Implementing data storage and dual port, dual-element storage device
View Patent ↗A method for implementing data storage and a dual port, dual element storage device are provided. A storage device includes a predefined form factor including a first port and a second port, and a first storage element and a second storage element. A controller coupled between the first port and second port, and the first storage element and second storage element controls access and provides two separate data paths to the first storage element and second storage element.
1. A dual port, dual element storage device comprising:
a predefined form factor, said predefined form factor including a single predefined form factor containing the dual port, dual element storage device, said single predefined form factor including a first storage interface port and a second storage interface port, each of said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port including an input/output (I/O) connector connected to a host computer;
a first storage element and a second storage element;
a controller coupled between said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port, and said first storage element and said second storage element,
said host computer sending respective commands to said first storage element and said second storage element via two separate data paths respectively including said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port;
said controller providing said two separate data paths, controls access to said first storage element and said second storage element responsive to commands from said host computer; and
said single predefined form factor containing said first storage element, said second storage element, said controller, said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port.
2. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage element and said second storage element include a flash memory, and a hard disk drive (HDD).
3. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage element and said second storage element include a single-level cell (SLC) solid state drive (SSD), and a multi-level cell (MLC) SSD.
4. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage element and said second storage element include a pair of hard disk drives (HDDs).
5. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage element and said second storage element include a solid state drive (SSD) and a hard disk drive (HDD).
6. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage element and said second storage element include a pair of multi-level cell (MLC) SSD solid state drives (SSDs).
7. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port include a dual-port Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) input/output (I/O) connector.
8. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port include a pair of non-duplex Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) I/O connectors.
9. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port include a pair of Serial ATA (SATA) I/O connectors.
10. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port include a dual-port Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) input/output (I/O) connector arranged as a pair of Serial ATA (SATA) I/O connectors.
11. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said predefined form factor includes a single predefined hard disk drive (HDD) form-factor.
12. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein said predefined form factor includes a single predefined SSD form-factor.
13. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 includes said controller providing a respective dedicated data path between said first storage interface port and said first storage element, and between said second storage interface port and said second storage element.
14. The dual port, dual element storage device as recited in claim 1 includes said controller providing a respective dynamic switchable data path between said first storage interface port and said first storage element and said second storage element, and between said second storage interface port and said first storage element and said second storage element.
15. An apparatus for implementing data storage comprising:
a predefined form factor, said predefined form factor including a single predefined form factor containing a dual port, dual element storage device, said single predefined form factor including a first storage interface port and a second storage interface port, said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port contained within said single predefined form factor; each of said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port including an input/output (I/O) connector connected to a host computer;
a first storage element and a second storage element contained within said single predefined form factor;
a controller contained within said single predefined form factor; said controller coupled between said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port, and said first storage element and said second storage element,
said host computer sending respective commands to said first storage element and said second storage element via two separate data paths respectively including said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port; and
said controller providing said two separate data paths and controlling access to said first storage element and said second storage element responsive to commands from said host computer.
16. The apparatus for implementing data storage as recited in claim 15 wherein said controller uses said control code for selectively configuring a dynamic switchable data path between said first storage interface port and said first storage element and said second storage element, and between said second storage interface port and said first storage element and said second storage element.
17. A method for implementing data storage in a dual port, dual element storage device comprising:
providing a predefined form factor, said predefined form factor including a single predefined form factor containing the dual port, dual element storage device, said predefined form factor including a first storage interface port and a second storage interface port, each of said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port including an input/output (I/O) connector connected to a host computer;
providing a first storage element and a second storage element within said single predefined form factor;
providing a controller coupled between said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port, and said first storage element and said second storage element,
said host computer sending respective commands to said first storage element and said second storage element via two separate data paths respectively including said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port;
configuring said controller to provide said two separate data paths and to control access to said first storage element and said second storage element responsive to commands from said host computer; and
containing each of said first storage element, said second storage element, said controller, said first storage interface port and said second storage interface port within said single predefined form factor.
18. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein providing a first storage element and a second storage element within said predefined form factor includes providing a flash memory, and a hard disk drive (HDD), storing selected random data within said flash memory, and storing sequential operations of data blocks within said hard disk drive (HDD).
19. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein providing a first storage element and a second storage element within said predefined form factor includes providing a pair of hard disk drives (HDDs), and implementing a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) function with said pair of hard disk drives (HDDs).
20. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein providing a first storage element and a second storage element within said predefined form factor includes providing a pair of solid state drives (SSDs), and implementing a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) function with said pair of solid state drives (SSDs).
21. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein configuring said controller to provide two separate data paths includes providing a respective dedicated data path between said first storage interface port and said first storage element, and between said second storage interface port and said second storage element.
22. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein configuring said controller to provide two separate data paths includes providing a respective dynamic switchable data path between said first storage interface port and said first storage element and said second storage element, and between said second storage interface port and said first storage element and said second storage element.
23. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein providing a first storage element and a second storage element within said predefined form factor includes providing a flash memory, and a hard disk drive (HDD), and said controller implementing a migrate function, and transfers active data to said flash memory from said hard disk drive (HDD).
24. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein providing a first storage element and a second storage element within said predefined form factor includes providing a flash memory, and a hard disk drive (HDD), and said controller implementing a copy migrate function, and copies a data image of said flash memory onto said hard disk drive (HDD).
25. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein providing a first storage element and a second storage element within said predefined form factor includes providing a flash memory, and a second larger capacity flash memory, and said controller implementing a migrate function, and transfers active data to said flash memory from said second larger capacity flash memory.
26. The method for implementing data storage as recited in claim 17 wherein providing a first storage element and a second storage element within said predefined form factor includes providing a flash memory, and a second larger capacity flash memory, and said controller implementing a copy migrate function, and copies a data image of said flash memory onto said second larger capacity flash memory.