Patent ID: 6957285

Claim:
An interface for transferring data between a host computer and a bank of disk drives, such system interface comprising: a plurality of first directors, each one of the first plurality of directors having: a plurality of first director ports coupled to host computer; and, a plurality of first director memory ports; a plurality of second directors, each one of the second plurality of directors having: a plurality of second director ports coupled to the bank of disk drives; and, a plurality of second director memory ports; a memory coupled to the first director memory ports of the plurality of first directors and to coupled to the second director memory ports of the plurality of second directors; wherein: each one of the first directors has a first crossbar switch, such first crossbar switch having: a plurality of first ports and a plurality of second ports, each one of the first ports of the first cross bar switch being coupled to a corresponding one of the first director ports of such one of the first directors: and each one of the second ports of the first crossbar switch being coupled to a corresponding one of the first director memory ports of such one of the first directors; and each one of the second directors has a second crossbar switch, such second crossbar switch having: a plurality of third ports and a plurality of fourth ports, each one of the third ports of the second cross bar switch being coupled to a corresponding one of the second director ports of such one of the second directors; and each one of the fourth ports of the second crossbar switch being coupled to a corresponding one of the second director memory ports of such one of the second directions.