System and method for enabling a data/video server to implement operation in accordance with a new connection diagram, and a data/video server including that system

A system for enabling a data/video server to implement operation in accordance with a new connection diagram, which server includes n I/O access channel connectors, m storage arrays and a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time, the system comprising:

• a bandwidth manager for generating the new connection diagram;
• and
• a control system, coupled to the bandwidth manager, for obtaining the new connection diagram and causing the server to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram,
• wherein the control system causes the server to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram in place of an old connection diagram at an implementation time by causing the server to begin operating in accordance with the new connection diagram at the implementation time, but subject to and in accordance with one or more transition rules, during the beginning of such operating, which ensure that there is a smooth operational transition between operation in accordance with the old connection diagram and operation in accordance with the new connection diagram, and
• wherein the control system ensures that operation of the server in accordance with the new connection diagram is subject to and in accordance with the one or more transition rules during at least the beginning of a transition time period which begins at the implementation time, which thereby results in the server operating in accordance with a transition connection diagram during the transition time period which may differ from the new connection diagram.

A system for enabling a data/video server to implement operation in accordance with a new connection diagram, which server includes n I/O access channel connectors, m storage arrays and a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time, the system comprising:

• a bandwidth manager for generating the new connection diagram;
• and
• a control system, coupled to the bandwidth manager, for obtaining the new connection diagram and causing the server to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram,
• wherein the control system causes the server to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram in place of an old connection diagram at an implementation time by causing the server to begin operating in accordance with the new connection diagram at the implementation time, but subject to and in accordance with one or more transition rules, during the beginning of such operating, which ensure that there is a smooth operational transition between operation in accordance with the old connection diagram and operation in accordance with the new connection diagram, and
• wherein the bandwidth manager determines the implementation time and supplies it to the control system.

A system for enabling a data/video server to implement operation in accordance with a new connection diagram, which server includes n I/O access channel connectors, m storage arrays and a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time, the system comprising:

• a bandwidth manager for generating the new connection diagram;
• a control system, coupled to the bandwidth manager, for obtaining the new connection diagram and causing the server to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram;
• and
• synchronizing means for synchronizing each of the I/O access channel connectors, storage arrays and commutator so that they can implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram at substantially the same time.

A system for enabling a data/video server to implement operation in accordance with a new connection diagram, which server includes n I/O access channel connectors, m storage arrays and a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time, the system comprising:

• a bandwidth manager for generating the new connection diagram;
• and
• a control system, coupled to the bandwidth manager, for obtaining the new connection diagram and causing the server to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram,
• wherein the bandwidth manager generates a new connection diagram which ensures that when the server operates in accordance therewith, each of the I/O access channel connectors is individually connected to each of the storage arrays individually at least twice during a supercycle time period.

A method for enabling a data/video server to implement operation in accordance with a new connection diagram, which server includes n I/O access channel connectors, m storage arrays and a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time, the system comprising:

• obtaining a new connection diagram;
• determining an implementation time;
• and
• causing the server to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram,
• wherein the server is caused to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram in place of an old connection diagram at the implementation time by causing the server to begin operating in accordance with the new connection diagram at the implementation time, but subject to and in accordance with one or more transition rules, during the beginning of such operating, which ensure that there is a smooth operational transition between operation in accordance with the old connection diagram and operation in accordance with the new connection diagram.

A method for enabling a data/video server to implement operation in accordance with a new connection diagram, which server includes n I/O access channel connectors, m storage arrays and a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time, the system comprising:

• obtaining a new connection diagram;
• causing the server to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram;
• and
• synchronizing each of the I/O access channel connectors, storage arrays and commutator so that they can implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram at substantially the same time.

A data/video server, comprising:

• n I/O access channel connectors;
• m storage arrays;
• a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a present connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time;
• and
• a control system for obtaining a new connection diagram and causing the I/O access channel connectors, the storage arrays and the commutator to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram,
• the new connection diagram being designed to enable the server when operating in accordance therewith to provide an I/O access channel already coupled to one of the I/O access channel connectors with a different bandwidth during a supercycle time period than said I/O access channel is provided with when the server operates in accordance with the present connection diagram.

A data/video server, comprising:

• n I/O access channel connectors;
• m storage arrays;
• a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time;
• a control system for obtaining a new connection diagram and causing the I/O access channel connectors, the storage arrays and the commutator to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram;
• and
• a bandwidth manager, coupled to the control system, for generating a new connection diagram.

A data/video server, comprising:

• n I/O access channel connectors;
• m storage arrays;
• a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the server is being operated in accordance with at a given time;
• a control system for obtaining a new connection diagram and causing the I/O access channel connectors, the storage arrays and the commutator to implement operation in accordance with the new connection diagram;
• and
• synchronizing means for synchronizing each of the I/O access channel connectors, storage arrays and commutator so that they can implement in accordance with the new connection diagram at substantially the same time.

A data/video server, comprising the following elements:

• n I/O access channel connectors, each of which includes a microprocessor therein;
• m storage arrays, one of which includes a bandwidth manager therein for generating a new connection diagram, and each of which includes a microprocessor therein;
• and
• and a commutator which connects individual ones of the I/O access channel connectors to different individual ones of the storage arrays in accordance with a connection diagram with which the elements are operated in accordance with at a given time, which commutator includes a microprocessor therein;
• wherein the microprocessors included in the elements obtain the new connection diagram and cause the elements to implement operation in accordance therewith in place of an old connection diagram at an implementation time by causing them to begin operating in accordance with the new connection diagram at the implementation time, but subject to and in accordance with one or more transition rules, during the beginning of such operating, which ensure that there is a smooth operational transition between operation in accordance with the old connection diagram and operation in accordance with the new connection diagram.