Data storage system for managing serial interface configuration based on detected activity

A data storage system, comprising:

• (a) a storage backplane comprising a plurality of drive slots configured to operatively connect to a corresponding plurality of mass storage devices;
• (b) a plurality of serial interfaces that differ from each other, each operative to communicatively connect a respective set, including zero or more slots, of the plurality of drive slots to a host bus adapter (HBA), according to a respective drive slot assignment;
• and
• (c) a backplane controller operatively connected to each one of the plurality of serial interfaces, the backplane controller being operative to detect the activity status on each of the plurality of serial interfaces and, if a change in the activity status is detected for at least one of the serial interfaces, modify the drive slot assignment for each respective one of the serial interfaces,
• wherein each of the plurality of interfaces is operative to, in response to the modification of the respective slot assignment, communicatively connect a respective modified set of the plurality of drive slots to the HBA, the respective modified set including zero or more slots, wherein the respective set and the respective modified set differ from each other.

A data storage system, comprising:

• (a) a storage backplane comprising a plurality of drive slots configured to operatively connect to a corresponding plurality of mass storage devices;
• (b) a plurality of serial interfaces that differ from each other, each operative to communicatively connect a respective set, including zero or more slots, of the plurality of drive slots to a host bus adapter (HBA), according to a respective drive slot assignment, wherein the plurality of serial interfaces comprises more than two serial interfaces and at least two of the plurality of serial interfaces are serial general purpose input/output (SGPIO) interfaces;
• and
• (c) a backplane controller operatively connected to each one of the plurality of serial interfaces, the backplane controller being operative to detect the activity status on each of the plurality of serial interfaces and, if a change in the activity status is detected for at least one of the serial interfaces, modify the drive slot assignment for each respective one of the serial interfaces,
• wherein each of the plurality of interfaces is operative to, in response to the modification of the respective slot assignment, communicatively connect a respective modified set of the plurality of drive slots to the HBA, the respective modified set including zero or more slots, wherein the respective set and the respective modified set differ from each other.