CONTROLLER INTERFACE FOR OPERATION OF MULTIPLE STORAGE DRIVES

摘要

A mass data storage system includes a number of communicatively coupled storage drives powered by one or more power supplies. Shared control electronics selectively connect power and a data signal to a select storage drive via instructions within a control signal received by the common controller. Instructions for selectively powering and connecting the data signal are transmitted over a first signal path to a first controller of the shared electronics. Responsive to successful execution of the instructions, a drive access command is sent over a second different signal path to a second controller of the shared electronics.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
multiple selectable storage drives in an enclosure communicatively coupled to shared control electronics, the shared control electronics including a first controller for selecting a storage drive of the multiple selectable storage drives for execution of a drive access command and a second controller for executing the drive access command on the selected storage drive; a first signal path for transmitting a drive selection instruction to the first controller, the drive selection instruction identifying the selected storage drive; and a second signal path for transmitting the drive access command to the second controller, the second signal path different from the first signal path.