Systems configured for improved storage system communication for N-way interconnectivity

摘要

Storage systems configured for improved N-way connectivity among all of a plurality of storage controllers and all of a plurality of storage devices in the system. All controllers of the storage system are coupled through a switched fabric communication medium to all of the storage devices of the storage system. Thus, the back-end interface of each storage controller of the storage system is used for all communications with any of the storage devices as well as for any communications among the controllers to coordinate the N-way distribution of stored data in a declustered RAID storage environment. This use of the back-end channel for all storage controller to storage device N-way connectivity as well as controller to controller N-way connectivity eliminates the need for a dedicated inter-controller interface for such N-way connectivity and eliminates the over-utilization of a front-end (e.g., network) communication path for providing N-way connectivity in the storage system.

主权项

1. A declustered Redundant Array of Independent Drives (RAID) storage system comprising:
a plurality of storage controllers wherein each controller comprises a front-end interface for coupling with a host system and a back-end interface for coupling with a switched fabric communication medium, wherein the plurality of storage controllers collectively provide declustered RAID storage management for data stored on a plurality of storage devices, and wherein the plurality of storage controllers comprises three or more storage controllers; wherein the switched fabric communication medium is coupled with the plurality of storage controllers and is adapted to couple with the plurality of storage devices, wherein each of the plurality of storage controllers is adapted to communicate through its back-end interface with any storage device coupled with the switched fabric communication medium, and wherein each storage controller of the plurality of storage controllers is adapted to communicate all inter-controller communications through its back-end interface with any other storage controller of the plurality of storage controllers through the switched fabric communication medium.