Patent ID: 7676600

Claim:
A network storage appliance, comprising: a chassis; a port combiner, enclosed in said chassis, for providing high-speed data communication between at least first, second, and third I/O ports; a storage controller, enclosed in said chassis, for controlling a plurality of storage devices, comprising said first I/O port; a server, enclosed in said chassis, comprising said second I/O port; an I/O connector, affixed on the storage appliance, for networking said third I/O port to said port combiner, wherein said third I/O port is external to said chassis and not comprised in the storage appliance; and first, second, and third I/O links, for coupling said first I/O port, said second I/O port, and said I/O connector, respectively, to said port combiner; wherein a field replaceable unit (FRU) comprises said first I/O link, said second I/O link, said third I/O link, said first I/O port, said second I/O port, said I/O connector, and said port combiner.