Data storage system

[0001] This invention relates generally to data storage systems, and more particularly to data storage systems having redundancy arrangements to protect against total system failure in the event of a failure in a component or subassembly of the storage system.

[0002] As is known in the art, large host computers and servers (collectively referred to herein as “host computer/servers”) require large capacity data storage systems. These large computer/servers generally includes data processors, which perform many operations on data introduced to the host computer/server through peripherals including the data storage system. The results of these operations are output to peripherals, including the storage system.

[0003] One type of data storage system is a magnetic disk storage system. Here a bank of disk drives and the host computer/server are coupled together through an interface. The interface includes “front end” or host computer/server controllers (or directors) and “back-end” or disk controllers (or directors). The interface operates the controllers (or directors) in such a way that they are transparent to the host computer/server. That is, data is stored in, and retrieved from, the bank of disk drives in such a way that the host computer/server merely thinks it is operating with its own local disk drive. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,939, entitled “System and Method for Disk Mapping and Data Retrieval”, inventors Moshe Yanai, Natan Vishlitzky, Bruno Alterescu and Daniel Castel, issued Apr. 27, 1993, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

[0004] As described in such U.S. Patent, the interface may also include, in addition to the host computer/server controllers (or directors) and disk controllers (or directors), addressable cache memories. The cache memory is a semiconductor memory and is provided to rapidly store data from the host computer/server before storage in the disk drives, and, on the other hand, store data from the disk drives prior to being sent to the host computer/server. The cache memory being a semiconductor memory, as distinguished from a magnetic memory as in the case of the disk drives, is much faster than the disk drives in reading and writing data.

[0005] The host computer/server controllers, disk controllers and cache memory are interconnected through a backplane printed circuit board. More particularly, disk controllers are mounted on disk controller printed circuit boards. The host computer/server controllers are mounted on host computer/server controller printed circuit boards. And, cache memories are mounted on cache memory printed circuit boards. The disk directors, host computer/server directors, and cache memory printed circuit boards plug into the backplane printed circuit board. In order to provide data integrity in case of a failure in a director, the backplane printed circuit board has a pair of buses. One set the disk directors is connected to one bus and another set of the disk directors is connected to the other bus. Likewise, one set the host computer/server directors is connected to one bus and another set of the host computer/server directors is directors connected to the other bus. The cache memories are connected to both buses. Each one of the buses provides data, address and control information.

[0006] The arrangement is shown schematically in FIG. 1. Thus, the use of two buses B1, B2 provides a degree of redundancy to protect against a total system failure in the event that the controllers or disk drives connected to one bus, fail. Further, the use of two buses increases the data transfer bandwidth of the system compared to a system having a single bus. Thus, in operation, when the host computer/server 12 wishes to store data, the host computer 12 issues a write request to one of the front-end directors 14 (i.e., host computer/server directors) to perform a write command. One of the front-end directors 14 replies to the request and asks the host computer 12 for the data. After the request has passed to the requesting one of the front-end directors 14, the director 14 determines the size of the data and reserves space in the cache memory 18 to store the request. The front-end director 14 then produces control signals on one of the address memory busses B1, B2 connected to such front-end director 14 to enable the transfer to the cache memory 18. The host computer/server 12 then transfers the data to the front-end director 14. The front-end director 14 then advises the host computer/server 12 that the transfer is complete. The front- end director 14 looks up in a Table, not shown, stored in the cache memory 18 to determine which one of the back-end directors 20 (i.e., disk directors) is to handle this request. The Table maps the host computer/server 12 addresses into an address in the bank 14 of disk drives. The front-end director 14 then puts a notification in a “mail box” (not shown and stored in the cache memory 18) for the back-end director 20, which is to handle the request, the amount of the data and the disk address for the data. Other back-end directors 20 poll the cache memory 18 when they are idle to check their “mail boxes”. If the polled “mail box” indicates a transfer is to be made, the back-end director 20 processes the request, addresses the disk drive in the bank 22, reads the data from the cache memory 18 and writes it into the addresses of a disk drive in the bank 22.

