Patent ID: 7519854
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A serial SCSI (SAS) storage drive system, comprising a first SAS drive enclosure comprising: a first plurality of storage drives; first and second interface cards; a first SAS expander programmable to couple the first interface card with at least a first of the first plurality of storage drives through a first port; a second SAS expander programmable to couple the second interface card with at least a second of the plurality of storage drives through a second port; a first crossover port selectively interconnecting the first interface card with the second interface card; the first interface card comprising a first demultiplexer having a first data terminal coupled to the first storage controller, a second data terminal coupled to the first expander and a third data terminal coupled to the first crossover port; the second interface card comprising a second demultiplexer having a first data terminal coupled to the second storage controller, a second data terminal coupled to the first expander and a third data terminal coupled to the first crossover port; and logic associated with each interface card programmed to detect when a failure has occurred in the first or second storage controller; the logic associated with the first interface card being programmed to: the logic associated with the second interface card being programmed to: whereby: