U.S. patent application number 10/025256 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for dual porting serial ata disk drives for fault tolerant applications.
Invention is credited to Sherman, John V., Weber, Bret S..
Application Number | 20030135577 10/025256 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21824969 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030135577 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weber, Bret S. ; et
al. |
July 17, 2003 |
Dual porting serial ATA disk drives for fault tolerant
applications
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an apparatus capable of
dual porting a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) disk
drive in a fault tolerant communication system, such as fibre
channel. The dual porting apparatus includes two idle regenerators
coupled to two serial master devices, a synchronization logic
capable of synchronizing the communications between one of the idle
regenerators and a third idle regenerator coupled to the SATA disk
drive. Furthermore the dual porting apparatus may include an auto
detector capable of enabling either of the first two idle
regenerators, thus effectively switching between the two.
Inventors: |
Weber, Bret S.; (Wichita,
KS) ; Sherman, John V.; (Derby, KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LSI LOGIC CORPORATION
1621 BARBER LANE
MS D-106, LEGAL DEPARTMENT
MILPITAS
CA
95035
US
|
Family ID: |
21824969 |
Appl. No.: |
10/025256 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/214 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0635 20130101;
G06F 3/0617 20130101; G06F 3/0674 20130101; G06F 11/201
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/214 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/167 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive, comprising: a
first idle regenerator connected to a first serial master device,
the first idle regenerator being capable of receiving and
transmitting signals to the first serial master device including an
idle character stream; a second idle regenerator connected to a
second serial master device, the second idle regenerator being
capable of receiving and transmitting signals to the second serial
master device including an idle character stream; a third idle
regenerator connected to the serial disk drive and the first and
second idle regenerators, wherein the third idle regenerator is
capable of communicating with the serial disk drive and the first
and second idle regenerators; and a synchronization logic capable
of synchronizing data transfers between one of the first idle
regenerator and the second idle regenerator, and the third idle
generator, wherein the synchronization logic is connected to the
first, the second and the third idle regenerators.
2. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 1,
further comprising, an auto detector connected to the first and the
second idle regenerators, wherein the auto detector is capable of
controlling data transfers to the first and the second idle
regenerators based on the presence of idle characters from the
first and the second serial master devices.
3. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 2,
wherein the auto detector is capable of switching between the first
and the second serial masters.
4. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 3,
wherein the auto detector enables communication with a single
serial master at a time.
5. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 1,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is suitable for utilization with
a serial advanced technology attachment disk drive.
6. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 1,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is suitable for utilization with
fibre channel based communication.
7. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 1,
wherein the synchronization logic is capable of providing
synchronization for idle character switching.
8. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 1,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is embodied in an application
specific integrated circuit.
9. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 1,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is integrated with the serial
disk drive.
10. An apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive, comprising:
a first idle regenerator connected to a first serial master device,
the first idle regenerator being capable of receiving and
transmitting signals to the first serial master device including an
idle character stream; a second idle regenerator connected to a
second serial master device, the second idle regenerator being
capable of receiving and transmitting signals to the second serial
master device including an idle character stream; a third idle
regenerator connected to the serial disk drive and the first and
second idle regenerators, wherein the third idle regenerator is
capable of communicating with the serial disk drive and the first
and second idle regenerators; a synchronization logic capable of
synchronizing data transfers between one of the first idle
regenerator and the second idle regenerator, and the third idle
generator, wherein the synchronization logic is connected to the
first, the second and the third idle regenerators; and an auto
detector connected to the first and the second idle regenerators,
wherein the auto detector is capable of controlling data transfers
to the first and the second idle regenerators based on the presence
of idle characters from the first and the second serial master
devices.
11. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 10,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is suitable for utilization with
a serial advanced technology attachment disk drive.
12. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 10,
wherein the auto detector enables communication with a single
serial master at a time.
13. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 10,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is suitable for utilization with
fibre channel based communication.
14. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 10,
wherein the synchronization logic is capable of providing
synchronization for idle character switching.
15. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 10,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is embodied in an application
specific integrated circuit.
16. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 10,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is integrated with the serial
disk drive.
17. An apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive, comprising:
a first means for regenerating an idle character stream, connected
to a first serial master device, wherein the first idle generating
means is capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from
the first serial master device; a second means for regenerating an
idle character stream, connected to a second serial master device,
wherein the second idle generating means is capable of transmitting
and receiving signals to and from the second serial master device;
a means for communicating serial disk drive data connected to the
serial disk drive, the drive communication means being connected to
the first and the second idle data stream means, wherein the drive
communication means is capable of generating an idle data stream;
and a means for synchronizing communications between the first and
the second idle regenerating means and the disk drive communication
means.
18. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 17,
further comprising an automatic detector means capable of
controlling the enabling of the first and the second idle
regenerating means based on the presence of idle characters.
19. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 18,
wherein the automatic control means enables a single idle
regeneration means at a time.
20. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 17,
wherein the apparatus is suitable for utilization with a serial
advanced technology attachment disk drive.
21. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 17,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is suitable for utilization with
fibre channel based communication.
22. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 17,
wherein the apparatus is embodied in an application specific
integrated circuit.
23. An apparatus for dual porting a serial advanced technology
attachment disk drive for utilization in fibre channel based
communication, comprising: a first idle regenerator connected to a
first serial master device, the first idle regenerator being
capable of receiving and transmitting signals to the first serial
master device including an idle character stream; a second idle
regenerator connected to a second serial master device, the second
idle regenerator being capable of receiving and transmitting
signals to the second serial master device including an idle
character stream; a third idle regenerator connected to the serial
disk drive and the first and second idle regenerators, wherein the
third idle regenerator is capable of communicating with the serial
disk drive and the first and second idle regenerators; a
synchronization logic capable of synchronizing data transfers
between one of the first idle regenerator and the second idle
regenerator, and the third idle generator, wherein the
synchronization logic is connected to the first, the second and the
third idle regenerators; and an auto detector connected to the
first and the second idle regenerators, wherein the auto detector
is capable of controlling data transfers to the first and the
second idle regenerators based on the presence of idle characters
from the first and the second serial master devices.
24. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 23,
wherein the auto detector enables communication with a single
serial master at a time.
25. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 23,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is embodied in an application
specific integrated circuit.
26. The apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of claim 23,
wherein the dual porting apparatus is integrated with the serial
disk drive.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of data
storage, and particularly to a system for utilizing serial disk
drives in fault tolerant multi-initiated applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Data storage has become increasingly important as
information handling systems become capable of handling and
communicating more data. Currently, improvements to data storage
systems are aimed at increasing the amount of data and providing
fault tolerant systems. While data storage systems have become more
efficient at handling large amounts of data in a fault tolerant
manner, typically such fault-tolerant data storage systems often
are cost-prohibitive.
[0003] Expensive fault tolerant data storage systems therefore may
not be implemented in certain situations where their cost is not
justified by the design application. As a result, information
handling systems often are configured with lower cost data storage
systems. One example of this cost savings measure is in the
implementation of serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) disk
drives in place of fibre channel disk drives.
[0004] Current fibre channel disk drives are multi-ported and offer
fault tolerant interfacing with external components. One of the
drawbacks of including a fibre channel disk drive in a system is
the drive's price difference. Presently fibre channel disk drives
typically are between 3 to 6 times the price of a SATA disk drive,
for a comparable storage capacity. Thus designers often may include
a SATA drive instead of a fibre channel drive in certain
applications.
[0005] While serial disk drive offer increased cost savings over
fibre channel drives, the inherent single ported design are often a
source of failure, thus, reducing the availability of data. It is
this single point of failure which may cause designers either to
include costly fibre channel disk drives or risk potential data
loss.
[0006] Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and
method for cost-effectively utilizing serial storage devices in a
fault tolerant applications, thereby allowing for the utilization
of more cost effective serial storage devices without the drawbacks
inherent to a single ported system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an
apparatus and method for implementing dual porting of an inherently
single ported serial disk drive, such as a SATA disk drive. The
inclusion of an apparatus of the present invention allows a single
ported serial disk drive to operate, in a fault-tolerant system
such as a system employing fibre channel based communication
without the previously experienced fault drawbacks.
[0008] An apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive of the
present invention in the presently preferred embodiment is
connected through the back panel of an information handling system
utilizing a peripheral component interface (PCI) to a first and a
second SATA master control devices which are operating in a fibre
channel based communication system. In the present embodiment the
dual porting apparatus is included in a disk drive canister board
additionally containing a SATA disk drive. Further by including the
dual porting apparatus in the disk drive canister board in the
event of a failure the dual porting apparatus may be easily
replaced.
[0009] In a further embodiment the dual porting apparatus contains
a first and a second idle regenerator connected to a first and a
second SATA master device, respectively. The first and the second
idle regenerators being capable of transmitting and receiving
signals to their respective SATA master devices. Included in the
dual porting apparatus is a third idle regenerator connected to the
first and the second idle regenerators. The third idle regenerator
additionally connected to a serial disk drive, such as a SATA disk
drive. The third idle regenerator is capable of receiving and
transmitting signals to the serial disk drive. Further included in
the dual porting apparatus is synchronization logic capable of
synchronizing the transfer between one of the first idle
regenerator and the second idle regenerator and the third idle
regenerator.
[0010] Additionally, the dual porting apparatus, in contemplated
embodiments, is capable of receiving control signals, thereby
controlling which idle generator is enabled from a SATA master
device. In further embodiments the apparatus for dual porting a
serial disk drive includes an auto detector capable of determining
the presence/absence of idle characters from the first and the
second SATA master devices. Thus the auto detector may determine
which SATA master device is active and thus enable a single SATA
master device at a time.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the forgoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as
claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of
the invention and together with the general description, serve to
explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The numerous advantages of the present invention may be
better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an overview illustration of an exemplary
embodiment wherein an apparatus for dual poring a serial disk drive
in an information handling system;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an overview illustration of an exemplary
embodiment an apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive in a
disk drive canister board;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an overview illustration of an apparatus for dual
porting a serial disk drive with capability for accepting control
signal from an external source.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently
preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0017] Referring generally now to FIGS. 1 through 3, exemplary
embodiments of the present invention are discussed, wherein an
apparatus for utilizing single ported serial disk drives, such as
SATA disk drives in multi-ported fault tolerant applications are
discussed. Fault tolerant storage systems such as fibre channel
disk drives offer increased functionality over SATA drives which
are subject to a single point of failure, thus reducing the
availability of data to the system.
[0018] While fibre channel drives offer advantages over that of
SATA drives, the high cost of fibre channel drives continues to be
a factor in overall utilization. For example, fibre channel disk
drives are often utilized in high performance information handling
systems. Therefore, the current invention provides an apparatus to
incorporate SATA drives into fault-tolerant applications without
the previously experienced single point failure associated with
SATA drives.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment of the
present invention an apparatus for dual porting a serial disk drive
102, such as a SATA drive 104, is discussed. In the current
embodiment, the dual porting apparatus 102 is included on a disk
drive canister 114. The present implementation allows for the
utilization of the SATA drive 104 in a fibre channel environment
without the drawbacks associated with single point failures. In the
present embodiment, the dual porting apparatus 102 is employed as
part of the disk drive canister 114 incorporated in an information
handling system 100.
[0020] Furthermore, the arrangement of disk drive canister 114
including associated SATA drives 104 and dual porting apparatus 102
allows for redundancy in the information handling system 100, thus
reducing the risk of a failure.
[0021] In the present embodiment, the dual porting apparatus 102 is
connected to a first and a second SATA master devices 110 & 112
through a back panel 106 of the information handling system 100
through peripheral component interfaces (PCI) 108 implemented in
the first and second SATA master devices 110 & 112. It is to be
understood that various interfaces may be employed as contemplated
by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention, and it is the intention
of the present invention to encompass and include these variations.
For example the present interface may be incorporated in a
proprietary bus or the like. For present purposes the first and the
second SATA master devices are substantially similar and are merely
referred to as "first and second" SATA master devices 110 & 112
for convenience.
[0022] In the present embodiment, the first and second SATA master
devices 110 & 112 individually include a fibre channel
connection 116. Furthermore, the first and second SATA master
devices include a uniprocessor (uP) 118 and a memory 120.