[0007] When data is to be read from a disk drive in bank 22 to the host computer/server 12 the system operates in a reciprocal manner. More particularly, during a read operation, a read request is instituted by the host computer/server 12 for data at specified memory locations (i.e., a requested data block). One of the front-end directors 14 receives the read request and examines the cache memory 18 to determine whether the requested data block is stored in the cache memory 18. If the requested data block is in the cache memory 18, the requested data block is read from the cache memory 18 and is sent to the host computer/server 12. If the front-end director 14 determines that the requested data block is not in the cache memory 18 (i.e., a so-called “cache miss”) and the director 14 writes a note in the cache memory 18 (i.e., the “mail box”) that it needs to receive the requested data block. The back-end directors 20 poll the cache memory 18 to determine whether there is an action to be taken (i.e., a read operation of the requested block of data). The one of the back-end directors 20 which poll the cache memory 18 mail box and detects a read operation reads the requested data block and initiates storage of such requested data block stored in the cache memory 18. When the storage is completely written into the cache memory 18, a read complete indication is placed in the “mail box” in the cache memory 18. It is to be noted that the front-end directors 14 are polling the cache memory 18 for read complete indications. When one of the polling front-end directors 14 detects a read complete indication, such front-end director 14 completes the transfer of the requested data which is now stored in the cache memory 18 to the host computer/server 12.

[0008] The use of mailboxes and polling requires time to transfer data between the host computer/server 12 and the bank 22 of disk drives thus reducing the operating bandwidth of the interface.

[0009] As is also known in the art, it is desirable to reduce the cost of data storage systems.

[0010] In accordance with the present invention, a data storage system is provided for transferring data between a host computer/server and a bank of disk drives through a system interface. The system interface includes a backplane; a first printed circuit board plugged into a first side of the backplane; a second printed circuit board plugged into the first side of the backplane. The first and second printed circuit boards are disposed in an overlaying relationship. A third printed circuit board is plugged into a second side of the backplane. The second side is opposite to the first side. A memory having at least a first portion thereof is disposed on the third printed circuit board. A plurality of directors controls data transfer between the host computer and the bank of disk drives as such data passes through the memory. A first plurality of the directors is coupled to the host computer/server. A first portion of such first plurality of directors is disposed on the first printed circuit boards and a second portion of the first plurality of directors is disposed on the second printed circuit board. A second plurality of the directors is coupled to the bank of disk drives. A first portion of such second plurality of directors is disposed on the first printed circuit boards and a second portion of the second plurality of the directors is disposed on the second printed circuit board. A first switch network is disposed on the first printed circuit board. The first switch network has ports coupled to: the first portion of the first plurality of directors; the first portion of the second plurality of directors; and, a first port of the memory through the backplane. A second switch is disposed on the second printed circuit board. The second switch network has ports coupled to: the second portion of the first plurality of directors; the second portion of the second plurality of directors; and, a second port of the memory through the backplane.

[0011] In one embodiment, the data storage system includes a fourth printed circuit board plugged into a second side of the backplane. The second side being is opposite to the first side. The third and fourth printed circuit boards are disposed in an overlaying relationship. A second portion of the memory is disposed on the fourth printed circuit board. The first switch network has ports coupled to: the first portion of the first plurality of directors; the first portion of the second plurality of directors; and, a first port of the second portion of the memory through the backplane. The second switch network has ports coupled to: the second portion of the first plurality of directors; the second portion of the second plurality of directors; and, a second port of the second portion of the memory through the backplane.

[0012] In one embodiment, the system includes a chassis having disposed therein the first second and third printed circuit boards plugged into the backplane, such printed circuit boards having the directors and memory disposed thereon.

[0013] In one embodiment, the system includes a chassis having disposed therein the first second, third, and fourth printed circuit boards plugged into the backplane, such printed circuit boards having the directors and memory disposed thereon.

