DYNAMICALLY UPGRADEABLE DISK ARRAY SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A dynamically upgradeable disk array chassis (10) and method for dynamically upgrading a data storage system. The dynamically upgradeable disk array chassis (10) includes a serial bus having a first bus (22) and a second bus (24). A shunt (40) connects the first bus (22) and the second bus (24) in a normal state, and has a switched state in which the first and second buses are coupled to separate outputs from the chassis. The chassis (10) includes an environmental monitor (30) which, upon connecting a new disk array chassis, communicates through a communication path (42) before switching the shunt (40) to connect the serial bus with a serial bus of a new disk array chassis. A diplexer (50) may be used for connecting the communication path (42) to the separate outputs of the shunt (40) and for combining and separating the communication path and serial path signals.