# US 2014/0195731 A1 · Physical link management

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0195731 A1
- Document ID: US20140195731A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/736,218
- Filed: 2013-01-08
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08
- Assignees: LSI Corporation
- Applicants: Lsi Corporation
- Inventors: Jeevanandham Rajasekaran; Ankit Sihare
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195731A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/0617: {in relation to availability}
- G06F 3/0635: {by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration}
- G06F 3/0689: {Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Disclosed is a storage system that includes a physical disk and a storage controller. The storage controller is configured to use a first physical link and a second physical link of a serial attached SCSI (SAS) wide port to communicate with the physical disk. Based on a dynamic system property, the storage controller is re-configured to use at least a third physical link of the SAS wide port to communicate with physical disk. Examples of the dynamic system property include load on the SAS wide port, a failure condition, or premium feature enablement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a storage system, comprising:
configuring a storage controller to use a first physical link and a second physical link of a serial attached SCSI (SAS) wide port to communicate with a physical disk; and,
based on dynamic system property, configuring the storage controller to use a third physical link of the SAS wide port.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a type of physical disk coupled to the SAS wide port.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a topology of a link between said storage controller and said physical disk.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a property of a virtual disk.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a failure of said first physical link.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a load on said first physical link.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic system property is based on number of physical disk communicating with the storage controller via the SAS wide port.

### Claim 8

A storage system, comprising:
a physical disk; and,
a storage controller configured to use a first physical link and a second physical link of a serial attached SCSI (SAS) wide port to communicate with the physical disk, and configured to use a third physical link of the SAS wide port based on a dynamic system property.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The storage system of claim 8, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a type of physical disk coupled to the SAS wide port.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The storage system of claim 8, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a topology of a link between said storage controller and said physical disk.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The storage system of claim 8, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a property of a virtual disk.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The storage system of claim 8, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a failure of said first physical link.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The storage system of claim 8, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a load on said first physical link.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The storage system of claim 8, wherein the dynamic system property is based on number of physical disks communicating with the storage controller via the SAS wide port.

### Claim 15

A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for operating a storage system that, when executed by a computer, at least instruct the computer to:
use a first physical link and a second physical link of a serial attached SCSI (SAS) wide port to communicate with a physical disk; and,
based on dynamic system property, use a third physical link of the SAS wide port.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The medium of claim 15, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a type of physical disk coupled to the SAS wide port.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The medium of claim 15, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a topology of a link between said storage controller and said physical disk.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The medium of claim 15, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a property of a virtual disk.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The medium of claim 15, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a failure of said first physical link.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The medium of claim 15, wherein the dynamic system property is based on a load on said first physical link.