Patent ID: 8005999
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data storage system comprising: a plurality of processor blades; a plurality of I/O boards, each I/O board having connectors into which peripheral devices can be connected; a midplane; each I/O board comprising a type two protocol device having a type two protocol device physical layer receiver having type two physical layer termination; each processor blade comprising a type one protocol switch for connecting a type one protocol interconnect across the midplane to another processor blade or to an I/O board, each type one protocol switch comprising a type one protocol device physical layer transmitter that performs a physical layer detection function to detect attached type one protocol physical layer receivers, said detection function operating such that in response to a signal sent from the physical layer detection function, physical layer receivers having type one physical layer termination cause the type one protocol interconnect to charge and physical layer receivers having type two physical layer termination appear as an open circuit to said physical layer detection function; receive detect logic coupled between the type two protocol device physical layer receiver and the type one protocol device physical layer transmitter, the receive detect logic functional to cause the type one protocol device physical layer transmitter physical layer detection function to recognize the type two protocol device physical layer receiver as a type one protocol physical layer receiver by causing the type one protocol interconnect to charge and indicate a valid type one physical layer receiver; and a buffered type one protocol interconnect coupled between the type two protocol device physical layer receiver and connectors.