Abstract: A system including a memory with arrays, a register, and a port. The memory stores an interrupt service routine (ISR). The arrays store respective fields. The port is connected to initiators of a host device and includes a physical layer (PHY) device and a control module. The PHY device: transfers a first frame between the port and a first initiator; and transfers a second frame between the port and the first or a second initiator. The frames include first and second information including respective world wide name addresses and connection rates. The PHY device: compares the first and second information; if there is not a match, interrupts servicing the first frame; and stores an index value for one of the arrays in the register. The control module, based on the index value, executes the ISR to service the second frame based on the fields in the one of the arrays.

Abstract: A serial attached small computer systems interface (SAS) module includes a first port with (i) a first physical layer device and (ii) a first port control module. The first physical layer device communicates with a plurality of initiators. The first port control module comprises a first world wide number (WWN) table. The first WWN table comprises connection rates of the plurality of initiators during communication with the first physical layer device. Each of the connection rates is a last connection rate of a respective one of the plurality of initiators.

Abstract: A server interface is adapted to communicate with a server and a data path is adapted to communicate with a random access data storage device. A controller is configured to transfer data between the server interface and the data path. The controller is operational so as to manage the data on the storage device as a plurality of sequentially-ordered virtual tape volumes, wherein a loaded one of the virtual tape volumes is unloaded and a next one of the virtual tape volumes is loaded in response to an eject command from the server.

Abstract: A data storage controller includes a link module that selectively sets an interrupt. A control module is external to the link module that includes N buffers where N is an integer greater than 0. The controller allocates at least one of the N buffers to store world wide name (“WWN”) table data in response to the interrupt. The controller also internally manages the WWN table data.

Abstract: A tape storage emulator has a disk storage, a tape storage, a server interface, a data path control, a virtual tape management and a personality logic. The server interface is in communications with a server so as to receive and transmit tape storage commands and tape formatted data compatible with the tape storage. The data path control is in communications with the server interface and the disk storage so as to transfer the tape formatted data between the disk storage and the server interface. The virtual tape management is in communication with the disk storage so as to store the tape formatted data on the disk storage. The personality logic is at least temporarily in communications with the tape storage so as to capture and store tape storage responses. The stored tape storage responses allow the virtual tape management to emulate the tape storage to the server using the disk storage.

Abstract: A tape storage emulator provides response data corresponding to a tape storage device and receives a non-media command from a server. The response data is sent to the server in response to the non-media command. A media command is received from the server. The media command is applied to a virtual tape volume configured on a disk storage device.

Abstract: One or more servers are adapted to execute tape application programs. A controller provides communications between the one or more servers and a random access storage device. The controller is configured so that the application programs can concurrently access the random access storage device as a sequential access tape storage device.