Apparatus for effecting port switching of fibre channel loops
US5841997A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/4022
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fibre channel disk drive operating system configures a plurality of disk drives into a fibre channel drive loop. The system also provides plurality of disk drive controllers, and a software controlled switching circuit electrically connecting the disk drive controllers to the disk drives which are arranged in the fibre channel drive loop in varying selected configurations. The switching circuit has a plurality of switch elements arranged for selectively electrically connecting each fibre channel drive loop to a selected controller. Each switch element in a first mode of operation passes electrical signals in a through direction and in a second mode of operation passes electrical signals in a second bypass direction. Thereby each fibre channel drive loop is electrically connected to a selected one of disk drive controllers prior to operation of the system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.