[0014] In one embodiment, the system includes a fifth printed circuit board having disposed thereon the bank of disk drives. The disk drives are disposed a matrix of rows and columns. A second backplane has electrically connected to one side thereof the bank of disk drives. A pair of redundant port by-pass units is plugged into an opposite side of the second backplane. Each one of the disk drives has a pair of redundant ports. A first one of such redundant ports is electrically connected to a first one of the pair of redundant port by-pass units through the second backplane. A second one of such redundant ports is electrically connected to a second one of the pair of redundant port by-pass units through the second backplane. A first one of the pair of redundant port by-pass units is connected to the first port of the memory and the second port of the memory.

[0015] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

[0030] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, a data storage system 100 is shown for transferring data between a host computer/server 120 and a bank of disk drives 140 through a system interface 160. The system interface 160 includes: a plurality of, here 2 front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 coupled to the host computer/server 120; a plurality of, here 2 back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 coupled to the bank of disk drives 140; a data transfer section 240, having a global cache memory 220, coupled to the plurality of front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 and the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1; and a messaging network 260, operative independently of the data transfer section 240, coupled to the plurality of front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 and the plurality of back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1, as shown. It should be noted that a more complete description of the system is described in patent application Ser. No. 09/540,828 filed Mar. 31, 2000, inventor Yuval Ofek et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, the entire subject matter thereof being incorporated by reference. Suffice it to say here, however, that the front-end and back-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 are functionally similar and include a microprocessor (μP) 299 (i.e., a central processing unit (CPU) and RAM), a message engine/CPU controller 314 and a data pipe, as described in detail in the above-referenced patent application. The data pipe for the front-end director 315 FE 0 is designated 316FE0, the data pipe for the front-end director 315 FE 1 is designated 316FE1, the data pipe for the back-end director 315 BE 0 is designated 316BE0, and the data pipe for the back-end director 315 BE 1 is designated 316BE1.

[0032] Each one of the directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1, is coupled to the global cache memory 220 in a point-to-point configuration. More particularly, the global cache memory 220 here has two memory sections, MEM 0 and MEM 1. Each one of the directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1, is coupled to both of the memory sections MEM 0 and MEM 1. Each memory section is provided on a separate printed circuit board, to be described in more detail below.

[0033] Each one of the directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 has a corresponding one of four switches 318 FE 0, 318 FE 1, 318 BE 0, and 318 FE 1, respectively, as indicated. Switch 318 FE 0 is adapted to couple director 315 FE 0 to either memory section MEM 0 or MEM 1 via point-to-point data paths P1 or P2, respectively. Switch 318 FE 1 is adapted to couple director 180 FE 1 to either memory section MEM 0 or MEM 1 via point-to-point data paths P3 or P4, respectively. Switch 318 BE 0 is adapted to couple director 315 BE 0 to either memory section MEM 0 or MEM 1 via point-to-point data paths P5 or P6, respectively. Switch 318 BE 1 is adapted to couple director 315 BE 1 to either memory section MEM 0 or MEM 1 via point-to-point data paths P7 or P8, respectively. More particularly, switch 318 FE 0 is adapted to couple the data pipe 316FEO of director 315 FE 0 to either memory section MEM 0 or MEM 1. Switch 318 FE 1 is adapted to couple the data pipe 316FE1 of director 315 FE 1 to either memory section MEM 0 or MEM 1. Switch 318 BE 0 is adapted to couple the data pipe 316FB0 of director 315 BE 0 to either memory section MEM 0 or MEM 1. Switch 3198 BE 1 is adapted to couple the data pipe 316FB 1 of director 315 BE 1 to either memory section MEM 0 or MEM 1.

