, microcomputer based, Fibre Channel compatible and fault tolerant information processing and mass storage system especially suited for information servers and application servers. A unique and extremely versatile system architecture, including a dual loop arbitrated, Fibre Channel capable, multiple-fault tolerant, hot-swappable mass storage disk array, permits combinations of servers and mass storage arrays which can be tailored for a wide variety of applications and which can be configured with emphasis on the system characteristics such as redundancy, speed, processing capability, storage capability, and the like, as desired. A unique backplane and/or midplane arrangement for connecting the system components allows for easy and, in most cases, on-line field upgrading and/or service and at the same time provides for the very efficient cooling of components, particularly those such as disk drives which tend to produce a lot of heat.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for performing fault-tolerant network computing using redundant communications modules. The apparatus comprises a pair of network appliances coupled to a network. The appliances interact with one another to detect a failure in one appliance and instantly transition operations from the failed appliance to a functional appliance. Each appliance monitors the status of another appliance using multiple, redundant communication channels are formed using a plurality of network interface cards.
Abstract:
A high speed, microcomputer based, Fibre Channel compatible and fault tolerant information processing and mass storage system especially suited for information servers and application servers. A unique and extremely versatile system architecture, including a dual loop arbitrated, Fibre Channel capable, multiple-fault tolerant, hot-swappable mass storage disk array, permits combinations of servers and mass storage arrays which can be tailored for a wide variety of applications and which can be configured with emphasis on the system characteristics such as redundancy, speed, processing capability, storage capability, and the like, as desired. A unique backplane and/or midplane arrangement for connecting the system components allows for easy and, in most cases, on-line field upgrading and/or service and at the same time provides for the very efficient cooling of components, particularly those such as disk drives which tend to produce a lot of heat.