Abstract: A SCSI bus controller which has a separate data path from the SCSI bus to the host bus and a separate command path for use to communicate with a local microprocessor. The local microprocessor is connected to a dual port RAM, the other port of which is connected to a bus master controller linked to the host system. Commands and status are passed via the dual port RAM. Data is passed through a FIFO. The local microprocessor does not have access to the data path but only controls direction of the data flow, the initiation of the sequence and the completion of the sequence.

Abstract: Temperature sensors are located inside drive chambers where disk drives are located to signal an overheating condition. An overheating condition triggers external alarms and produces an interrupt signal to the disk drive controller, which, in turn, alerts the operating system. If the operating system does not comprehend the problem and take the appropriate action, the controller shuts down the disk drives after a certain period of time.

Abstract: A small computer system interface (SCSI) bus between a host system and one or more peripheral devices is terminated at one end of the SCSI bus, proximal to the host system, and at the other end of the SCSI bus by a loopback terminator. The loopback terminator is formed by a signal board with one connector that is adapted for receiving signals from the SCSI bus, a multiconductor cable having a pair of ends, a pair of cable connectors, each of which is adapted to mate with respective ends of the multiconductor cable, and a terminator coupled to one of the cable connectors. One or more of the peripheral devices are connected to the multiconductor cable via respective nodes, and the multiconductor cable is routed back to the signal board coupled to form a "loop" between the pair of cable connectors.