Patent ID: 8751718
Filing Date: 2014-06-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A Serial Attached Small Computer Systems Interface (SAS) expander operable to couple initiators with targets via the SAS protocol, the SAS expander comprising: a Serial Management Protocol (SMP) application interface; a Serial ATA Tunneled Protocol (STP) application interface; a Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP) application interface; and a single SAS port module that comprises an arbiter, wherein the SAS port module is operable to establish a SAS connection between a first of the initiators and a first of the targets, wherein the arbiter is operable to process a SAS Open Address Frame from the first target, to determine which of the SMP application interface, the STP application interface, and the SSP application interface will process subsequent SAS frames between the first initiator and the first target based on the SAS Open Address Frame, to process a subsequent SAS frame between the first initiator and the first target, and to route the subsequent SAS frame between the first initiator and the first target according to the determined application interface.