Fiber-channel arbitrated-loop split loop operation
First Claim
1. An enclosure services processor card arranged to selectively split a fibre-channel arbitrated-loop (FC-AL) of devices into two split loops,said card being adapted to plug into a backplane for a rack enclosure and including a first switch operatively connected to a hub for said FC-AL,said hub comprising a plurality of port bypass circuits,each port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to a respective one of each of said devices comprising said fibre channel arbitrated loop,said hub further comprising second and third switches operatively controlled by said first switch,said second and third switches being disposed between respective port bypass circuits at which said loop is to be split so that in a first state said second and third switches connect said devices in a single loop and in a second state said second and third switches divide said devices into two split loops,said single loop of the first state having a first bandwidth,said two split loops of the second state having a second bandwidth, said second bandwidth being twice that of the first bandwidth.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An enclosure services processor card is arranged to selectively split a fiber-channel arbitrated-loop (FC-AL) into two split loops. The card is adapted to plug into a backplane for a rack enclosure and includes a first switch operatively connected to a hub for the FC-AL. The hub comprises a plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to a respective one of each of the devices comprising the fiber channel arbitrated loop. The hub further comprises a pair of switches operatively controlled by the first switch, the pair of switches being disposed between respective port bypass circuits at which the loop is to be split. In a first state the pair of switches connect the devices in a single loop and in a second state the pair of switches divide the devices into two split loops.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An enclosure services processor card arranged to selectively split a fibre-channel arbitrated-loop (FC-AL) of devices into two split loops,
said card being adapted to plug into a backplane for a rack enclosure and including a first switch operatively connected to a hub for said FC-AL, said hub comprising a plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to a respective one of each of said devices comprising said fibre channel arbitrated loop, said hub further comprising second and third switches operatively controlled by said first switch, said second and third switches being disposed between respective port bypass circuits at which said loop is to be split so that in a first state said second and third switches connect said devices in a single loop and in a second state said second and third switches divide said devices into two split loops, said single loop of the first state having a first bandwidth, said two split loops of the second state having a second bandwidth, said second bandwidth being twice that of the first bandwidth.
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4. An enclosure services processor card arranged to selectively split a fibre-channel arbitrated-loop (FC-AL) of devices into two split loops,
said card being adapted to plug into a backplane for a rack enclosure and including a first switch operatively connected to a hub for said FC-AL, said hub comprising a plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to a respective one of each of said devices comprising said fibre channel arbitrated loop, said hub further comprising second and third switches operatively controlled by said first switch, said second and third switches being disposed between respective port bypass circuits at which said loop is to be spilt so that in a first state said second and third switches connect said devices in a single loop and in a second state said second and third switches divide said devices into two split loops, wherein said hub further comprises a further port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to an expansion port through which a further one or more devices can be connected to said loop.
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11. An enclosure services processor card arranged to selectively split a fibre-channel arbitrated-loop (FC-AL) of devices into two split loops,
said card being adapted to plug into a backplane for a rack enclosure and including a first switch operatively connected to a hub for said FC-AL, said hub comprising a plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to a respective one of each of said devices comprising said fibre channel arbitrated loop, said hub further comprising second and third switches operatively controlled by said first switch, said second and third switches being disposed between respective port bypass circuits at which said loop is to be split so that in a first state said second and third switches connect said devices in a single loop and in a second state said second and third switches divide said devices into two split loops, whereby dividing said devices into two split loops gives rise to a bandwidth double that of the devices connected in single loop.
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18. A method for use with an enclosure services processor card arranged to selectively split a fibre-channel arbitrated-loop (FC-AL) of devices into two split loops, said card being adapted to plug into a backplane for a rack enclosure and including a first switch operatively connected to a hub for said FC-AL, said hub comprising a plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to a respective one of each of said devices comprising said fibre channel arbitrated loop, said hub further comprising second and third switches operatively controlled by said first switch, said second and third switches being disposed between respective port bypass circuits at which said loop is to be split so that in a first state said second and third switches connect said devices in a single loop and in a second state said second and third switches divide said devices into two split loops, the method comprising the step of:
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flipping said first switch from a first position to a second position, the operation of which causes each of said second and said third switches to flip from a first position to a second position, thereby dividing said devices into two split loops, said two split loops together having twice the bandwidth of said devices connected in a single loop. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for use with an enclosure services processor card arranged to selectively split a fibre-channel arbitrated-loop (FC-AL) of devices into two split loops, said card being adapted to plug into a backplane for a rack enclosure and including a first switch operatively connected to a hub for said FC-AL, said hub comprising a plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to a respective one of each of said devices comprising said fibre channel arbitrated loop, said hub further comprising second and third switches operatively controlled by said first switch, said second and third switches being disposed between respective port bypass circuits at which said loop is to be split so that in a first state said second and third switches connect said devices in a single loop and in a second state said second and third switches divide said devices into two split loops, the method comprising the step of:
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flipping said first switch from a second position to a first position, the operation of which causes each of said second and said third switches to flip from a second position to a first position, thereby connecting said devices into a single loop, said single loop having one-half the bandwidth of said devices divided into two split loops. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification