Patent ID: 7334042
Filing Date: 2008-02-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A SAS controller adapted for performing SAS protocol link layer processing in the role of a SAS initiator, the controller comprising: an interface to a SAS protocol transport layer processing element wherein the controller is adapted to receive a request from the transport layer through the interface to establish a connection to a particular SAS device, and wherein the particular SAS device is identified by a supplied index value in the request, and wherein the supplied index value comprises fewer bits than the SAS address in the request; a table having a plurality of entries each storing a corresponding SAS address for a SAS device; a plurality of SAS protocol link layer processing elements each coupled to the interface and each coupled to the table wherein the link layer is adapted to use the supplied index value and the table to determine the corresponding SAS address for the particular SAS device, and wherein the link layer is adapted to use the corresponding SAS address in an OPEN request to establish the requested connection to the particular SAS device; and an arbitrator for arbitrating among the plurality of SAS protocol link layer processing elements when multiple of the plurality of SAS protocol link layer processing elements attempts to access the table.