Data Storage Architecture Extension System and Method

摘要

A data storage architecture extension (DAX) system and method that permits multiple disk drive storage elements to be logically daisy-chained to allow a single host bus adapter (HBA) to view the storage elements as one logical disk drive is disclosed. The system/method may be broadly described as comprising a pass-thru disk drive controller (PTDDC) further comprising a HBA port, a disk drive interface port, pass-thru input port, and a pass-thru output port. The PTDDC intercepts and translates the HBA port input to the requirements of an individual disk drive connected to the drive interface port. Each PTDDC may be daisy-chained to other PTDDCs to permit a plethora of disk drives to be associated with a given HBA, with the first PTDDC providing a presentation interface to the HBA integrating all disk drive storage connected to the PTDDCs. The system/method also permits RAID configuration of disk drives using one or more PTDDCs.

主权项

1. A SATA disk drive identification method for individually identifying a daisy-chained data storage architecture extension system comprising a pass-thru disk drive controller (PTDDC), said PTDDC further comprising:
(a) pass-thru input (PTI) port; (b) disk drive interface (DDI) port; and (c) pass-thru output (PTO) port; wherein said PTI port, said DDI port, and said PTO port are serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interfaces; said PTDDC is configured to connect a plurality of PTDDCs to form a serial daisy-chain by only interconnecting the PTO port of one PTDDC to the PTI port of another PTDDC in said daisy-chain; said PTDDC is configured to present a continuous logical block address space via said PTI port comprising disk drives electrically connected to PTDDCs in said daisy-chain; said PTDDC is configured to receive disk drive data access command (DDDAC) input via said PTI port; said PTDDC is configured to translate said DDDAC and electrically transmit said translation via said DDI port in a form suitable for use by any attached and logically addressed disk drive electrically connected to said DDI port; said PTDDC determines if said DDDAC falls within the logical block address (LBA) range of said attached disk drive, and if so, passes said DDDAC to said attached disk drive after modifying said DDDAC to account for said LBA range mapped by said attached disk drive; said PTDDC determines if said DDDAC falls within said LBA range of said attached disk drive, and if not, said DDDAC is passed via said PTO port to the PTI port of any daisy-chained PTDDC attached to said PTDDC PTO port; and said PTDDC logically connects said DDI port from said attached disk drive with said PTI port to pass-thru data transfers requested by said DDDAC to/from said attached disk drive and said PTI port; wherein said method comprises the steps of: (1) storing a unique electronic serial number (ESN) within said PTDDC; and (2) configuring said PTDDC to enable said ESN to be readable via said PTI port.