Network, storage appliance, and method for externalizing an internal I/O link between a server and a storage controller integrated within the storage appliance chassis
First Claim
1. A network storage appliance, comprising:
- a chassis;
a port combiner, enclosed in said chassis, for providing high-speed data communication between at least first, second, and third I/O ports;
a storage controller, enclosed in said chassis, for controlling a plurality of storage devices, comprising said first I/O port;
a server, enclosed in said chassis, comprising said second I/O port;
an I/O connector, affixed on the storage appliance, for networking said third I/O port to said port combiner, wherein said third I/O port is external to said chassis and not comprised in the storage appliance; and
first, second, and third I/O links, for coupling said first I/O port, said second I/O port, and said I/O connector, respectively, to said port combiner;
wherein a field replaceable unit (FRU) comprises said first I/O link, said second I/O link, said third I/O link, said first I/O port, said second I/O port, said I/O connector, and said port combiner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network storage appliance is disclosed. The storage appliance includes a port combiner that provides data communication between at least first, second, and third I/O ports; a storage controller that controls storage devices and includes the first I/O port; a server having the second I/O port; and an I/O connector for networking the third I/O port to the port combiner. A single chassis encloses the port combiner, storage controller, and server, and the I/O connector is affixed on the storage appliance. The third I/O port is external to the chassis and is not enclosed therein. In various embodiments, the port combiner comprises a FiberChannel hub comprising a series of loop resiliency circuits, or a FiberChannel, Ethernet, or Infiniband switch. In one embodiment, the port combiner, I/O ports, and server are all comprised in a single blade module for plugging into a backplane of the chassis.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A network storage appliance, comprising:
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a chassis; a port combiner, enclosed in said chassis, for providing high-speed data communication between at least first, second, and third I/O ports; a storage controller, enclosed in said chassis, for controlling a plurality of storage devices, comprising said first I/O port; a server, enclosed in said chassis, comprising said second I/O port; an I/O connector, affixed on the storage appliance, for networking said third I/O port to said port combiner, wherein said third I/O port is external to said chassis and not comprised in the storage appliance; and first, second, and third I/O links, for coupling said first I/O port, said second I/O port, and said I/O connector, respectively, to said port combiner; wherein a field replaceable unit (FRU) comprises said first I/O link, said second I/O link, said third I/O link, said first I/O port, said second I/O port, said I/O connector, and said port combiner. - 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, 46)
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36. A method for transferring data in a computer network, the method comprising:
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transferring first data from a first I/O port of a server enclosed in a chassis through a first I/O link to a port combiner enclosed in the chassis through a second I/O link to a second I/O port of a first storage controller enclosed in the chassis; transferring second data from the first I/O port of the sewer through the first I/O link to the port combiner through a third I/O link to a third I/O port of a second storage controller enclosed in the chassis; and transferring third data from the first I/O port of the sewer through the first I/O link to the port combiner and through a fourth I/O link through an I/O connector accessible external to the chassis to a fourth I/O port of a device external to the chassis wherein a field replaceable unit (FRU) comprises said first I/O link, said second I/O link, said third I/O link, said fourth I/O link, said first I/O port, said second I/O port, said third I/O port, said I/O connector, and said port combiner. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A blade area network, comprising:
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a blade module, for plugging into a backplane of a chassis; first, second, and third I/O interface controllers, affixed on said blade module, each comprising at least one I/O port, said first and second I/O interface controllers comprised in first and second respective storage controllers, and said third I/O interface controller comprised in a server; an I/O link, etched in said blade module, coupled to an I/O connector, said I/O connector configured to receive an I/O cable for coupling said I/O link to an I/O port of a device external to said chassis; and a port combiner, affixed on said blade module, coupled to said first, second, and third I/O interface controller ports and to said I/O link, for providing a path for transferring data between said external device, said server, and said first and second storage controllers. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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47. A method for transferring data in a computer network, the method comprising:
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transferring first data between a first I/O port of a server enclosed in a chassis through a first I/O link and a second I/O port of a storage controller enclosed in the chassis through a second I/O link through a port combiner enclosed in the chassis; and transferring second data between a third I/O port of a device external to the chassis through a third I/O link and the second I/O port of the storage controller through the second I/O link through an I/O connector accessible external to the chassis and through the port combiner, wherein the port combiner is coupled to the first, second, and third I/O links; wherein a field replaceable unit (FRU) comprises said first I/O link, said second I/O link, said third I/O link, said first I/O port, said second I/O port, said I/O connector, and said port combiner. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification