Application server blade for embedded storage appliance
First Claim
1. A server blade, comprising:
- a computer, having an input/output (I/O) port; and
an I/O interface controller, comprising;
an I/O port coupled via an I/O link to said I/O port of said computer, for transferring data therewith; and
a local bus interface, for interfacing to a local bus;
wherein the server blade comprises a field replaceable unit (FRU) including said computer and said I/O interface controller, configured to plug into a backplane comprising said local bus, thereby enabling data transfers with other FRUs coupled to said backplane;
wherein said I/O interface controller comprises a portion of a storage controller whose remaining portions are comprised in said other FRUs coupled to said backplane;
wherein said I/O interface controller is programmable via said local bus by a microprocessor of said storage controller to perform data transfers between said computer and storage devices controlled by said storage controller, wherein at least one of said other FRUs comprises said microprocessor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An application server blade for an embedded storage appliance is disclosed. The blade includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a connector for connecting to a chassis backplane including a local bus. Affixed on the PCB is a server, a portion of a storage controller, and an I/O link coupling the server and storage controller portion. The server transmits packets on the I/O link to the storage controller portion. The packets include commands to transfer data to a storage device controlled by the storage controller. The storage controller portion receives the packets from the server on the I/O link and forwards the commands on the backplane local bus to another portion of the storage controller affixed on a separate PCB also enclosed in the chassis. The blade also includes a removal mechanism for hot-replacement of the blade in the chassis. The blade architecture facilitates software reuse.
91 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A server blade, comprising:
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a computer, having an input/output (I/O) port; and an I/O interface controller, comprising; an I/O port coupled via an I/O link to said I/O port of said computer, for transferring data therewith; and a local bus interface, for interfacing to a local bus; wherein the server blade comprises a field replaceable unit (FRU) including said computer and said I/O interface controller, configured to plug into a backplane comprising said local bus, thereby enabling data transfers with other FRUs coupled to said backplane; wherein said I/O interface controller comprises a portion of a storage controller whose remaining portions are comprised in said other FRUs coupled to said backplane; wherein said I/O interface controller is programmable via said local bus by a microprocessor of said storage controller to perform data transfers between said computer and storage devices controlled by said storage controller, wherein at least one of said other FRUs comprises said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification