Patent ID: 6684266
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A storage area network (SAN), fibre channel arbitrated loop (FCAL) multiple system, multiple resource storage enclosure comprising:a plurality of storage resources; a plurality of IO adapters (IOAs) coupled to the storage area network; a pair of enclosure services node cards, each said enclosure services node cards including fibre channel (FC) connections for said plurality of storage resources; each said enclosure services node card including a respective global bus connection and a FC connection to each of said plurality of IOAs; and each said enclosure services node card including a plurality of port bypass circuits (PBCs) coupled to said plurality of storage resources and said plurality of IO adapters (IOAs) with FCAL connections; each said enclosure services node card including a controller chip for controlling said plurality of port bypass circuits (PBCs); and each said enclosure services node card being used concurrently by the multiple systems to manage said plurality of storage resources.