High speed switch for high speed connection between computers and peripheral devices

• US 5,961,627 A
• Filed: 06/18/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gegalabs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gigalabs Incorporated
• Inventors: Yen, Chung Liang, Fok, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US08/878,081
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 710/131, 710/132, 710/129, 710/126, 710/100, 710/101, 710/2
• US Class Current: 710/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence

Abstract

A switch assembly for connecting computers to SCSI peripheral devices in order to pipe data directly from computer to peripheral devices without the use of LAN switches or NICs. The assembly comprises a crosspoint switch having a plurality of input terminals and a like plurality of output terminals. The assembly also includes a like plurality of connection ports; and a like plurality of interconnection device. Each interconnection device is connected between a corresponding connection port and a corresponding input terminal. Each interconnection device includes an SCSI control section connected to the corresponding connection port and a switch control section connected to the corresponding input terminal. Each interconnection device also includes a CPU, a table memory, a buffer memory and an internal system bus connected to both sections, both memories and said CPU.

Claims

1. A switch assembly for connecting computers to SCSI peripheral devices in order to pipe data directly from computer to peripheral devices without the use of LAN switches or NICs, said assembly comprising:

at least one of said computers;

at least one of said peripheral devices;

a crosspoint switch having a plurality of input terminals and an equal plurality of output terminals, each one of said peripheral devices being adapted for connection to a corresponding one of said output terminals;

an equal plurality of connection ports, each one of said computers being adapted for connection to a corresponding one of said connection ports;

an equal plurality of interconnection devices, each interconnection device being connected between a corresponding connection port and a corresponding input terminal, each interconnection device including an SCSI control section connected to said corresponding connection port and a switch control section connected to said corresponding input terminal, a CPU, a table memory, a buffer memory and an internal system bus connected to both sections, both memories and said CPU, said switch connecting the corresponding input terminal to a selected one of the output terminals in accordance with signals supplied from said crosspoint switch control section to the corresponding input port.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each computer is connected via a local bus, a corresponding SCSI connector and a corresponding SCSI cable to the corresponding connection port.

3. The assembly of claim 2 further including a watch dog timer connected to said CPU.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each peripheral device is connected via another local bus, a corresponding SCSI device connector and a corresponding SCSI cable to the corresponding output terminal.