Abstract: Methods and apparatus for host-side Serial ATA Native Command Queuing (NCQ) tag management are disclosed. In one aspect, an exemplary apparatus may include a memory and an NCQ tag selection circuit in communication with the memory. The memory may store information for each of a plurality of different NCQ tag values. The information for each NCQ tag value may indicate whether or not a command having the NCQ tag value has been issued. The NCQ tag selection circuit may examine the information in the memory, and may select an NCQ tag value having information that indicates that a command having the NCQ tag value has not been issued. Systems and architectures including such apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and systems, as well as methods and articles, may operate to relate a port multiplier (PM) tag associated with a frame information structure frame to a remote node context index and to a validity flag using a hardware PM look-up table in a host bus adapter.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a host bus adapter (HBA) is disclosed. The HBA includes one or more link layer engines, one or more ports, each of the one or more ports associated with one of the one or more link layer engines and token passing logic having a shift register associated with each of the one or more link layer engines. A first link layer engine enables a first storage device coupled to an associated port to spin-up whenever the first link layer engine detects that a first shift register has a first value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a host bus adapter (HBA) is disclosed. The HBA includes a first lookup table to retrieve a remote node index (RNI) based upon an address received from a remote device as a component of an open address frame, a second lookup table to receive a remote node context (RNC) based upon the RNI and connection management logic coupled to the second lookup table to control a connection between the HBA and the remote device based upon the RNC.

Abstract: Provided is a system for interfacing with storage units, including a backplane, at least one slot in the storage enclosure for receiving one storage unit, and two physical interfaces on the backplane for at least one slot. The storage unit is capable of being positioned in the slot to mate with one of the two physical interfaces for the slot, wherein each physical interface supports different storage interconnect architectures.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include discovering, at least in part, by an integrated circuit of at least one communication protocol via which at least one device external to the integrated circuit is capable of communicating. In this embodiment, the integrated circuit may be capable of communicating in accordance with a plurality of different communication protocols. The method according to this embodiment may also include selecting, at least in part, by the integrated circuit of the at least one communication protocol to use to communicate with the at least one device. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include reserving a plurality of buffers having an aggregate capacity, receiving a frame having a size less than the aggregate capacity, and releasing at least one of the plurality of buffers that is unused to store the frame. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include receiving a portion of an inbound frame compliant with a first communication protocol, translating the portion of the inbound frame into a translated portion compliant with a second communication protocol; and constructing an outbound frame comprising the translated portion before an entirety of the inbound frame is received. A cut-through communication protocol translation bridge may comprise an integrated circuit capable of performing such a method. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from these embodiments.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include discovering at least one data block comprising logical block address information. The method may also include mapping logical block address information from a first domain into a second domain. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include assigning a tag to at least one transactions in which at least one data frame is at least one of transmitted or received by at least one functional block. The method may also include discovering, by a functional block, if an error occurs in at least one data frame. The method may also include associating the error with the tag and generating a flush command to at least one functional block to flush data frames associated with said tag. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include receiving a first portion of data compliant with a first communication protocol via a first communication link, converting the first portion of data into a second portion of data compliant with a second communication protocol for communication on a second communication link, receiving a third portion of data the compliant with the first communication protocol via the first communication link, and converting the third portion of data into a fourth portion of data compliant with a third communication protocol for communication on a third communication link. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include transmitting a frame from a transmitting device to a receiving device via a communication network of a data storage system, enabling an encoding operation of the transmitting device to encode decoded data into encoded data and transmitting the encoded data in the frame via the communication network if the receiving device has a decoding operation capable of decoding the encoded data into the decoded data, and disabling the encoding operation and transmitting the decoded data in the frame via the communication network to the receiving device if the receiving device does not have the decoding operation capable of decoding the encoded data into the decoded data. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include receiving data in a receive buffer, and sending a hold command to a transmitting node currently sending data to hold transmission of additional data when a level of the data in the receive buffer reaches an adjustable high threshold level. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include receiving data in a receive buffer, the receive buffer comprising a plurality of buffers, and sending a hold command to a transmitting node currently sending data to hold transmission of additional data when a level of the data in the receive buffer reaches a high threshold level. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include receiving a frame, determining a frame type of the frame, accessing a location of memory associated with the frame type, the location comprising at least one programmable data element, and checking a validity of the frame in response to data in the location of memory associated with the frame type. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include determining, at least in part, by an intermediate device at least one communication protocol via which at least one storage device connected to the intermediate device is capable of communicating. In this embodiment, the intermediate device may be capable of controlling, at least in part, by the intermediate device, at least one data stream coming from the at least one storage device in accordance with at least one communication protocol. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include: at least one of transmitting and receiving a first portion of a first protected data block within a first frame; and at least one of transmitting and receiving a second portion of the first protected data block within a second frame. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a plurality of ports capable of being coupled to a plurality of devices via an associated plurality of communication links, the links being compliant with Serial Attached Small Computer Systems Interface (SAS) protocol. The apparatus may further include circuitry to provide selectable communication control between at least a first device and at least a second device of the plurality of devices. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: Provided are a method and device for address assignment for adaptor interfaces. An initial configuration is maintained assigning multiple local interfaces to one initial local address. For each local interface, a remote address of a remote interface on at least one remote device to which the local interface connects is received. The initial local address is used to identify the local interfaces assigned to the initial local address in response to receiving a same remote address for each remote interface connected to the local interfaces assigned the initial local address.

Abstract: Provided are a method, expander, system, and program for receiving a transmission at an interface supporting multiple storage interconnect architectures having different transmission characteristics, and wherein the transmission uses one of the supported storage interconnect architectures. The interface forwards the transmission to the enclosure management device. The enclosure management device processes the transmission using one of a plurality of transport layers supported at the enclosure management device, wherein the enclosure management device includes at least one transport layer used with each supported storage interconnect architecture.