Disk array system with controllers that automate host side of ATA interface
First Claim
1. A disk array system, comprising:
- a plurality of controllers, each controller automating a host side of an ATA protocol, without fetching and executing sequences of macro-instructions, to control a respective disk drive of a plurality of disk drives;
a processor that processes input/output data written to and read from the disk drives; and
a bus that interconnects, and carries input/output data between, the processor and each of the plurality of controllers.
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Abstract
A disk array system comprises a plurality of automated controllers, each of which implements a host side of a standard ATA interface protocol within automated circuitry to control a respective disk drive. Each automated controller preferably includes a command buffer for storing disk drive commands to be executed by a respective ATA drive, and a data buffer that stores I/O data being transferred to or from the ATA disk drive. In a preferred embodiment, the automated controllers are connected by a control bus to a microcontroller that dispatches disk drive commands to the automated controllers in response to I/O requests from a host computer, and are also connected by a second bus to an automated processor. The automated processor transfers I/O data between the automated controllers/ATA disk drives and a host computer, and tracks the completion statuses of pending I/O requests.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A disk array system, comprising:
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a plurality of controllers, each controller automating a host side of an ATA protocol, without fetching and executing sequences of macro-instructions, to control a respective disk drive of a plurality of disk drives;
a processor that processes input/output data written to and read from the disk drives; and
a bus that interconnects, and carries input/output data between, the processor and each of the plurality of controllers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An input/output (I/O) subsystem, comprising:
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an ATA (AT Attachment) disk drive; and
a controller external to the ATA disk drive and connected to the ATA disk drive by a set of signal lines;
wherein the controller implements a host side of an ATA protocol within automated circuitry, without fetching and executing sequences of macro-instructions, to control the ATA disk drive over the set of signal lines. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification