Large array of SATA data device assembly for use in a peripheral storage system

• US 20040083323A1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eli Danino, Josef Rabinovitz
• Original Assignee: Eli Danino, Josef Rabinovitz
• Inventors: Danino, Eli, Rabinovitz, Josef
• Application Number:
  US10/281,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083323A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/315
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device

Abstract

A combined computer system and peripheral data storage subsystem include a computer system has a host PCI bus and a parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge coupled to the host PCI bus and a peripheral data storage subsystem having an enclosure having a back-plane with slots for fifteen serial ATA storage devices, fifteen serial ATA data storage devices each of which is inserted into one of the fifteen slots of the back-plane, a first serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge disposed in the enclosure and coupled to each of eight of the fifteen serial ATA storage devices, a second serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge disposed in the enclosure and coupled to each of the remaining seven of the fifteen serial ATA storage devices and a parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge coupled to the first and second serial ATA to PCI parallel bridges, and a serial PCI link interconnect wherein the serial PCI link interconnect couples the parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge of the peripheral data storage subsystem to the serial PCI host bus adapter of the computer system.

Claims

1. A peripheral data storage subsystem for use with a computer system having a PCI bus and a parallel PCI to serial PCI, said peripheral data storage subsystem comprising:

a. a plurality of data storage devices;

b. a data storage device to serial PCI link coupled to each of said data storage devices;

c. a serial PCI link wherein said serial PCI link couples said parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge of said peripheral data storage subsystem to said serial PCI host bus adapter of said computer system.

2. A combined computer system and peripheral data storage subsystem comprising:

d. a computer system which includes;

i. a host PCI bus; and

ii. a serial PCI host bus adapter coupled to said host PCI bus;

e. a peripheral data storage subsystem which includes;

four serial ATA storage devices;

i. a serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge coupled to each of said four serial ATA storage devices; and

ii. a parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge coupled to said serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge; and

f. a serial PCI link interconnect wherein said serial PCI link interconnect couples said parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge of said peripheral data storage subsystem to said serial PCI host bus adapter of said computer system.

3. A combined computer system and peripheral data storage subsystem comprising:

a. a computer system which includes;

i. a host PCI bus; and

ii. a parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge coupled to said host PCI bus;

b. a peripheral data storage subsystem which includes;

i. an enclosure having a back-plane with slots for fifteen serial ATA storage devices;

ii. fifteen serial ATA data storage devices each of which is inserted into one of said fifteen slots of said back-plane;

iii. a first serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge disposed in said enclosure and coupled to each of eight of said fifteen serial ATA storage devices;

iv. a second serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge disposed in said enclosure and coupled to each of the remaining seven of said fifteen serial ATA storage devices; and

v. a parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge coupled to said first and second serial ATA to PCI parallel bridges; and

c. a serial PCI link interconnect wherein said serial PCI link interconnect couples said parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge of said peripheral data storage subsystem to said serial PCI host bus adapter of said computer system.

5. A combined computer system and peripheral data storage subsystem according to claim 3 wherein each of said ten peripheral data storage subsystem has a RAID controller.

7. A combined computer system and peripheral data storage subsystem according to claim 5 wherein each of said ten peripheral data storage subsystem has a RAID controller.

4. a combined computer system and peripheral data storage subsystem comprising:

a. a computer system which includes;

i. a host PCI bus; and

ii. a serial PCI host bus adapter coupled to said host PCI bus;

b. ten peripheral data storage subsystems each of which includes;

i. an enclosure having a back-plane with slots for fifteen serial ATA storage devices;

ii. fifteen serial ATA data storage devices each of which is inserted into one of said fifteen slots;

iii. a first serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge disposed in said enclosure and coupled to each of eight of said fifteen serial ATA storage devices;

iv. a second serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge disposed in said enclosure and coupled to each of the remaining seven of said fifteen serial ATA storage devices; and

v. a parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge coupled to said first and second serial ATA to PCI parallel bridges;

vi. a serial PCI switch wherein said first serial PCI switch couples said parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge of each of said fifteen peripheral data storage subsystems to said serial PCI host bus adapter of said computer system.

6. A combined computer system and peripheral data storage subsystem comprising:

c. two computer systems each of which includes;

i. a host PCI bus; and

ii. a serial PCI host bus adapter coupled to said host PCI bus;

d. ten peripheral data storage subsystems each of which includes;

ii. an enclosure having a back-plane with slots for fifteen serial ATA storage devices;

vii. fifteen serial ATA data storage devices each of which is inserted into one of said fifteen slots;

viii. a first serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge disposed in said enclosure and coupled to each of eight of said fifteen serial ATA storage devices;

ix. a second serial ATA to parallel PCI bridge disposed in said enclosure and coupled to each of the remaining seven of said fifteen serial ATA storage devices; and

x. a parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge coupled to said first and second serial ATA to PCI parallel bridges;

xi. a first serial PCI switch wherein said first serial PCI switch couples said parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge of each of said fifteen peripheral data storage subsystems to said serial PCI host bus adapter of each of said two computer systems; and

xii. a second serial PCI switch wherein said second first serial PCI switch couples said parallel PCI to serial PCI bridge of each of said fifteen peripheral data storage subsystems to said serial PCI host bus adapter of each of said two computer systems.