Command switching for multiple initiator access to a SATA drive

摘要

A multi-port switch and a method of command switching using such a switch. Multiple virtual targets provide multiple hosts with access to the physical target device attached to the target interface of the switch. The switch intelligently dispatches operations received by the virtual targets to the physical storage target device to provide shared access. In doing so, the communication between the switch and the physical target can fully comply with the SATA protocol without the physical target being aware that the operations have originated from multiple physical hosts, and without the multiple physical hosts being aware of the shared nature of the physical SATA target device.