Abstract: The information server system incorporates a high speed, microcomputer based server running industry standard operating system software enhanced to include functionality directed to operation of a new disk array controller, which controls the physically independent or integral disk storage device array, and communications interface. The disk array controller subsystem controls and communicates with the disk storage device array with a Fibre Channel protocol. The disk storage device array incorporates a plurality of disk storage devices with a corresponding number of bypass interface cards configured to facilitate the on-line addition, removal and replacement of disk storage devices.

Abstract: The information server system incorporates a high speed, microcomputer based server running industry standard operating system software enhanced to include functionality directed to operation of a new disk array controller, which controls the physically independent or integral disk storage device array, and communications interface. The disk array controller subsystem controls and communicates with the disk storage device array with a Fiber Channel protocol. The disk storage device array incorporates a plurality of disk storage devices with a corresponding number of bypass interface cards configured to facilitate the on-line addition, removal and replacement of disk storage devices.

Abstract: The information server system provides a scalable expansion capability, due to the implementation of a unique mid-plane connector board for all components of the information server system that allows for multiply mirrored components to significantly improve fault tolerance of the server system. An integrated diagnostics monitoring subsystem eliminates the incompatability problems previously associated with performing diagnostics of the server system. A method is also provided for increasing the throughput rate of the user communications interface by installing a hash table database in the end user computer system to bypass a similar but slower function in the end user modem, to place the bulk of the transmission reception load on the main CPU, and synchronizing the modem with the transmission speed of the server unit.