Method for providing path failover for multiple SAS expanders operating as a single SAS expander
AssigneeLSI Corporation
InventorsChristopher McCarty, Stephen B. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A failed link is detected between a first SAS expander and a device. A data transfer of the first SAS expander connected to the device via the failed link is re-routed to a second SAS expander connected to the device via a functional link. The first SAS expander is connected to the SAS expander via the phys of the first SAS expander and the phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications.
Claims16
A method for providing path failover while combining multiple Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) expanders to act as a single, cohesive SAS expander, comprising:
- assigning an identical SAS address to at least a first SAS expander and a second SAS expander;
- detecting a failed link between the first SAS expander and a device due to at least one of a physical or logical problem;
- and
- re-routing a data transfer of the first SAS expander connected to the device via the failed link to the second SAS expander, where the second SAS expander is connected to the device via a functional link,
- wherein the first SAS expander is connected to the second SAS expander via phys of the first SAS expander and phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications,
- wherein the re-routing a data transfer of the first SAS expander connected to the device via the failed link to a second SAS expander connected to the device via a functional link, wherein the first SAS expander is connected to the SAS expander via the phys of the first SAS expander and the phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications further includes:
- reprogramming a route table of the first SAS expander to re-route the data transfer from the failed link to links between the phys of the first SAS expander for inter-expander communications and the phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications.
A system, comprising:
- means for combining multiple SAS expanders to act as a single, cohesive SAS expander, where at least a first SAS expander and a second SAS expander share an identical SAS address;
- means for detecting a failed link between the first SAS expander and a device due to at least one of a physical or logical problem;
- and
- means for re-routing a data transfer of the first SAS expander connected to the device via the failed link to the second SAS expander, where the second SAS expander is connected to the device via a functional link, wherein the first SAS expander is connected to the second SAS expander via phys of the first SAS expander and phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications, wherein the means for re-routing a data transfer of the first SAS expander connected to the device via the failed link to a second SAS expander connected to the device via a functional link, wherein the first SAS expander is connected to the SAS expander via the phys of the first SAS expander and the phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications further includes:
- means for reprogramming a route table of the first SAS expander to re-route the data transfer from the failed link to links between the phys of the first SAS expander for inter-expander communications and the phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for providing path failover while combining multiple Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) expanders to act as a single, cohesive SAS expander, the method comprising:
- assigning an identical SAS address to at least a first SAS expander and a second SAS expander;
- detecting a failed link between the first SAS expander and a device due to at least one of a physical or logical problem;
- and
- re-routing a data transfer of the first SAS expander connected to the device via the failed link to the second SAS expander, where the second SAS expander is connected to the device via a functional link, wherein the first SAS expander is connected to the SAS expander via phys of the first SAS expander and phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications
- wherein the re-routing a data transfer of the first SAS expander connected to the device via the failed link to a second SAS expander connected to the device via a functional link, wherein the first SAS expander is connected to the SAS expander via the phys of the first SAS expander and the phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications further includes:
- reprogramming a route table of the first SAS expander to re-route the data transfer from the failed link to links between the phys of the first SAS expander for inter-expander communications and the phys of the second SAS expander for inter-expander communications.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.