Storage enclosure with daisy-chained sideband signal routing and distributed logic devices

A subsystem, comprising:

• a first logic device included on a first hard drive sub-board and coupled to a first hard drive and a second hard drive, wherein the first hard drive and the second hard drive are coupled to the first hard drive sub-board, the first logic device configured to:
• communicate with the first hard drive to change the operating state of the first hard drive;
• wherein the first hard drive sub-board is coupled to an interface unit via a first sideband cable and to a second hard drive sub-board via a second sideband cable, and the second hard drive sub-board is coupled to a third hard drive sub-board via a third sideband cable, and wherein the first hard drive sub-board is configured to receive management commands via the first sideband cable and to transmit management commands to the second hard drive sub-board via the second sideband cable, and the second hard drive sub-board is configured to transmit management commands to the third hard drive sub-board via the third sideband cable;
• wherein the first hard drive sub-board is further coupled to the interface unit via a first primary cable, and the second hard drive sub-board is coupled to the interface unit via a second primary cable, wherein the first primary cable and the second primary cable are distinct from the first sideband cable, the second sideband cable, and the third sideband cable, and wherein the first hard drive sub-board is configured to receive input/output data via the first primary cable.

A computer-implemented method for changing the operating state of a hard drive, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a first logic device, a first management command that is directed to a first hard drive included in a set of hard drives;
• and
• transmitting the first management command to the first hard drive for execution, wherein executing the first management command changes the operating state of the first hard drive;
• wherein the first logic device is included on a first hard drive sub-board, the first hard drive sub-board coupled to each hard drive included in the set of hard drives;
• wherein the first hard drive sub-board is coupled to an interface unit via a first sideband cable and to a second hard drive sub-board via a second sideband cable, and the second hard drive sub-board is coupled to a third hard drive sub-board via a third sideband cable, and wherein the first hard drive sub-board is configured to receive management commands via the first sideband cable and to transmit management commands to the second hard drive sub-board via the second sideband cable, and the second hard drive sub-board is configured to transmit management commands to the third hard drive sub-board via the third sideband cable;
• wherein the first hard drive sub-board is further coupled to the interface unit via a first primary cable, and the second hard drive sub-board is coupled to the interface unit via a second primary cable, wherein the first primary cable and the second primary cable are distinct from the first sideband cable, the second sideband cable, and the third sideband cable, and wherein the first hard drive sub-board is configured to receive input/output data via the first primary cable.