Abstract:
A method, apparatus and software is disclosed for managing storage controller failure in a set of storage modules each comprising a set of one or more storage elements connected to a storage controller via connection means, in which at least one of the storage modules is provided with additional storage system fabric for providing a redundant connection to a storage controller of another storage module.
Abstract:
A logic arrangement for reducing incidence of errors in connections between a power consumer apparatus and a power supply apparatus, comprises: a pattern-generating component for generating an identifiable pattern for a patterned load to be drawn from a power supply connection; a load-drawing component, responsive to the pattern-generating component, 10 for drawing the patterned load from the power supply connection; and a testing component at the power consumer apparatus for testing across a signal connection for a responsive supply to satisfy demand for the patterned load by the power supply apparatus. The logic arrangement may further be embodied as a system or as a computer program.
Abstract:
An arrangement of apparatus for safely writing data and parity to multiply-redundant storage comprises a first storage component operable to store at least a first mark in a storage device to index uniquely a pattern to be written by at least a data write; a write component operable to perform the at least data write; a further storage component operable to overwrite a mark in the storage device with at least a further mark to index uniquely a pattern to be written by a parity write; and a further write component operable to perform the parity write. Preferably, the first storage component comprises a second storage component operable to overwrite said at least first mark in said storage device with a second mark to index a pattern to be written by a first parity write; and the write component is further operable to perform the first parity write.
Abstract:
Described is a technique for transferring data from a data storage system to a connected host data processing system. The subsystem comprises a device controller connected to one or more direct access storage devices e.g. disk drives. The system issues data transfer commands to the subsystem to iniciate transfer of data between system and device(s). Read/write data is transferred directly from device to host via a buffer in the controller. For a read operation, the read command specifies the data to be transferred and the start address in host memory to which it should be sent. The device controller is capable of amending the start address to which it actually sends the data. This provides a performance benefit for split data transfers. In addition, if an error occurs during a read operation, the controller can specify the host address to which the replacement data should be sent.
Abstract:
A modified electronics package and a method of manufacture of a modified electronics package with dimensions constrained by standards, comprising an envelope and a circuit structure. The circuit structure provides a free space within the dimensions, which contains a connector for connecting a further circuit structure with either the circuit structure or with a device outside the envelope. In further embodiments of the invention, the modified electronics package meets Storage Bridge Bay Working Group (SBB) specifications. It may also comprise a further circuit structure, which may be a PCIe adapter card or a data storage device. Further embodiments include an apparatus comprising a modified electronics package in combination with controller modules or further modified electronics packages, along with a rack mounted storage system with such apparatuses.
Abstract:
A logic arrangement for reducing incidence of errors in connections between a power consumer apparatus and a power supply apparatus, comprises: a pattern-generating component for generating an identifiable pattern for a patterned load to be drawn from a power supply connection; a load-drawing component, responsive to the pattern-generating component, 10 for drawing the patterned load from the power supply connection; and a testing component at the power consumer apparatus for testing across a signal connection for a responsive supply to satisfy demand for the patterned load by the power supply apparatus. The logic arrangement may further be embodied as a system or as a computer program.
Abstract:
A high performance data storage subsystem is described which is suitable for connection to a data processing system. The main functional units of the subsystem are (i) host adapter, (ii) device controller and (iii) direct access storage device (DASD). The functional units are interconnected by dedicated, point to point, full duplex serial links over which commands and data are trasmitted in the form of packets. The serial links also support packet multiplexing which allows commands transmitted over the serial link to be multiplexed with read or write data being transferred from and to the devices. A basic configuration of the subsystem comprises an adapter connected via a serial link to a controller which is in turn connected by four serial links to four DASDs. However the subsystem architecture described allows each adapter to be connected to up to four controllers, thus allowing a maximum of sixteen devices to be attached to one adapter.
Abstract:
An arrangement of apparatus for safely writing data and parity to multiply-redundant storage comprises a first storage component operable to store at least a first mark in a storage device to index uniquely a pattern to be written by at least a data write; a write component operable to perform the at least data write; a further storage component operable to overwrite a mark in the storage device with at least a further mark to index uniquely a pattern to be written by a parity write; and a further write component operable to perform the parity write. Preferably, the first storage component comprises a second storage component operable to overwrite said at least first mark in said storage device with a second mark to index a pattern to be written by a first parity write; and the write component is further operable to perform the first parity write.
Abstract:
Described is a system and method of communicating between first and second nodes connected by a serial link wherein the data is transmitted between the nodes in the form of packets made up of multiple bit frames. Each packet that is correctly received by the second node is acknowledged by means of a pair of multibit frames. These frames may be interleaved among the frames making up any outgoing data packet that is being transmitted by the second node. The technique employed provides unambiguous acknowledgment of each data packet and if a data packet is received incorrectly, the packet is available in a buffer in the first node for resending.
Abstract:
A logic arrangement for reducing incidence of errors in connections between a power consumer apparatus and a power supply apparatus, comprises: a pattern-generating component for generating an identifiable pattern for a patterned load to be drawn from a power supply connection; a load-drawing component, responsive to the pattern-generating component, 10 for drawing the patterned load from the power supply connection; and a testing component at the power consumer apparatus for testing across a signal connection for a responsive supply to satisfy demand for the patterned load by the power supply apparatus. The logic arrangement may further be embodied as a system or as a computer program.