IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,624,206
Granted Patent B2
US 7,624,206 · App. 11/238,601 · Granted Nov 24, 2009

RAID data storage system with SAS expansion

Assignee: EMC Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,624,206
App. No.
11/238,601
Filed
Sep 29, 2005
Granted
Nov 24, 2009
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2181
USPC
710/51
Abstract

A data storage system has a chassis and a pair of printed circuit boards disposed in the chassis. Each one of the pair of printed circuit boards has disposed thereon a processor, a translator controlled by the processor, a SAS expander having a bidirectional front end port and multiple bidirectional backend ports, and an expansion port, and a SAS controller coupled between the translator and the expander. The system also has an interposer printed circuit board disposed in the chassis, and multiple multiplexers disposed on the interposer printed circuit board. Each one of the multiplexers has a pair of bidirectional front end ports and a pair of bidirectional back end ports. A first one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards. A second one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards. The system also has multiple disk drives disposed in the chassis. Each one is coupled to at least one backend port of a corresponding one of the multiplexers.

Claims (76)

1. A data storage system, comprising:

(A) a chassis;

(B) a pair of storage processor printed circuit boards disposed in the chassis, each one of the pair of first printed circuit boards having disposed thereon:

(a) a processor;

(b) a translator controlled by the processor;

(c) a SAS expander having a bidirectional front end port and a plurality of bidirectional backend ports, and an expansion port;

(d) a SAS controller coupled between the translator and the expander;

(C) an interposer printed circuit board disposed in the chassis;

(D) a plurality of multiplexers disposed on the interposer printed circuit board, each one of the multiplexers having:

(a) a pair of bidirectional front end ports;

(b) a pair of bidirectional back end ports; wherein

(c) a first one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards; and

(d) a second one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards; and

(E) a plurality of disk drives disposed in the chassis, each one being coupled to at least one backend port of a corresponding one of the plurality of multiplexers.

2. The data storage system recited in claim 1 including a pair of management controllers, each one being disposed on a corresponding one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards, a first of the pair of management controllers being coupled to an additional front end port of the SAS expander disposed on the first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards and a second one the pair of management controllers being coupled to an additional front end port of the SAS expander disposed on the second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards.

3. The data storage system recited in claim 2 including:

a first monitor disposed on the first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards;

a second monitor disposed on the second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards; and

a third monitor disposed on the interposer printed circuit boards; and

wherein the first, second and third monitors are coupled to the pair of management controllers.

4. The data storage system recited in claim 1 including:

(A) a second chassis;

(B) a pair of SAS expander printed circuit boards disposed in the second chassis;

(C) a pair of SAS expanders, each one being disposed on a corresponding one of the pair of SAS expander printed circuit boards, each one of the pair of SAS expanders disposed on the SAS expander printed circuit boards having a bidirectional front end expansion port and a bidirectional backend expansion port;

(D) an second interposer printed circuit board disposed in the second chassis;

(E) a second plurality of multiplexers disposed on the second interposer printed circuit board, each one of the second plurality of multiplexers having:

(a) a pair of bidirectional front end ports;

(b) a pair of bidirectional back end ports; wherein

(c) a first one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a first one of the pair of SAS expander printed circuit boards; and

(d) a second one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a second one of the pair of SAS expander printed circuit boards; and

(F) a second plurality of disk drives, each one being coupled to at least one backend port of a corresponding one of the second plurality of multiplexers; and

(G) wherein:

(a) the bidirectional front end expansion port of a first one of the pair of SAS expanders is connected to the expansion port of the first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards; and

(b) the bidirectional front end expansion port of a second one of the pair of SAS expander is connected to the expansion port of the second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards.

5. The data storage system recited in claim 4 including a pair of expansion printed circuit board management controllers, each one being disposed on a corresponding one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards, a first of the pair of expansion board management controllers being coupled to an additional front end port of the SAS expander disposed on the first one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards and a second one the pair of expansion management controllers being coupled to an additional front end port of the SAS expander disposed on the second one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards.

