Patent ID: 8074105
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system, comprising: first and second redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) controllers, configured in an active-active failover redundant manner, each comprising: wherein with respect to said SAS expander of said first RAID controller, said first zone group includes PHYs linked to said first initiator device and PHYs configured to link to a first port of a first plurality of disk drives, wherein said second zone group includes PHYs linked to said second initiator device and PHYs configured to link to a first port of a second plurality of disk drives, and said third zone group includes PHYs linked to said SAS expander of said second RAID controller; wherein with respect to said SAS expander of said second RAID controller, said first zone group includes PHYs linked to said first initiator device and PHYs configured to link to a second port of said second plurality of disk drives, wherein said second zone group includes PHYs linked to said second initiator device and PHYs configured to link to a second port of said first plurality of disk drives, and said third zone group includes PHYs linked to said SAS expander of said first RAID controller; wherein said SAS expanders are collectively configured to permit PHYs in said first zone group to access PHYs in said first and third zone groups but to exclude PHYs in said first zone group from accessing PHYs in said second zone group, to permit PHYs in said second zone group to access PHYs in said second and third zone groups but to exclude PHYs in said second zone group from accessing PHYs in said first zone group, and to permit PHYs in said third zone group to access PHYs in said first, second, and third zone groups; wherein accordingly within the system a first SAS domain is created that includes said first initiator device of said first and second RAID controllers, said first port of said first plurality of disk drives, and said second port of said second plurality of disk drives, but excludes said second initiator device of said first and second RAID controllers, said first port of said second plurality of disk drives, and said second port of said first plurality of disk drives; wherein accordingly within the system a second SAS domain is created that includes said second initiator device of said first and second RAID controllers, said first port of said second plurality of disk drives, and said second port of said first plurality of disk drives, but excludes said first initiator device of said first and second RAID controllers, said first port of said first plurality of disk drives, and said second port of said second plurality of disk drives.