US 6,983,343 B2
Partitioning of storage channels using programmable switches
Peter van Cruyningen, San Jose, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Sun Microsystems, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif. (US)
Filed on Oct. 05, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/972,438.
Application 09/972438 is a continuation of application No. 09/162109, filed on Sep. 28, 1998.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/065914, filed on Nov. 14, 1997.
Prior Publication US 2002/0019897 A1, Feb. 14, 2002
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 13/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 710—316 65 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A data storage system, comprising:
a first storage channel for providing a connection to a first storage device;
a first controller coupled to the first storage channel;
a second storage channel for providing a connection to a second storage device;
a switch coupled to separate the first storage channel from the second storage channel in a first state and to connect the first storage channel to the second storage channel in a second state; and
a control circuit configured to cause entry of the switch in the second state in response to detecting a failure of the first controller.