Virtual SCSI enclosure services
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsPatrick Allen Buckland, Lee Dale Cleveland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A SCSI adapter uses firmware to provide functionality of a SCSI enclosure services device. In a preferred embodiment, a SCSI adapter communicates with a backplane via I2C IO ports on both the adapter and the backplane. The I2C IO ports of the adapter and backplane are connected via wires of the SCSI connection. Commands sent by applications to the enclosure services device are responded to by the virtual enclosure device. The process is preferably transparent to calling applications.
Claims21
A computer system, comprising:
- a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) adapter;
- a backplane connected to communicate with the adapter;
- wherein the adapter provides the functions of a SCSI enclosure services device.
A method of controlling devices on a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), comprising the steps of:
- initiating a SCSI adapter capable of communicating with a backplane;
- and
- creating a virtual SCSI enclosure services device.
A computer system, comprising:
- an application on the computer system, the application being able to communicate with a backplane through a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) adapter
- a microprocessor that runs at least some functions of the adapter;
- code which allows the adapter to provide enclosure services for the backplane.
An improved Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) adapter, wherein the improvement comprises:
- code associated with the adapter which creates a virtual SCSI enclosure services device.
A computer system, comprising:
- a backplane connected to an adapter by a small computer system interface (SCSI) connector, the backplane having a plurality of slots;
- wherein at least some of the slots of the backplane include ports connected to the adapter via the SCSI connector;
- and
- wherein the adapter provides enclosure services to the backplane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.