Abstract: A configuration of an array of storage devices compliant with a fibre-channel arbitrated loop (FC-AL) specification includes first and second controllers having integrated first and second SCSI enclosure services (SES) processing devices acting as leader processors. Third and fourth controllers are coupled to the first and second controllers and act as subordinate processors. The third and fourth controllers have integrated third and fourth SCSI enclosure services (SES) processing devices. Each of the SES processing devices synchronizes and merges data to create a single control image for the entire configuration, presenting a single SES instance to a storage device interconnect network and to host controller software.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to assign network addresses in a storage array disposed in a data storage and retrieval system comprising (P) data storage devices disposed in (N) data storage device assemblies. The method configures the (N) data storage device assemblies to comprise a spare data storage device assembly and a first storage array comprising (N?1) active data storage device assemblies, wherein each data storage device configured in the first storage array is assigned a network address, and wherein one of the spare data storage device disposed in the spare data storage device assembly is assigned a network address. In the event the method detects a failed data storage device disposed in the first storage array, then the method forms a second storage array comprising the first storage array, except the failed data storage device, in combination with the (i)th spare data storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed to convert data from a first sector format to a second sector format. The sector format conversion device includes a processor, and microcode which causes the processor to overlay (N) first sectors having a first sector format onto (M) second sectors having a second sector format, where that sector format conversion device does not include an operating system comprising a user mode and a kernel mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing faults in a multiple domain storage system. Exemplary embodiments include a system for diagnosing faults, the system including independent servers coupled to a serial attached SCSI switch module, end devices coupled to the serial attached SCSI module, at least one external cable connected between the serial attached SCSI module and the plurality of end devices, wherein the external cable defined an external fabric between the serial attached SCSI module and the plurality of end devices; and a process residing on the external fabric, the process having instructions to disable a high speed serializer/deserializer residing on each of the plurality of end devices, enable a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter interface residing on each of the plurality of end devices, send and receive single ended data and in response to a complete data transfer, disabling the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter interface and enabling the high speed serializer/deserializer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing faults within a high speed network employing wide ports. Exemplary embodiments include a system including a switch module coupled to an end device, the switch device and the end device each have a plurality of PHYs, each of the PHYs on the switch module coupled to a corresponding PHY on the end device, a plurality of wide port cables connected between the switch module and the end device, wherein the coupling of the switch module and the end device defines a wide port, and a process residing on the wide port, the process configured to diagnose faults on the PHYs and having instructions to identify an operational PHY, instruct the operational PHY to take command over the remaining PHYs in the wide port, execute diagnostic sub-routines within the port to identify failed PHYs and report diagnostic data to the operational PHY.

Abstract: By use of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or CLI (Command Line Interface) a user can issue a command to configure an external SAS Port as table routing mode or subtractive mode. The SAS switch receives and decodes the command. Subsequently, the SM asserts the appropriate indicator behavior for the port being addressed.

Abstract: A method provides for dynamic data logging in a storage subsystem. The method determines if a plurality of storage devices has been assigned as a plurality of hot spare devices in the storage subsystem. If the plurality of hot spare devices are assigned, the method determines from the plurality of hot spare devices whether a plurality of storage types with a maximum number of spare devices is present. If a plurality of storage types is present, the method selects a hot spare device from a storage type having the smallest capacity to assign as a logging device, otherwise, the method calculates a plurality of ratios of a first number of storage devices of a shared storage type to a second number of storage devices to which the first number of storage devices can act for as hot spare devices, selecting a storage device with the lowest ratio as the logging device.

Abstract: A system migrates data between a source device and a target device in a storage system. A processor is operational within a local domain of the storage system. A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller electrically connected to the processor. The RAID controller divides a capacity of the source device into a plurality of sub-regions, locks the sub-regions from storage activity, establishes a mirroring relationship for write data updates between the source device and target device, and assigns the processor to copy data from the source device to the target device. A method of migrating data includes dividing a capacity of a source device into a plurality of sub-regions, locking the sub-regions from storage activity, establishing a mirroring relationship for write data updates between the source device and a target device, and assigning a local processor to copy data from the source device to the target device.

Abstract: A system for communication between components in a computer storage system includes a drive enclosure device having a plurality of disk drives. A switch module is electrically coupled to the drive enclosure device. The module has a plurality of physical layer links (PHYs). The module generates out-of-band (OOB) signals to transmit to the drive enclosure device, detects an active drive enclosure device by interrogating the PHYs, and sends a serial management protocol (SMP) instruction to the drive enclosure device to perform a task.

Abstract: Data storage systems and methods and computer program product for managing data storage systems are provided. The system includes at least first and second storage enclosures, each having a plurality of hard disks configured as first and second arrays of disks and an intra-enclosure path between the first and second arrays. The intra-enclosure path is disabled during normal operation of the storage system. Inter-enclosure paths respectively link the first arrays in the first and second storage enclosures and the second arrays in the first and second storage enclosures and are enabled during normal operation of the storage system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a slot availability indication system including a RAID, at least one disk tray defining a first slot, second slot, and third slot, the first, second, and third slots being configured to contain a drive and being associated with the RAID, a RAID light indicator, a first, second, and third disk activity light indicator, and a first, second, and third disk availability light indicator disposed on the trays, the RAID being configured to flash the RAID light indicator and the first, second, and third activity light indicators when at least one of the first, second, and third slots in at least one of the trays is empty, the RAID being associated with and configured to flash the first availability light when the first slot is empty, the second availability light when the second slot is empty, and the third availability light when the third slot is empty.

