Abstract: A data storage interface for coupling data between processors and a bank of disk. The interface includes a plurality of first directors coupled to the processors and a plurality of second directors coupled to the bank of disk drives. A cache memory is coupled between the plurality of first directors and the plurality of second directors. The interface includes a pair of independent power busses. At least one of the first or second directors is coupled to the pair of independent power busses. One portion of the disk drives in the bank is connected to only a first one of the pair of power buses and a different portion of the disk drives is connected to only the other one of the pair of power buses. A power circuit includes a pair of input terminals, each one being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the pair of independent power busses. The circuit includes an output terminal. A pair of switching transistor sections is provided.

Abstract: A data storage system having a plurality of disk drives. Each one has a pair of bi-directional ports. A pair of directors controls the flow of data to and from the disk drives. A first fiber channel port by-pass selector section is provided. The first fiber channel by-pass selector section includes: an input/output port coupled to a first one of the directors; and, a plurality of output/input ports connected between a first one of the ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first plurality of fiber channel links. The first fiber channel port by-pass selector section is adapted to couple the first one of the directors serially to one, or ones, of the first ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first fiber channel selectively in accordance with a control signal fed to the first fiber channel by-pass selector section. The first fiber channel includes one, or more, of the first plurality of fiber channel links.

Abstract: A data storage system having a plurality of disk drives. Each one has a pair of ports. A pair of directors controls the flow of data to and from the disk drives. A first fiber channel port by-pass selector section is provided. The first fiber channel selector section includes: an input/output port coupled to a first one of the directors; and, a plurality of output/input ports connected between a first one of the ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first plurality of fiber channel links. The first fiber channel port by-pass selector section is adapted to couple the first one of the directors serially to one, or ones, of the first ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first fiber channel selectively in accordance with a control signal fed to the first fiber channel by-pass selector section. The first fiber channel includes one, or more, of the first plurality of fiber channel links.

Abstract: A data storage system wherein a host computer is coupled to a bank of disk drives through a system interface. The interface includes a plurality of directors and a memory interconnected by a plurality of busses for controlling data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives as such data passes through the memory. A front-end portion of the directors is coupled to the host computer through front-end input/output adapters. Each one of the front-end directors includes a fiber channel hub. The hub is configured to provide a selected one of a plurality of fiber channel loops between one of the front-end directors and a selected one, or more, of a plurality of host computer sections. The fiber channel hub includes a plurality of transceivers each one being adapted to communicate with a corresponding one of the plurality of host computer sections. A plurality of multiplexer sections is coupled to a said one of the directors through a configurable fiber channel loop.

Abstract: A data storage system having a plurality of disk drives. Each one has a pair of ports. A pair of directors controls the flow of data to and from the disk drives. A first fibre channel port by-pass selector section is provided. The first fibre channel selector section includes: an input/output port coupled to a first one of the directors; and, a plurality of output/input ports connected between a first one of the ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first plurality of fibre channel links. The first fibre channel port by-pass selector section is adapted to couple the first one of the directors serially to one, or ones, of the first ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first fibre channel selectively in accordance with a control signal fed to the first fibre channel by-pass selector section. The first fibre channel includes one, or more, of the first plurality of fibre channel links.

Abstract: Electrical cabinet for storing a plurality of disk drives. The cabinet has an array of slots, each one of the slots being adapted to receive a corresponding one of a plurality of disk drives. Each one of the disk drive has a pair of ports. A printed circuit board mounted to a rear of the housing. The board having a plurality of plugs, each one of the plugs being positioned in registration with a corresponding one of the slots to make electrical connection to such corresponding one of the disk drives. The housing has a slot for receiving a pair of fibre channel port by-pass cards. The port by pass cards are electrically interconnected to the disk drives through the printed circuit board. Each one of such port-by pass cards is coupled to a corresponding one of a pair input/output ports through a corresponding one of a pair fibre channel transmission medium. Each one of the port by-pass cards is coupled to a corresponding one of the pair of ports of the disk drives.

Abstract: A data storage system having a plurality of disk drives. Each one has a pair of bidirectional ports. A pair of directors controls the flow of data to and from the disk drives. A first fibre channel port by-pass selector section is provided. The first fibre channel port by-pass selector section includes: an input/output port coupled to a first one of the directors; and, a plurality of output/input ports connected between a first one of the ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first plurality of fibre channel links. The first fibre channel port by-pass selector section is adapted to couple the first one of the directors serially to one, or ones, of the first ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first fibre channel selectively in accordance with a control signal fed to the first fibre channel by-pass selector section. The first fibre channel includes one, or more, of the first plurality of fibre channel links.

Abstract: A data storage system wherein a host computer is coupled to a bank of disk drives through a system interface. The interface has a plurality of directors and a memory interconnected by a plurality of busses for controlling data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives as such data passes through the memory. A portion of the directors have input/output interfaces coupled to disk drive bank through input/output adapters. The system interface includes a system printed circuit board, such printed circuit board having the directors and the memory plugged into one side thereof and having the input/output adapters plugged into an opposite side thereof. A disk backplane is provided. The disk backplane has having plugged therein: a pair of disk drive sections, each section having a plurality of disk drives in the bank of disk drives; and a pair of port by-pass card, each one of the port by-pass cards being coupled to a corresponding one of the pair of disk drive sections.

Abstract: A method for testing a data storage system, such system having a host computer coupled to a bank of disk drives through a system interface. The interface includes a plurality of directors and memories interconnected by a plurality of busses for controlling data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives as such data passes through the memories. A portion of the directors is coupled to the host computer. The method includes providing a test printed circuit board having input ports adapted for plugging into a system printed circuit board, such test printed circuit board having a selector section adapted to couple any one of the inputs thereof to a test output on the test printed circuit board.

Abstract: A cabinet having a compartment disposed in an interior of the cabinet to house an electrical component. The compartment located at the base of the cabinet having Teflon rails and a stop. The compartment for holding a battery pack therein. The battery pack being slidably received into, and removed from the compartment. The battery pack engaging the stop of the cabinet, preventing the battery pack from being removed in a single sliding movement. The battery pack positioned at the base of the cabinet frame to lower its center of gravity, thus increasing the stability of the cabinet. The battery pack held firmly within the compartment during transportation of the cabinet by guide pins and finger screws.

Abstract: A customer removable storage system peripheral device cover is formed from two symmetrical right and left covers, each having a number of air channel openings spaced to meet finger insertion safety requirements. The covers are fastened together around grooved symmetrical guides hot staked on either side of a drive carrier. Inside the covers, a floating disk adaptor board is included at the rear to electrically connect the drive to the storage system. A ribbon wire cable is placed along the bottom of the interior of the device cover, to connect to an LED panel on the front of the device cover. An ejector pivotally attached to the device cover has locking tabs that grip a shelf of the chassis at the position where the drive is to be inserted, and propel the covered drive inward along rails in the chassis that fit into grooved symmetrical guides to snap the covered drive into its position and connect it to a backplane.

Abstract: A disk array memory system includes a disk subsystem, a disk director module and a cable connected between the disk subsystem and the disk director module. The disk subsystem includes a disk drive backplane having disk drive connectors interconnected by a first data bus section and disk drives mounted in the disk drive connectors and coupled to the first data bus section. The cable constitutes a second data bus section. The system further includes a bus repeater located in the disk subsystem and including a first port electrically connected to the first data bus section and a second port electrically connected to the cable. The bus repeater logically interconnects the first and second data bus sections and regenerates signals transmitted in either direction between the disk director module and the disk drives.