Methods and structure for fast context switching among a plurality of expanders in a serial attached SCSI domain
US9081910B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/4022
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and structure for enabling Fast Context Switching (FCS) among a plurality of FCS enhanced Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) expanders of a SAS domain. The FCS enhanced SAS expander is further adapted to detect completion of utilization of the first connection that utilizes an upstream PHY and a downstream PHY of the expander. The expander is further adapted, responsive to detecting completion, to determine whether a second connection between the initiator device and a second target device could be established utilizing the existing coupling between the upstream PHY and the downstream PHY. The expander de-couples the upstream PHY from the downstream PHY within the expander in response to determining that the second connection does not utilize the existing coupling and maintains the existing coupling in response to determining that the second connection utilizes the coupling between the upstream PHY and the downstream PHY.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.