[0034] In operation, and considering first a read request by the host computer/server 120 (i.e., the host computer/server 120 requests data from the bank of disk drives 140), the request is passed from one the host computer 120 to one or more of the pair of the front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 connected to such host computer 120. It is noted that each one of the host computer processors HC0, HC1 is coupled to the pair of the front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 to provide redundancy in the event of a failure in one of the front end-directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 coupled thereto. Likewise, the bank of disk drives 140 has a plurality of disk drives DD, each DD having a pair of redundant ports A and B and being coupled to a pair of the back-end directors 315 BF 0, 315 BE 1, through a redundant pair of port by-pass cards (PBCs) PBC 0A, PBC A, to provide redundancy in the event of a failure in one of the back-end directors 213 BE 0, 315 BE 1. Each front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 includes a microprocessor (μP) 299 (i.e., a central processing unit (CPU) and RAM) and described in detail in the above-referenced patent application. Suffice it to say here, however, that the microprocessor 299 makes a request for the data from the global cache memory 220. The global cache memory 220 has a resident cache management table, not shown. Every director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, 315 FE 0, 315 BE 1 has access to the resident cache management table and every time a front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 requests a data transfer, the front-end director, 315 FE 0, must query the global cache memory 220 to determine whether the requested data is in the global cache memory 220. If the requested data is in the global cache memory 220 (i.e., a read “hit”), the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, more particularly the microprocessor 299 therein, mediates a DMA (Direct Memory Access) operation for the global cache memory 220 and the requested data is transferred to the requesting host computer processor HC0, HC1.

[0035] If, on the other hand, the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 receiving the data request determines that the requested data is not in the global cache memory 220 (i.e., a “miss”) as a result of a query of the cache management table in the global cache memory 220, such front-end director, 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 concludes that the requested data is in the bank of disk drives 140. Thus the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 that received the request for the data must make a request for the data from one of the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 in order for such back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 to request the data from the bank of disk drives 140. The mapping of which back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 control which disk drives DD in the bank of disk drives 140 is determined during a power-up initialization phase. The map is stored in the global cache memory 220. Thus, when the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 makes a request for data from the global cache memory 220 and determines that the requested data is not in the global cache memory 220 (i.e., a “miss”), the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 is also advised by the map in the global cache memory 220 of the back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 responsible for the requested data in the bank of disk drives 140. The requesting front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 then must make a request for the data in the bank of disk drives 140 from the as designated back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1. This request between the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 and the appropriate one of the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 (as determined by the map stored in the global cache memory 220) is by a message which passes from the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 through the message network 260 to the appropriate back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1. It is noted then that the message does not pass through the global cache memory 220 (i.e., does not pass through the data transfer section 240) but rather passes through the separate, independent message network 260. Thus, communication between the directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, 315 BE 0, 31B FE 1 is through the message network 260 and not through the global cache memory 220. Consequently, valuable bandwidth for the global cache memory 220 is not used for messaging among the directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE, 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1.

[0036] Thus, on a global cache memory 220 “read miss”, the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 sends a message to the appropriate one of the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 through the message network 260 to instruct such back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 to transfer the requested data from the bank of disk drives 140 to the global cache memory 220. When accomplished, the back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 advises the requesting front- end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 that the transfer is accomplished by a message, which passes from the back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 to the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 through the message network 260. In response to the acknowledgement signal, the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 is thereby advised that such front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 can transfer the data from the global cache memory 220 to the requesting host computer processor HC0, HC1 as described above when there is a cache “read hit”.

[0037] It should be noted that there might be one or more back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 responsible for the requested data. Thus, if only one back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 is responsible for the requested data, the requesting front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 sends a uni-cast message via the message network 260 to only that specific one of the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1. On the other hand, if more than one of the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 is responsible for the requested data, a multi-cast message (here implemented as a series of uni-cast messages) is sent by the requesting one of the front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 to all of the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 having responsibility for the requested data. In any event, with both a uni-cast or multi-cast message, such message is passed through the message network 260 and not through the data transfer section 240 (i.e., not through the global cache memory 220).

[0038] Likewise, it should be noted that while one of the host computer processors HC0, HC 1 might request data, the acknowledgement signal may be sent to the requesting host computer processor HC0 or one or more other host computer processors HC0, HC1 via a multi-cast (i.e., sequence of uni-cast) messages through the message network 260 to complete the data read operation.

