Patent ID: 7400510

Claim:
A data storage system comprising: a plurality of data storage canisters, each data storage canister comprising: a shell; a frame disposed within the shell, the frame extending in a lengthwise direction along the shell; a plurality of mounting points disposed along the frame, each mounting point operative to accept one module of uniform size, the mounting points spaced such that mounted modules are mounted in a parallel, spaced apart manner; A connector system operative to pass electrical signals through the shell; a power bus interconnected to the connector system, the power bus operative to deliver power to each module; a communication interconnect system operative to transfer signals between each mounted module and the connector; and a plurality of data storage modules, each data storage module mounted at one of the plurality of mounting points, each data storage module in electrical contact with the connector system, the power bus and the communication interconnect system; the data storage system further comprising secondary packaging for receiving at least one of the plurality of canisters.