Patent ID: 6944702
Filing Date: 2005-09-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data storage system for transferring data between a host computer/server and a bank of disk drives through a system interface, such system interface comprising: a backplane; a first printed circuit board plugged into a first side of the backplane; a second printed circuit board plugged into the first side of the backplane, such first and second printed circuit boards being disposed in an overlaying relationship; a third printed circuit board plugged into a second side of the backplane, such second side being opposite to the first side; a memory having at least a first portion thereof disposed on the third printed circuit board; a plurality of directors for controlling data transfer between the host computer/server and the bank of disk drives as such data passes through the memory; a first plurality of the directors being coupled to the host computer/server, a first portion of such first plurality of directors being disposed on the first printed circuit board and a second portion of the first plurality of directors being disposed on the second printed circuit board; a second plurality of the directors being coupled to the bank of disk drives, a first portion of such second plurality of directors being disposed on the first printed circuit board and a second portion of the second plurality of the directors being disposed on the second printed circuit board; a first switch network disposed on the first printed circuit board, such first switch network having ports coupled to: the first portion of the first plurality of directors; the first portion of the second plurality of directors; and, a first port of the memory through the backplane; a second switch network disposed on the second printed circuit board, such second switch network having ports coupled to: the second portion of the first plurality of directors; the second portion of the second plurality of directors; and, a second port of the memory through the backplane.