[0023] Additionally, in the present embodiment the SATA master
devices 110 & 112 are capable of providing control signals from
a higher level to the dual porting apparatus 102 ensuring that only
a single disk drive canister 114 is enabled at a time. In further
embodiments, the first and the second SATA master devices 110 &
112 are continuously enabled with controls executed at a higher
level guaranteeing that only a single SATA master device is enabled
at a time. For example, by sending control signals from a higher
level, switching in the middle of a command is prevented.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2, a disk drive canister 200 including
a dual porting apparatus 202 for porting a serial disk drive is
discussed. In the present embodiment, the dual porting apparatus
202 may be connected between a SATA disk drive 204 and the back
panel of an information handling system, such as the arrangement
discussed in FIG. 1, thus effectively multiplexing the serial disk
drive 204. In the current embodiment the dual porting apparatus 202
is integrated in the disk drive canister 200 thus allowing for ease
of replacement in the event of failure.
[0025] The present embodiment thus allows for the incorporation of
the SATA disk drive 204 into a fault tolerant environment, such as
fibre channel based systems without the drawback of a single
failure point previously experienced with SATA drive included
without the dual porting apparatus 202 of the present invention.
Further, through implementation of the present invention the SATA
drive 204 may continue to receive idle characters during
utilization.
[0026] The dual porting apparatus 202 includes a first idle
regenerator 206. The first idle regenerator 206 is connected to a
first serial master device, such as discussed in FIG. 1. The first
idle regenerator 206 in the present embodiment is capable of
transmitting and receiving signals to the first serial master
device via an input/output connection 208. In the current
embodiment the input/output connection is made utilizing a PCI,
although it is contemplated that other interfaces are capable of
utilization for this purpose without departing from the scope and
spirit of the present invention. For example, the interface may be
implemented without a processor or be embodied in a proprietary
bus, or the like.
[0027] The dual porting apparatus 202 of the present embodiment
further includes a second idle regenerator 210. The second idle
regenerator 210 is connected to a second serial master device via
input/output connection 212. The second serial master device of the
present embodiment is substantially similar to the second serial
master device as discussed in FIG. 1. The second idle regenerator
210 is capable of receiving and transmitting signals to the second
serial master device. Additionally, the second idle regenerator 210
is connected through connection 212 which is ported to the second
serial master device though a PCI.
[0028] A third idle regenerator 214 is connected to the first and
the second idle regenerators 206 & 210 and additionally to the
serial disk drive 204. The third idle regenerator 214, included in
the dual porting apparatus 202, is capable of transmitting and
receiving signals from the first and second idle regenerators 206
& 210 and the serial disk drive 204, such as a SATA disk
drive.
[0029] Further included in the dual porting apparatus 202, is
synchronization logic 216 connected to the first, second and third
idle regenerators 206, 210 and 216 respectively. The
synchronization logic 216 is capable of synchronizing data
transfers between one of the first and second idle regenerators 206
& 210 and the third idle generator 214. For example, the
synchronization logic 216 is capable of synchronizing the third
idle regenerator 214 with the second idle regenerator in the event
of a desired switch in data stream input from the first idle
regenerator 206 to the second idle regenerator 210. Furthermore,
should an event occur which causes a disruption in synchronization
in the dual porting apparatus, the synchronization logic 216 is
utilized to reestablish synchronization between the third idle
regenerator and the first or second idle regenerator as required by
the circumstances.
[0030] In embodiments of the present invention the dual porting
apparatus 202 further includes an auto detector 218. The auto
detector 218 in the present embodiment is connected to the
input/output of the first and the second serial masters devices 208
& 212, respectively as well as the synchronization logic
216.
[0031] For example, the auto detector 218 may be incorporated into
the dual porting apparatus 102 which in turn is included in a disk
drive canister 114 as discussed in FIG. 1 or the like. The auto
detector 218 is capable of automatically switching between the
first and second master devices based on the presence or absence of
idle characters transmitted by either of the first and second
master devices. The auto detector 218 is further capable of
controlling the switching between the first and second serial
master devices, thus allowing the input/output of data between the
dual porting apparatus and one of the first and second master
devices at a time.
[0032] In embodiments of the present invention the dual porting
apparatus 202 is implemented as an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC).
[0033] Referring generally to FIG. 3, in an alternative embodiment
a dual porting apparatus 302 may be capable of being switched
between the first and the second serial master devices through
control signals sent from an external source, such as a SATA master
device.
[0034] It is believed that the DUAL PORTING SERIAL ATA DISK DRIVES
FOR FAULT TOLERANT APPLICATIONS of the present invention and many
of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing
description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that
various changes may be made in the form, construction and
arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its
material advantages. The form herein before described being merely
an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the
following claims to encompass and include such changes.
* * * * *