Solid-state drive dock having local and network interfaces
An external M.2 solid-state drive dock with local and network interfaces is disclosed. The dock includes an enclosure with apertures through which M.2 solid-state drives can be received. A circuit board is mounted within the enclosure that includes M.2 socket connectors for receiving the M.2 solid-state drives. The circuit board also includes a storage controller coupled to the M.2. socket connectors. A local interface controller is coupled to the storage controller for providing a local interface, such as a USB-C interface, to the M.2 solid-state drives to host computers. A network controller is also coupled to the storage controller for providing network interfaces, such as wired and/or wireless network interfaces, for accessing the M.2. solid-state drives. The storage controller can receive storage requests from the local interface controller and the network interface controller and provide the storage requests to the M.2 solid-state drives.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an enclosure having a plurality of apertures therein;
a circuit board mounted within the enclosure, the circuit board comprising:
a plurality of M.2 socket connectors configured to receive a like plurality of M.2 solid-state drives through the plurality of apertures;
a storage controller coupled to the plurality of M.2 socket connectors;
a local interface controller coupled to the storage controller for providing a local connection to one or more first computers;
a local interface connector coupled to the local interface controller for providing a connection to the one or more first computers;
a network controller coupled to the storage controller for connecting to a first network for communication with one or more second computers; and
a power connector for receiving power from a power supply external to the enclosure, the power connector electrically connected to the plurality of M.2 socket connectors, the storage controller, the local interface controller, and the network controller,
wherein the storage controller is configured to receive storage requests from the one or more first computers by way of the local interface controller, to receive storage requests from the one or more second computers by way of the network controller, and to provide the storage requests to the plurality of M.2 solid-state drives.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the local interface controller comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the local interface connector comprises a USB-C connector.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first network comprises a wireless network, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a wireless antenna coupled to the network controller for communicating with the one or more second computers.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first network comprises a wired network, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a local area network (LAN) connector coupled to the network controller for connecting to the wired network.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the network controller further comprises an embedded web server for providing a web site for managing the operation of the apparatus.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the circuit board further comprises a like plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted adjacent to the plurality of M.2 socket connectors and coupled to the storage controller, and wherein the storage controller is configured to illuminate the LEDs when a corresponding M.2 solid-state drive is accessed.
8. An apparatus, comprising:
an enclosure having a plurality of apertures therein;
a circuit board mounted within the enclosure, the circuit board comprising:
a plurality of M.2 socket connectors configured to receive a like plurality of M.2 solid-state drives through the plurality of apertures;
a storage controller coupled to the plurality of M.2 socket connectors;
a Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller coupled to the storage controller for providing a local USB connection to one or more first computers;
a USB-C connector coupled to the local interface controller for providing a connection to the one or more first computers;
a network controller coupled to the storage controller for connecting to a wireless network and for connecting to a wired local area network (LAN) for communication with one or more second computers;
a local area network (LAN) connector coupled to the network controller for connecting to the wired LAN; and
a power connector for receiving power from a power supply external to the enclosure, the power connector electrically connected to the M.2 socket connectors, the storage controller, the USB controller, and the network controller,
wherein the storage controller is configured to receive storage requests from the one or more first computers by way of the USB controller, to receive storage requests from the one or more second computers by way of the network controller, and to provide the storage requests to the M.2 solid-state drives.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the network controller further comprises an embedded web server for providing a web site for managing the operation of the apparatus.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the circuit board further comprises a like plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted adjacent to the plurality of M.2 socket connectors and coupled to the storage controller, and wherein the storage controller is configured to illuminate the LEDs when a corresponding M.2 solid-state drive is accessed.