Apparatus for effecting port switching of fibre channel loops
First Claim
1. A fibre channel communications sub-system comprisinga plurality of channel devices arranged in a plurality of channel loops,a plurality of channel controllers,a software controlled switching circuit electrically connecting the channel controllers to the fibre channel loops in varying selected configurations, said circuit comprisinga plurality of switch elements arranged in a matrix-like configuration having controller loops connected to the channel controllers and drive loops connected to the channel devices, for selectively electrically connecting, under software control, each drive loop to a selected controller loop, andeach switch element, in a first mode of operation, passing electrical communication signals in one through direction, and in a second mode of operation, passing electrical communication signals in a second bypass direction,whereby each drive loop is electrically connected to a selected one of said channel controllers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fibre channel disk drive operating system configures a plurality of disk drives into a fibre channel drive loop. The system also provides plurality of disk drive controllers, and a software controlled switching circuit electrically connecting the disk drive controllers to the disk drives which are arranged in the fibre channel drive loop in varying selected configurations. The switching circuit has a plurality of switch elements arranged for selectively electrically connecting each fibre channel drive loop to a selected controller. Each switch element in a first mode of operation passes electrical signals in a through direction and in a second mode of operation passes electrical signals in a second bypass direction. Thereby each fibre channel drive loop is electrically connected to a selected one of disk drive controllers prior to operation of the system.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A fibre channel communications sub-system comprising
a plurality of channel devices arranged in a plurality of channel loops, a plurality of channel controllers, a software controlled switching circuit electrically connecting the channel controllers to the fibre channel loops in varying selected configurations, said circuit comprising a plurality of switch elements arranged in a matrix-like configuration having controller loops connected to the channel controllers and drive loops connected to the channel devices, for selectively electrically connecting, under software control, each drive loop to a selected controller loop, and each switch element, in a first mode of operation, passing electrical communication signals in one through direction, and in a second mode of operation, passing electrical communication signals in a second bypass direction, whereby each drive loop is electrically connected to a selected one of said channel controllers.
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3. A fibre channel disk drive sub-system comprising
a plurality of disk drives arranged in a plurality of channel loops, a plurality of disk drive controllers, a software controlled switching circuit electrically connecting the disk drive controllers to the fibre channel loops in varying selected configurations, said circuit comprising a plurality of switch elements arranged in a matrix-like configuration having controller loops connected to the drive controllers and drive loops connected to the disk drives, for selectively electrically connecting, under software control, each drive loop to a selected controller loop, and each switch element, in a first mode of operation, passing electrical communication signals in one through direction, and in a second mode of operation, passing electrical communication signals in a second bypass direction, whereby each drive loop is electrically connected to a selected one of said disk drive controllers.
Specification