Abstract: An electronics component support assembly and an electronics system assembly employing the component support assembly are provided. The component support assembly includes a rotatable base support and a component connector assembly. The rotatable base support is sized to reside within an electronics enclosure and to operatively support multiple electronics components thereon. The component connector assembly is associated with the rotatable base support, and at least some electronics components of the multiple electronics components couple thereto when operatively supported by the rotatable base support. Rotation of the rotatable base support facilitates access to the multiple electronics components, and the component connector assembly allows for rotation of the rotatable base support with the multiple electronics components operatively supported on the rotatable base support.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for allowing a multi-drive tray (MDT) to be interchanged with a battery backup unit (BBU) tray within a disk enclosure blade (DEB) of a blade server. The DEB is implemented comprising a plurality of controller cards and a plurality of MDTs. One of the MDT slots within the DEB is configured to be interchanged with a BBU tray. The BBU tray is designed to include multiple BBUs and is configured to have packaging, mounting, and air flow characteristics that are similar to an MDT. In one embodiment, a controller card queries each MDT slot within the DEB and determines if any of the queried MDT slots contain a BBU tray. If a queried MDT slot contains a BBU tray, the controller card manages the queried MDT slot as a BBU slot. Otherwise, the controller card manages the queried MDT slot as an MDT slot.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to assign addresses to a plurality of data storage devices. The method provides a switch and (N) data storage devices, where each of those (N) data storage devices is interconnected with said switch. The method further establishes (M) device addresses, where (M) is less than (N), and assigns a different one of each of the (M) device addresses to a different one of the (N) data storage devices, such that the (N) data storage devices comprise (M) address-assigned data storage devices and (P) non-address-assigned data storage devices. The method then detects a failure of the (i)th address-assigned data storage device, and transfers the (i)th address from the failed address-assigned data storage device to the (j)th data storage device, where that (j)th data storage device comprises one of the (P) previously non-addressed data storage devices.

Abstract: A high density storage enclosure houses first and second pluralities of hard disk drives (HDDs). The enclosure may be partitioned into a plurality of virtual enclosures, the first plurality of HDDs being associated with a first virtual enclosure and the second plurality of HDDs being associated with a second virtual enclosure. In the event of a failure within one of the virtual enclosures, an SES in the failed virtual enclosure is isolated from the rest of the virtual enclosure. Then, an inter-enclosure link may be enabled between the failed virtual enclosure and another virtual enclosure. The isolated SES processor may then be accessed to obtain data associated with the failure and to execute commands associated with a recovery process.

Abstract: A high density storage enclosure houses first and second pluralities of hard disk drives (HDDs). The enclosure may be partitioned into a plurality of virtual enclosures, the first plurality of HDDs being associated with a first virtual enclosure and the second plurality of HDDs being associated with a second virtual enclosure. Configuration of the storage enclosure is performed by an SES processor in the storage enclosure accessing configuration parameters received from an external configuration unit coupled to the storage enclosure. The virtual enclosures may be configured as two (or more) independent virtual enclosures on two (or more) independent fabric loops. Power supplies and cooling blowers in the storage enclosure may also be partitioned and assigned to be managed by SES processors in the virtual enclosures.

Abstract: A high density storage enclosure houses first and second pluralities of hard disk drives (HDDs). The enclosure may be partitioned into a plurality of virtual enclosures, the first plurality of HDDs being associated with a first virtual enclosure and the second plurality of HDDs being associated with a second virtual enclosure. Configuration of the storage enclosure is performed by an SES processor in the storage enclosure accessing configuration parameters received from an external configuration unit coupled to the storage enclosure. The virtual enclosures may be configured as two (or more) independent virtual enclosures on two (or more) independent fabrics or may be configured in a trunked manner. Power supplies and cooling blowers in the storage enclosure may also be partitioned and assigned to be managed by SES processors in the virtual enclosures.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to selectively provide power to a component disposed in an information storage and retrieval system. Applicants' method supplies a controller comprising a control portion in combination with a plurality of components comprising one or more host adapters, one or more device adapter ports, and a Fibre Channel switch. The method monitors the performance of each of those components. The method discontinues the supply of power to first component while continuing to provide power to the remaining plurality of components. The method then resumes providing power to the first component while continuing the supply of power to the remaining plurality of components.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing identify indicators in a computer storage subsystem includes a switch module electrically coupled to an initiator module. The switch module implements a queuing scheme, receives an identify command from the initiator module, executes the queuing scheme to synchronize the identify command, and broadcasts the identify command to a target device in the computer storage subsystem. A system for synchronizing identify indicators in a computer storage subsystem includes a switch module electrically coupled to a initiator module. The switch module receives an identify command issued by the initiator module, and invokes a distribution algorithm to serially distribute the identify command to a downstream target device in the computer storage subsystem. A method for synchronizing identify indicators in a computer storage subsystem is also disclosed.

Abstract: To prevent current inrush from exceeding power limitations of a power supply or a power domain in a multiple disk drive system the drives are powered-on in a controlled sequence. In a multi-drive blade storage subsystem, a subsystem control module inventories the locations of the hard drives in one or more drive enclosure blades and maintains information about the boundaries of one or more power domains. The subsystem control module may direct one of several drive power-on sequences, none of which allow current inrush to exceed the allowable current of each power domain.