[0039] Considering a write operation, the host computer 120 wishes to write data into storage (i.e., into the bank of disk drives 140). One of the front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 receives the data from the host computer 120 and writes it into the global cache memory 220 and marks the data as “fresh data” at the end of the write. This is when the data is marked “write pending”. Also, from the onset of the write until the completion of the write, the front end director must also mark the slot in the cache memory “locked” to prevent other directors from reading half-written data.

[0040] After some period of time, the back end director 315 BE0, 315 BE1 determines that the data must be removed from such cache memory 220 and stored in the bank of disk drives 140. More particularly, the back end directors monitor the number “write pending” entries for the cache memory 220 and compare it with an a priori established parameter called “Write Pending Threshold”. The back end directors also check the age of the data in the cache memory 220 to determine whether it exceeds an a priori established excessive period of time. Before the transfer to the bank of disk drives 140, the data in the cache memory 220 was tagged with a bit as “fresh data” (i.e., data which has not been transferred to the bank of disk drives 140, that is data which is “write pending”). This tagging occurs when data is first written into the cache memory. Thus, if there are multiple write requests for the same memory location in the global cache memory 220 (e.g., a particular bank account) before being transferred to the bank of disk drives 140, the data is overwritten in the cache memory 220 with the most recent data. Each time data is transferred to the global cache memory 220, the front-end director 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 controlling the transfer also informs the host computer 120 that the transfer is complete to thereby free-up the host computer 120 for other data transfers.

[0041] When it is time to transfer the data in the global cache memory 220 to the bank of disk drives 140, as determined by the back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1, the back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 transfers the data from the global cache memory 220 to the bank of disk drives 140 and resets the tag associated with data in the global cache memory 220 (i.e., un-tags the data) to indicate that the data in the global cache memory 220 has been transferred to the bank of disk drives 140. It is noted that the un-tagged data in the global cache memory 220 remains there until overwritten with new data.

[0042] As noted above, further detail is provided in the above-referenced patent application. Suffice it to say here, however, that the front-end and back-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 control data transfer between the host computer/server 120 and the bank of disk drives 140 in response to messages passing between the directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 through the messaging network 260. The messages facilitate the data transfer between host computer/server 120 and the bank of disk drives 140 with such data passing through the global cache memory 220 via the data transfer section 240. More particularly, in the case of the front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 the data passes between the host computer to the global cache memory 220 through the data pipe 316 in the front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 and the messages pass through the message engine/CPU controller 314 in such front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 the data passes between the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 and the bank of disk drives 140 and the global cache memory 220 through the data pipe 316 in the back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 and again the messages pass through the message engine/CPU controller 314 in such back-end director 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1.

[0043] With such an arrangement, the cache memory 220 in the data transfer section 240 is not burdened with the task of transferring the director messaging. Rather the messaging network 260 operates independent of the data transfer section 240 thereby increasing the operating bandwidth of the system interface 160.

[0044] It should be noted that the data pipes 316BE0 and 316BE1 of back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1 directors are coupled to a pair of fibre channel port by-pass card (PBC) units PBC A and PBC B, respectively, as shown, in the bank of disk drives 140. The bank of disk drives 140 includes a plurality of disk drives DD, each one having a pair of redundant ports A and B. The PBC A is coupled to the port A of the disk drives and the PBC B is coupled to the port B of the disk drives, as shown, and as described in more detail in patent application Ser. No. 09/343,344 filed Jun. 30, 1999, inventor Mulvey et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, the entire subject matter being incorporated herein by reference. The data pipes 316FE0 and 316FE1 of front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 directors are coupled to a pair of host computer processor HC 0 and HC 1 of the host computer 120, as shown.

[0045] As noted above, the global memory cache 220 here has two memory printed circuit boards MEM 0 and MEM 1. Each one of the memory boards MEM 0 and MEM 1 is accessible from the pair of front-end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1 and also from the pair of back-end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the data storage system interface 160 is shown. The interface 160 includes a cabinet 300 having a pair of upper and lower rack mountable, here 1U chassis 302, 304, respectively, as shown.

