Server direct attached storage shared through virtual SAS expanders

A data storage system, comprising:

• a first server comprising:
• a first plurality of storage drives configured to store data;
• and
• a first host bus adapter including a first multi-core processor and first external phys, the first multi-core processor being configured to provide a first virtual expander and a first logic component, the first multi-core processor including a first core and a second core, the first core of the first multi-core processor being dedicated to the first virtual expander, the second core of the first multi-core processor for handling the first logic component, wherein the first virtual expander is configured to handle routing of traffic between the first plurality of storage drives and the first logic component and between the first logic component and the first external phys;
• and
• a second server comprising:
• a second plurality of storage drives configured to store data;
• and
• a second host bus adapter including a second multi-core processor and second external phys, the second multi-core processor being configured to provide a second virtual expander and a second logic component, the second multi-core processor including a first core and a second core, the first core of the second multi-core processor being dedicated to the second virtual expander, the second core of the second multi-core processor for handling the second logic component, wherein the second virtual expander is configured to handle routing of traffic between the second plurality of storage drives and the second logic component and between the second logic component and the second external phys,
• wherein the first external phys of the first host bus adapter of the first server is coupled to the second external phys of the second host bus adapter of the second server via a serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) connection, and wherein each of the first plurality of storage drives and the second plurality of storage drives are accessible by each of the first server and the second server.

A data storage system, comprising:

• at least four servers, each of the at least four servers comprising:
• a plurality of storage drives configured to store data;
• a first host bus adapter including a first processor and first external phys, the first processor being configured to provide a first virtual expander and a first logic component, the first processor including a first core and a second core, the first core of the first processor being dedicated to the first virtual expander, the second core of the first processor for handling the first logic component, wherein the first virtual expander is configured to handle routing of traffic between the first plurality of storage drives and the first logic component and between the first logic component and the first external phys;
• and
• a second host bus adapter including a second processor and second external phys, the second processor being configured to provide a second virtual expander and a second logic component, the second processor including a first core and a second core, the first core of the second processor being dedicated to the second virtual expander, the second core of the second processor for handling the second logic component, wherein the second virtual expander is configured to handle routing of traffic between the second plurality of storage drives and the second logic component and between the second logic component and the second external phys,
• wherein each of the at least four servers includes a first connection configuration which connects the first virtual expander of one of the at least four servers to a different first virtual expander of two other servers of the at least four servers, each of the at least four servers includes a second connection configuration which connects the second virtual expander of one of the at least four servers to a different second virtual expander of two other servers of the at least four servers, and wherein the first connection configuration of at least one server of the at least four servers differs from the second connection configuration of the at least one server of the at least four servers according to which servers are associated with the first connection configuration and the second connection configuration.