Backplane controller for managing serial interface configuration based on detected activity

A backplane controller of a storage backplane having a plurality of drive slots configured to operatively connect to a corresponding plurality of mass storage devices, the backplane controller operative to perform functions comprising:

• (a) detecting activity status on each of a plurality of serial interfaces that are each configured to be coupled with a same host bus adapter (HBA) for communicating with the HBA, each of the interfaces allowing, according to a respective drive slot assignment, communication or no communication between a respective set of the plurality of drive slots to the HBA via that each interface;
• and
• (b) if a change in the activity status is detected for at least one of the plurality of serial interfaces, modifying the drive slot assignment for each respective one of the plurality of serial interfaces such that each of the interfaces respectively allows communication between a different set from the respective set for that each interface, including no slot, of the plurality of drive slots and the HBA via that each interface.

A backplane controller of a storage backplane having a plurality of drive slots configured to operatively connect to a corresponding plurality of mass storage devices, the backplane controller operative to perform functions comprising:

• (a) detecting activity status on each of a plurality of serial interfaces that are each configured to be coupled with a same host bus adapter (HBA) for communicating with the HBA, each of the interfaces allowing, according to a respective drive slot assignment, communication or no communication between a respective set of the plurality of drive slots and the HBA via that each interface, 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
• (b) if a change in the activity status is detected for at least one of the plurality of serial interfaces, modifying the drive slot assignment for each respective one of the plurality of serial interfaces such that each of the interfaces respectively allows communication between a different set from the respective set for that each interface, including no slot, of the plurality of drive slots and the HBA via that each interface.