Patent ID: 7434107

Claim:
A cluster network, comprising: first, second, and third server computers, each server computer including a storage controller for the management of fault tolerant data storage within the cluster network; first and second expander units, wherein each of the first, second, and third server computers is coupled to each of the expander units; and a plurality of storage enclosures, wherein each storage enclosure comprises: a first interface coupled to the first expander unit; a second interface coupled to the second expander unit; an expander device; and a plurality of storage drives, each of the storage drives having dual ports, with one of each of the dual ports being coupled to one of the first interface and the second interface; wherein each of the first, second, and third server computers is operable to communicate with any of the other server computers and with each of the storage drives of the cluster network despite the failure of one of the first and second expander units, wherein the plurality of storage enclosures comprises a first plurality of storage enclosures, wherein the first interface and the second interface of a storage enclosure of the first plurality of storage enclosures each include a host port and an expansion port, wherein the host port of the first interface of the storage enclosure of the first plurality of storage enclosures is coupled to the first expander unit, wherein the host port of the second interface of the storage enclosure of the first plurality of storage enclosures is coupled to the second expander unit, and wherein the expander device of the storage enclosure of the first plurality of storage enclosures is coupled to a host port, an expansion port, and each of the storage drives of the storage enclosure of the first plurality of storage enclosures.