System and method for switching data storage devices and multiple processors

• US 7,209,981 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Z Microsystems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Z Microsystems Incorporated
• Inventors: Wade, Jack P., Brown, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schneider; Joshua D.
• Application Number:
  US10/754,934
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 710/38, 710/300, 710/36, 710/40, 710/42
• US Class Current: 710/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/201 between storage system components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0626 Reducing size or complexity of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD

Abstract

A system is provided for switching the I/O channel for disk drives between multiple computers. The system incorporates the switch into removable drive modules, or a docking base for a removable drive module. The incorporation of switching into the system, such that it is integral with the drives, can reduce overall system failures, by reducing the number of elements which flow through a central switching element. Thus, even where a switch fails other drive modules of the system may continue to operate in the system and provide information to different computers of the system.

Claims

1. A removable storage module, including:

a housing for holding a plurality of disk drives;

a connector mounted to the housing;

a plurality of disk drives disposed in the housing, and each drive having an I/O channel;

a plurality of switches disposed within the housing, each switch having at least three ports;

wherein the I/O channel each disk drives is coupled with a first port of a corresponding switch of the plurality of switches;

wherein the plurality of switches are selectively controllable such that the I/O channel of the disk drive which is coupled to the first port of the switch is coupled with either a second port or a third port of the switch;

wherein the second port and the third port of the switches are coupled with the connector, such that data from the I/O channel of the drive can be transmitted through the connector from either the second port or the third port of the switch, and wherein the connector is configured such that when the plurality of switches are controlled so that the I/O channels of the plurality of drives are coupled with the second ports of the switches, then the I/O channel of the drives are coupled with a plurality of first host channels through the connector, and when I/O channel of the drives are coupled with the third ports of the switches then the I/O channels of the drives are coupled with a plurality of second host channels through the connector; and

wherein the connector operates to receive a power supply voltage which is utilized to power the plurality of disk drives, and to drive the plurality of switches.

2. The removable disk drive module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of disk drives includes at least four disk drives, and the plurality of switches includes at least four switches.

3. The removable disk drive module of claim 1, where the I/O channel for each of the disk drives is a serial communication channel.

4. A storage system, the storage system including:

a docking base unit having a first plurality of host I/O channels, a second plurality of host I/O channels, wherein a first computer is coupled with the first plurality of host I/O channels, and a second computer is coupled with the second plurality of host I/O channels, the docking base unit further including a first connector wherein a power voltage and the first plurality of host I/O channels, and the second plurality of host I/O channels are coupled to the first connector;

a removable storage module which includes a housing, and a second connector mounted to said housing, the removable storage module further including a plurality of disk drives disposed in the housing, and each drive having an I/O channel, the removable storage module also including a plurality of switches, wherein each of the plurality of switches has at least three ports, and a first port of each switch is coupled to an I/O channel for a corresponding disk drive, wherein the plurality of switches are controllable such that the I/O channel of the disk drive can be selectively coupled with either the second port or the third port of the switch;

wherein the second connector of the removable storage module is coupled to first connector of the docking base unit;

wherein the second port and the third port of the switches are coupled with second connector such that data from the I/O channel of a drive can be transmitted through the second connector from either the second port or the third port of the switch, and wherein the second connector and the first connector are coupled such when the plurality of switches are positioned so that the I/O channels of the plurality of drives are coupled with the second ports of the switches, then the I/O channel of the drives are coupled with the plurality of first host channels through the first connector, and when I/O channel of the drives are coupled with the third ports of the switches then the I/O channels of the drives are coupled with the plurality of second host channels through the first connector; and

wherein the second connector receives the power supply voltage through the first connector, wherein the power supply voltage received by the second connector is utilized to power the plurality of disk drives.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the removable storage module further includes a hot swap controller which operates to control the power supply voltage to allow for coupling and decoupling of the first connector and the second connector without requiring recycling of the power supply voltage.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the removable storage module further includes a plurality of LEDS which operate provide operational information regarding the storage system.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the docking base unit includes a controller which receives control communications from the first computer, and from the second computer, and the controller is coupled with the plurality switches, and controls the position of the switches based on the control communications.