6. The data storage system recited in claim 5 including:

a fourth monitor disposed on the first one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards;

a fifth monitor disposed on the second one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards; and

a sixth monitor disposed on the second interposer printed circuit board; and

wherein the fourth, fifth and sixth monitors are coupled to the pair of expansion printed circuit board management controllers.

7. A data storage system, comprising:

(A) a chassis;

(B) a pair of storage processor printed circuit boards disposed in the chassis, each one of the pair of first printed circuit boards having disposed thereon:

(a) a processor;

(b) a translator controlled by the processor;

(c) a SAS expander having a bidirectional front end port and a plurality of bidirectional backend ports, and an expansion port;

(d) a SAS controller coupled between the translator and the expander;

(C) a plurality of multiplexers, each one of the multiplexers having:

(a) a pair of bidirectional front end ports;

(b) a pair of bidirectional back end ports; wherein

(c) a first one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards; and

(d) a second one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards; and

(D) a plurality of disk drives disposed in the chassis, each one being coupled to at least one backend port of a corresponding one of the plurality of multiplexers.

8. The data storage system recited in claim 7 including a pair of management controllers, each one being disposed on a corresponding one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards, a first of the pair of management controllers being coupled to an additional front end port of the SAS expander disposed on the first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards and a second one the pair of management controllers being coupled to an additional front end port of the SAS expander disposed on the second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards.

9. The data storage system recited in claim 8 including:

a first monitor disposed on the first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards;

a second monitor disposed on the second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards; and

wherein the first and second monitors are coupled to the pair of management controllers.

10. The data storage system recited in claim 7 including:

(A) a second chassis;

(B) a pair of SAS expander printed circuit boards disposed in the second chassis;

(C) a pair of SAS expanders, each one being disposed on a corresponding one of the pair of SAS expander printed circuit boards, each one of the pair of SAS expanders disposed on the SAS expander printed circuit boards having a bidirectional front end expansion port and a bidirectional backend expansion port;

(D) a second plurality of multiplexers, each one of the second plurality of multiplexers having:

(a) a pair of bidirectional front end ports;

(b) a pair of bidirectional back end ports; wherein

(c) a first one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a first one of the pair of SAS expander printed circuit boards; and

(d) a second one of the pair of bidirectional front end ports is connected to a corresponding backend port of the SAS expander disposed on a second one of the pair of SAS expander printed circuit boards; and

(E) a second plurality of disk drives, each one being coupled to at least one backend port of a corresponding one of the second plurality of multiplexers; and

(F) wherein:

(a) the bidirectional front end expansion port of a first one of the pair of SAS expanders is connected to the expansion port of the first one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards; and

(b) the bidirectional front end expansion port of a second one of the pair of SAS expander is connected to the expansion port of the second one of the pair of storage processor printed circuit boards.

11. The data storage system recited in claim 10 including a pair of expansion printed circuit board management controllers, each one being disposed on a corresponding one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards, a first of the pair of expansion board management controllers being coupled to an additional front end port of the SAS expander disposed on the first one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards and a second one the pair of expansion management controllers being coupled to an additional front end port of the SAS expander disposed on the second one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards.

12. The data storage system recited in claim 11 including:

a third monitor disposed on the first one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards;

a fourth monitor disposed on the second one of the pair of expander printed circuit boards; and

wherein the third and fourth monitors are coupled to the pair of expansion printed circuit board management controllers.

Assignments (10)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2016
From: EMC CORPORATION
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 040203/0001 →
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: 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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2005
From: BAILEY, ADRIANNA D.; BURROUGHS, JOHN V.; DIDIER, JOHN P.; GASSER, MORRIE; PEEKE, DOUGLAS E.; LONG, MATTHEW
To: EMC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017377/0180 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080126631A1 · May 29, 2008