Devices with asymmetric sas generation support
AssigneeAvago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsLuiz Varchavtchik, Reid A. Kaufmann, Jason A. Unrein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and structure for devices that implement multiple versions of the Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) protocol. One exemplary embodiment comprises a SAS device that includes at least one physical link (PHY) that supports a specified generation of SAS protocols, and at least one PHY that supports a different generation of SAS protocols and that does not support the specified generation of SAS protocols. The SAs device also includes an Input/Output (I/O) processor able to select a PHY to service a SAS connection, based on the generation of SAS protocols supported by the PHY.
Claims25
A Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) device, comprising:
- at least one physical link (PHY) that supports a specified generation of SAS protocols;
- at least one PHY that supports a different generation of SAS protocols having a slower maximum link rate than the generation of SAS protocols, and that does not support the specified generation of SAS protocols;
- and
- an Input/Output (I/O) processor operable to select a PHY to service a SAS connection, based on the generation of SAS protocols supported by the PHY.
A Host Bust Adapter (HBA), comprising a circuit board that comprises:
- a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) storage controller circuit that includes physical links (PHYs) that support a specified generation of SAS protocols;
- a SAS expander circuit coupled with the SAS storage controller, wherein the SAS expander circuit includes PHYs that support a different generation of SAS protocols, and that do not support the specified generation of SAS protocols;
- and
- an Input/Output (I/O) processor operable to select a PHY to service a SAS connection, based on the generation of SAS protocols supported by the PHY.
A method, operable in a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) device, comprising:
- detecting a request to establish a SAS connection with another SAS device;
- identifying multiple SAS physical links (PHYs) of the SAS device that are operable to establish the SAS connection, wherein at least one of the SAS PHYs supports a specified generation of SAS protocols, at least another one of the SAS PHYs supports a different generation of SAS protocols and does not support the specified generation of SAS protocols;
- and
- selecting one of the SAS PHYs to establish the SAS connection, based on the generation of SAS protocols that the PHY supports.
A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method in a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) device, comprising:
- detecting a request to establish a SAS connection with another SAS device;
- identifying multiple SAS physical links (PHYs) of the SAS device that are operable to establish the SAS connection, wherein at least one of the SAS PHYs supports a specified generation of SAS protocols, at least another one of the SAS PHYs supports a different generation of SAS protocols and does not support the specified generation of SAS protocols;
- and
- selecting one of the SAS PHYs to establish the SAS connection, based on the generation of SAS protocols that the PHY supports.
A Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) device, comprising:
- a plurality of physical links (PHYs);
- a first SAS core operable to direct at least one of the PHYs according to a specified generation of SAS protocols;
- a second SAS core operable to direct at least one of the PHYs according to a different generation of SAS protocols, wherein the second SAS core does not support the specified generation of SAS protocols;
- and
- an Input/Output (I/O) processor operable to select a SAS core to service a SAS connection, based on the generation of SAS protocols supported by the SAS core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.