Patent ID: 8176156
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A scalable network attached storage system comprising: at least one enclosure, the enclosure including at least one storage blade and a switch having a first port for communicating with an upstream enclosure and a second port for communicating with a downstream device, the enclosure further comprising a storage device for storing an identification number of the at least one enclosure, wherein each of the plurality of enclosures has a corresponding identifier, wherein at any point during operation of the system at the command of a control station each enclosure discovers its neighboring devices to determine which enclosure has the control station as a neighboring device, and wherein a first enclosure having the control station as a neighboring device assigns itself a first identification number and sends the first identification number to a second enclosure downstream from the first enclosure, wherein the second enclosure upon receiving the first identification number assigns itself a second identification number, wherein the second enclosure derives the second identification number by performing a function on the first identification number and each subsequent enclosure assigns itself a value as its identification number, wherein the value is derived by performing the function on an identification number received from an immediately preceding enclosure.