Preemptive connection switching for serial attached small computer system interface systems

Abstract

Methods and structure for preemptively terminating Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface connections are provided. One exemplary embodiment includes an expander comprising multiple physical links, switching circuitry able to establish connections between end devices coupled with the expander through the physical links, and a connection manager. The connection manager is able to process an Open Address Frame from an end device, and to determine that the Open Address Frame requests a connection through a physical link that is already servicing an established connection. The connection manager is further able to determine that the Open Address Frame requests a higher priority connection than the established connection, and to direct one of the end devices utilizing the established connection to terminate the established connection based on the higher priority.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.