System for interfacing a data storage system to a host utilizing a plurality of busses for carrying end-user data and a separate bus for carrying interface state data

A method of operating a data storage system wherein end-user data is transferred between a host computer and a bank of disk drives through an interface, such method comprising:

• providing a memory;
• providing a plurality of directors, at least one front-end one of the directors being in communication with the host computer and at least one rear-end one of the directors being in communication with the bank of disk drives;
• providing a plurality of interface state data busses for carrying interface state data, such interface state data busses being in communication with:
• both the at least one front-end one and the at least one rear-end one of the directors;
• and the memory;
• providing a plurality of end-user data busses, for carrying end-user data, each one of the plurality of end-user data busses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of directors and a second end coupled to the memory;
• and
• wherein such plurality of directors control the end-user data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives through the memory via the end-user data busses in response to interface state data generated by the directors, such generated interface state data being transferred among the directors through the memory via the interface state data bus.

A data storage system wherein end-user data is transferred between a host computer and a bank of disk drives through an interface, such interface, comprising:

• a memory;
• a plurality of directors, at least one front-end one of the directors being in communication with the host computer and at least one rear-end one of the directors being in communication with the bank of disk drives;
• an interface state data bus section, for carrying interface state data, such interface state data bus section being in communication with the at least one front-end one and the at least one rear-end one of the directors;
• a plurality of end-user data busses, for carrying end-user data, each one of the plurality of end-user data busses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of directors and a second end coupled to the memory;
• and
• wherein such plurality of directors control the end-user data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives through the memory via the end-user data busses in response to interface state data generated by the directors, such generated interface state data being transferred among the directors via the interface state data bus section.

A method of operating a data storage system wherein end-user data is transferred between a host computer and a bank of disk drives through an interface, such method comprising:

• providing a memory;
• providing a plurality of directors, at least one front-end one of the directors being in communication with the host computer and at least one rear-end one of the directors being in communication with the bank of disk drives;
• providing an interface state data section for carrying interface state data, such interface state data section being in communication with the at least one front-end one and the at least one rear-end one of the directors;
• providing a plurality of end-user data busses, for carrying end-user data, each one of the plurality of end-user data busses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of directors and a second end coupled to the memory;
• and
• wherein such plurality of directors control the end-user data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives and the memory via the end-user data busses in response to interface state data generated by the directors, such generated interface state data being transferred among the directors via the interface state data section.

A data storage system wherein end-user data is transferred between a host computer and a bank of disk drives through an interface, such interface, comprising:

• a memory;
• a plurality of directors, a front-end portion of such plurality of directors being in communication with the host computer, and a rear end portion of such plurality of directors being in communication with the bank of disk drives;
• an interface state data bus section, for carrying interface state data, such interface state data bus section being in communication with both the front-end portion of the plurality of directors and the rear end portion of the plurality of directors;
• a plurality of end-user data busses, for carrying end-user data, each one of the plurality of end-user data busses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of directors and a second end coupled to the memory;
• and
• wherein such plurality of directors control the end-user data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives through the memory via the end-user data busses in response to interface state data generated by the directors, such generated interface state data being transferred among the directors via the interface state data bus section.

A method of operating a data storage system wherein end-user data is transferred between a host computer and a bank of disk drives through an interface, such method comprising:

• providing a memory;
• providing a plurality of directors, a front end portion of the directors being in communication with the host computer and a rear end portion of the directors being in communication with the bank of disk drives;
• providing an interface state data section for carrying interface state data, such interface state data section being in communication with the front end portion of the directors and the rear end portion of the directors;
• providing a plurality of end-user data busses, for carrying end-user data, each one of the plurality of end-user data busses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of directors and a second end coupled to the memory;
• and
• wherein such plurality of directors control the end-user data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives and the memory via the end-user data busses in response to interface state data generated by the directors, such generated interface state data being transferred among the directors via the interface state data section.

A data storage system wherein end-user data is transferred between a host computer and a bank of disk drives through an interface, such interface, comprising:

• a memory;
• a plurality of directors, comprising:
• a plurality of front-end directors, such plurality of front end directors being in communication with the host computer, and
• a plurality of rear end directors, such plurality of rear end directors being in communication with the bank of disk drives;
• an interface state data bus section, for carrying interface state data, such interface state data bus section being in communication with both the front-end portion of the plurality of directors and the rear end portion of the plurality of directors;
• a plurality of end-user data busses, for carrying end-user data, each one of a first portion of the plurality of end-user data busses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of front end directors and a second end coupled to the memory and each one of a second portion of the plurality of end user data buses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of rear end directors and a second end coupled to the memory;
• and
• wherein such plurality of directors control the end-user data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives through the memory via the end-user data busses in response to interface state data generated by the directors, such generated interface state data being transferred among the directors via the interface state data bus section.

A method of operating a data storage system wherein end-user data is transferred between a host computer and a bank of disk drives through an interface, such method comprising:

• providing a memory;
• providing a plurality of directors, such plurality of directors comprising:
• a plurality of front end directors, such plurality of front end directors being in communication with the host computer, and;
• a plurality of rear end directors, such plurality of rear end directors being in communication with the bank of disk drives;
• providing an interface state data section for carrying interface state data, such interface state data section being in communication with the plurality of front end directors and the plurality of rear end directors;
• providing a plurality of end-user data busses, for carrying end-user data, each one of a first portion of the plurality of end-user data busses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of front end directors and a second end coupled to the memory and each one of a second portion of the plurality of end user buses having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of the rear end directors and a second end coupled to the memory;
• wherein such plurality of directors control the end-user data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives and the memory via the end-user data busses in response to interface state data generated by the directors, such generated interface state data being transferred among the directors via the interface state data section.