Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a multi-path bridge circuit includes a backplane input/output (I/O) interface to couple to a local backplane having at least one communication path to a processing node and includes at least one host interface adapted to couple to a corresponding at least one processor. The multi-path bridge circuit further includes logic adapted to identify two or more communication paths through the backplane interface to a destination memory, to divide a data block stored at a source memory into data block portions, and to transfer the data block portions in parallel from the source memory to the destination node via the identified two or more communication paths.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a multi-path bridge circuit includes a backplane input/output (I/O) interface to couple to a local backplane having at least one communication path to a processing node and includes at least one host interface adapted to couple to a corresponding at least one processor. The multi-path bridge circuit further includes logic adapted to identify two or more communication paths through the backplane interface to a destination memory, to divide a data block stored at a source memory into data block portions, and to transfer the data block portions in parallel from the source memory to the destination node via the identified two or more communication paths.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: A method for communicating data in a network including a controlling node and a plurality of non-controlling nodes is provided. The method including: said controlling node sequentially polling each of said plurality of non-controlling nodes in said network to grant access to said network to allow a transfer of data to another one of said plurality of non-controlling nodes which may be stored at one or more of said plurality of non-controlling nodes; responding to said grant access at each of said plurality of non-controlling nodes with an indication of denial or acceptance; transmitting to another one of said plurality of non-controlling nodes, at least a portion of said data which may be stored at said one or more of said plurality of non-controlling nodes in the case where said response to said grant access is acceptance; and repeating the above acts in a cyclical manner.