Apparatus and systems having storage devices in a side accessible drive sled

摘要

Apparatus and systems for improved access to storage devices from the sides of sleds mounted in storage enclosures. Embodiments provide apparatus and systems for a sled in a storage enclosure that provides access to storage devices on either side of the sled when the sled is slid forward out of its enclosure. Multiple sleds may be enclosed within a single enclosure to permit access to a portion of the storage devices in the enclosure hence reducing the problems of instability of the rack if the enclosure is mounted near the top of the rack.

主权项

1. Apparatus for storage devices in an enclosure of a storage system, the enclosure having a front side opening allowing the apparatus to be inserted into the enclosure and removed from the enclosure, the apparatus comprising: a substantially planar backplane printed circuit assembly (PCA), the backplane PCA having a first surface parallel with and physically offset from a second surface by a thickness of the PCA, wherein the first and second surfaces face outward from the PCA in opposite directions, and are substantially orthogonal to a front edge of the backplane PCA, the front edge oriented substantially vertically, wherein the front edge of the backplane PCA is proximate to the front opening when the apparatus has been inserted into the enclosure, and the first and second surfaces of the backplane PCA are parallel with a direction of travel of the apparatus within the slot; a first plurality of connectors coupled with the first surface that are each adapted to communicatively couple the PCA backplane to a storage device; a second plurality of connectors coupled with the second surface that are each adapted to communicatively couple the PCA backplane to a storage device; and a rear connector coupled with a rear edge of the backplane PCA that is adapted to communicatively couple each of the first and second plurality of connectors with circuits external to the apparatus, wherein storage devices may be coupled and/or decoupled with any of the first or second plurality of connectors when the apparatus is slid forward extending outward from the front side opening of the enclosure; wherein when the front edge of the backplane PCA is in a substantially vertical orientation, the first surface is located on a left portion of the backplane PCA and the second surface is located on a right portion of the backplane PCA and wherein each connector of the second plurality of connectors is positioned on the backplane PCA staggered relative to a corresponding connector of the first plurality of connectors.