Patent ID: 7062591

Claim:
A network storage apparatus for connecting a host computer with at least one storage device, comprising: a passive backplane having a plurality of data buses including first and second data buses; at least first and second channel interface modules, connected to said passive backplane and adapted to be connected to the host computer and the at least one storage device, that are operational to send and receive storage data to and from the host computer and the at least one storage device and that are operational to selectively transfer the storage data to one or more of said plurality of data buses; and at least first and second controller memory modules, connected to said passive backplane, that communicate with said channel interface modules via said passive backplane, and that store and process the storage data transferred to and from said channel interface modules; wherein at least said first controller memory module includes a direct memory access (DMA) engine and said DMA engine is used in transferring data between said first controller memory module and said second controller memory module.