Patent ID: 8554973

Claim:
A storage device, comprising: a processor; a root complex connected to the processor and including a first root port; an interface device; a first switch that mutually connects the first root port and the interface device, wherein the interface device includes a first endpoint; the first switch includes a first port connected to the first root port, a second port connected to the first endpoint, and a third port and a fourth port that are mutually connected with a first cross-link; and the processor is configured to control the interface device by accessing the first endpoint using a path that passes through the first root port, the first port, and the second port, and a path that passes through the first root port, the first port, the first cross-link, and the second port; and a second storage device connected to a first storage device that is the storage device, wherein the second storage device has the same configuration as the first storage device except that a third port and a fourth port thereof are not connected with a cross-link; and after removal of the first cross-link of the first storage device, the third port of the first storage device and the fourth port of the second storage device are connected with a second cross-link different from the first cross-link, and the fourth port of the first storage device and the third port of the second storage device are connected with a third cross-link different from the first and second cross-links, so that a configuration in which the second storage device is added to the first storage device is provided.