IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,320,169
Granted Patent B2
US 9,320,169 · App. 13/935,181 · Granted Apr 19, 2016

Modular dense storage array

Inventors: Jason D. Adrian (Williamsburg, VA); Douglas L. Farley (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
H05K7/1494Y10T29/49826
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,320,169
App. No.
13/935,181
Filed
Jul 3, 2013
Granted
Apr 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2835
USPC
361/679.33
Abstract

Modular dense storage arrays are disclosed. In some embodiments, a modular storage array may include a chassis configured to receive a plurality of drive bay modules, a first of the plurality of drive bay modules configured to receive a first plurality of storage drives in the absence of a drive adaptor, each of the first plurality of storage drives having a first form factor, and a second of the plurality of drive bay modules configured to receive a second plurality of storage drives in the absence of the drive adaptor, each of the second plurality of storage drives having a second form factor different from the first form factor.

Claims (22)

1. A modular storage array, comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of slots on two opposing surfaces, wherein the slots are configured to receive T-shaped rails with different configurable spacing between immediately neighboring rails; and

a plurality of drive bay modules coupled to the chassis, wherein each given drive bay module has a set of four L-shaped tabs, each L-shaped tab disposed along one of four edges of the given module, wherein each L-shaped tab allows the given module to slide in and out of a corresponding T-shaped rail within the chassis, wherein a first of the plurality of drive bay modules is configured to receive a first plurality of storage drives in the absence of a drive adaptor, each of the first plurality of storage drives having a first form factor, and wherein a second of the plurality of drive bay modules is configured to receive a second plurality of storage drives in the absence of the drive adaptor, each of the second plurality of storage drives having a second form factor different from the first form factor.

2. The modular storage array of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of storage drives are hard drives having a 3.5-inch form factor, and wherein the second plurality of storage drives are hard drives having a 2.5-inch form factor.

3. The modular storage array of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of drive bay modules includes a first protocol expander device located at one end of the drive bay module and a second protocol expander device located at the other end of the drive bay module.

4. The modular storage array of claim 3 , wherein the first and second protocol expander devices are Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) (SAS) devices or Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express (PCIe) devices.

5. The modular storage array of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of drive bay modules includes a bottom-plane, wherein each bottom-plane includes a plurality of connectors, and wherein each of the plurality of connectors is configured to receive a corresponding one of the pluralities of storage drives.

6. The modular storage array of claim 5 , wherein the first drive bay module includes a first bottom-plane configured to accommodate the first form factor, wherein the second drive bay module includes a second bottom-plane configured to accommodate the second form factor, and wherein the first bottom-plane is wider than the second bottom-plane.

7. The modular storage array of claim 5 , wherein the chassis includes a mid-plane, and wherein the mid-plane includes: a first set of connectors configured to be coupled to a first set of protocol expander devices located at an end of the plurality of drive bay modules via corresponding bottom-plane connectors, and a second set of connectors configured to be coupled to a second set of protocol expander devices located at another end of the plurality of drive bay modules via corresponding bottom-plane connectors.

8. The modular storage array of claim 7 , wherein the chassis is configured to receive a storage controller, and wherein the storage controller is configured to be coupled to the mid-plane.

9. The modular storage array of claim 8 , wherein the storage controller includes a protocol expander device coupled to a protocol controller, and wherein the protocol expander device is configured to be coupled to the first set of protocol expander devices located at the end of the plurality of drive bay modules.

10. The modular storage array of claim 9 , wherein the chassis is configured to receive another storage controller, and wherein the other storage controller is configured to be coupled to the mid-plane.

11. The modular storage array of claim 10 , wherein the other storage controller includes another protocol expander device coupled to another protocol controller, and wherein the other protocol expander device is configured to be coupled to the second set of protocol expander devices located at the other end of the plurality of drive bay modules.

12. The modular storage array of claim 11 , wherein the protocol controller is configured to be coupled to the other protocol expander device and wherein the other protocol controller is configured to be coupled to the protocol expander device.

13. The modular storage array of claim 11 , wherein the chassis includes a configurable track system having a plurality of rails operable to be moved to interchangeably accommodate the first and the second of the plurality of drive bay modules.

14. A storage system, comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of slots on two opposing surfaces, wherein the slots are configured to receive T-shaped rails with different configurable spacing between immediately neighboring rails;

a first drive bay module configured to receive a first plurality of storage drives, each of the first plurality of storage drives having a first form factor, wherein the first drive bay module has a set of four L-shaped tabs, each L-shaped tab disposed along one of four edges of the first drive bay module, wherein each L-shaped tab allows the first drive bay module to slide in and out of a corresponding T-shaped rail within the chassis;

a second drive bay module configured to receive a second plurality of storage drives in the absence of a drive adaptor, each of the second plurality of storage drives having a second form factor, wherein the second drive bay module has a set of four L-shaped tabs, each L-shaped tab disposed along one of four edges of the second drive bay module, wherein each L-shaped tab allows the second drive bay module to slide in and out of a corresponding T-shaped rail within the chassis; and

a storage controller coupled to the first and second pluralities of storage drives.

15. The storage system of claim 14 , wherein each of the pluralities of drive bay modules includes a bottom-plane, wherein each bottom-plane includes a plurality of connectors, and wherein each of the plurality of connectors is configured to receive a corresponding one of the pluralities of storage drives.

16. The storage system of claim 15 , wherein the chassis includes a mid-plane, and wherein the mid-plane includes: a first set of connectors configured to be coupled to a first set of protocol expander devices located at an end of the plurality of drive bay modules via corresponding bottom-plane connectors, and a second set of connectors configured to be coupled to a second set of protocol expander devices located at another end of the plurality of drive bay modules via corresponding bottom-plane connectors.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: DELL INC.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 038222/0748 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2013
From: ADRIAN, JASON; FARLEY, DOUGLAS L.
To: DELL INC
Reel/Frame 030738/0740 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150009616A1 · Jan 8, 2015