Dual-use DB9 connector for RS-232 or dual-active controller communication
First Claim
1. A method for operating a first RAID storage controller to reset a second RAID storage controller, said first controller having a first connector, said second controller having a second connector, said first and second controllers communicating with each other using RS-232 protocol via said first and second connectors and a cable, each of said connectors having eight pins to handle RS-232 protocol and an additional, ninth pin, said method comprising the steps of:
- said second controller sending a cable present signal to said first controller via said ninth pin of each of said connectors and said cable when said cable is present between said first and second controllers;
said first controller pinging said second controller to determine, by an appropriate response from said second controller or lack of said appropriate response, whether or not said second controller is able to communicate with said first controller; and
if said appropriate response is not received by said first controller from said second controller and if said cable present signal is being received by said first controller from said second controller, said first controller sending a reset signal to said second controller.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit and special cable which allow a single DB9 connector to provide a standard RS-232 interface to a RAID controller in single RAID controller systems or to provide a controller-to-controller communication link for messaging, control and status signals when the special cable is used to interconnect two RAID controllers in a dual-active system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a first RAID storage controller to reset a second RAID storage controller, said first controller having a first connector, said second controller having a second connector, said first and second controllers communicating with each other using RS-232 protocol via said first and second connectors and a cable, each of said connectors having eight pins to handle RS-232 protocol and an additional, ninth pin, said method comprising the steps of:
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said second controller sending a cable present signal to said first controller via said ninth pin of each of said connectors and said cable when said cable is present between said first and second controllers;
said first controller pinging said second controller to determine, by an appropriate response from said second controller or lack of said appropriate response, whether or not said second controller is able to communicate with said first controller; and
if said appropriate response is not received by said first controller from said second controller and if said cable present signal is being received by said first controller from said second controller, said first controller sending a reset signal to said second controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A storage controller system comprising:
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a first storage controller having a first connector;
a second storage controller having a second connector, said first and second controllers communicating with each other using RS-232 protocol via said first and second connectors and a cable, each of said connectors having eight pins to handle RS-232 protocol and an additional, ninth pin;
said second controller includes circuitry to send a cable present signal to said first controller via said ninth pin of each of said connectors and said cable when said cable is present between said first and second controllers;
said first controller includes programming to ping said second controller to determine, by an appropriate response from said second controller or lack of said appropriate response, whether or not said second controller is able to communicate with said first controller; and
if said appropriate response is not received by said first controller from said second controller and if said cable present signal is being received by said first controller from said second controller, said first controller includes circuitry to send a reset signal to said second controller. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product for operating a first RAID storage controller to reset a second RAID storage controller, said first controller having a first connector, said second controller having a second connector, said first and second controllers communicating with each other using RS-232 protocol via said first and second connectors and a cable, each of said connectors having eight pins to handle RS-232 protocol and an additional, ninth pin, said computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable medium;
first program instructions in said first controller to process a cable present signal received from said second controller via said ninth pin of each of said connectors and said cable when said cable is present between said first and second controllers;
second program instructions in said first controller to ping said second controller to determine, by an appropriate response from said second controller or lack of said appropriate response, whether or not said second controller is able to communicate with said first controller; and
if said appropriate response is not received by said first controller from said second controller and if said cable present signal is being received by said first controller from said second controller, third program instructions in said first controller to initiate a reset signal to said second controller; and
wherein said first, second and third program instructions are recorded on said medium. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification