Patent ID: 7103711
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A storage area network comprising: a first storage device having a reserved area for receiving logging data, having a storage device address and for receiving serial data packets; a second storage device for storing data, having a storage device address and for receiving serial data packets; a host for providing serial data packets addressed to said first storage device or said second storage device; a packet switching device for switching serial data packets between serial communication links based on addresses in the serial data packets; a first serial communication link between said first storage device and said packet switching device; a second serial communication link between said second storage device and said packet switching device; and a third serial communication link between said host and said packet switching device, wherein should said host transmit serial data packets addressed to said first and second storage devices, any such serial data packets are transmitted over said third communication link to said packet switching device, with said packet switching device transmitting any serial data packet received from said host over said first communication link if the serial data packet is addressed to said first storage device and over said second communication link if the serial data packet is addressed to said second storage device, with one of said host or said packet switching device transmitting logging data to said reserved area, said logging data provided in serial data packets addressed to said first storage device.