[0047] Disposed in the upper one of the chassis 302 are four printed circuit boards 306a, 306b, 308a, and 308b and a backplane 310. An upper and lower pair of the four printed circuit boards, here printed circuit boards 306a and 306b are a pair of director boards. The upper and lower printed circuit boards 308a and 308b are the pair of memory boards MEM 0 and MEM 1, respectively. The director boards 308a and 308b plug into one side of the backplane 310 and the pair of memory boards MEM 0 and MEM 1 plug into the opposite side of the backplane 310. The backplane 310 provide the electrical interconnection between the four printed circuit boards 306a, 306b, 308a and 308b, in a manner shown, and to be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 4.

[0048] Disposed in the lower one of the chassis 304 is the bank of disk drives 140 (FIG. 1), i.e., the pair of PBC card units PBC A and PBC B together with the array of disk drives DD. The array of disk drives DD and the PBC units PBC A and PBC B are electrically interconnected through a backplane printed circuit board 307. Also provided are a pair of fans 309 at the rear of the chassis and cooling apertures 311 at the front of the chassis.

[0049] Referring now in more detail to the upper chassis 302, reference is made to FIG. 4. The director printed circuit board 306a has thereon front end director 315 FE 0 and back end director 315 BE 0. The back end director 315 BE 0 includes: the back end data pipe 316BE0 adapted for coupling to the PBC A of chassis 304 via a cable 400 external of chassis 302 and chassis 304; the back end message engine 314 BE0 which is coupled thereto the back end data pipe 316BE0 and a microprocessor 199; a portion of the message network 260 (FIG. 2), i.e., message network 260₀ coupled to the back end message engine 314 BE0; and a crossbar switch network 318₀. Switch network 3180 includes a switch 318_A coupled to the back end data pipe 316BE0 and to a port A of the director board 306a.

[0050] The front end director 315 FE 0 includes: the front end data pipe 316FE0 adapted for coupling to the host computer 120 (FIG. 1) via a cable 402 external of chassis 302 and to switch 318_A; the front end message engine 314 FE0 which is coupled thereto the front end data pipe 316FE0 and a microprocessor 199; the portion of the message network 260 (FIG. 2), i.e., message network 260₀ coupled to the front end message engine 314 FE0. The portion of the message network 260₀ is coupled to port C of the director board 306a. Also on the printed circuit board 306a is a switch 318_B included in the crossbar switch newtork 318₀. The switch 318_B is coupled to: the front end data pipe 316FE0; the back end data pipe 316BE0; and a B port of the director board 306a.

[0051] Thus, the back end data pipe 316BE0 may be coupled to either port A or Port B of the director board 306a via switches 318_A and 318_B in the crossbar switch network 318₀. Likewise, the front end data pipe 316FE0 may be coupled to either port A or Port B of the director board 306a via switches 318_A and 318_B. Further both the front end and back end data pipes 316FE0 and 316BE0 are coupled to the message network 206₀.

[0052] The director printed circuit board 306b is identical in physical layout to the director board 306a. Thus, the physical components and the physical layout of those components and Ports A, B and C thereof are identical on both director boards 306a and 306b. Thus, they are interchangeable. However, they are connected differently to the host computer and the bank of disk drives externally of the chassis. Further, they are interconnected to the memory printed circuit boards via interconnects in the backplane 310.

[0053] The boards 306a and 306b are disposed within the chassis 302 in overlaying relationship but with one of the boards being back-to-back with respect to the other. That is, the boards 306a and 306b boards have the same physical layout. The electrical components are disposed on one side of each of the boards and face outwardly from the interior of the chassis. Thus, the surfaces of the boards without the components face each other and are in a back-to-back relationship, as will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 5. Suffice it to say here, however, that director printed circuit board 306b has a front end director 315 FE 1 and a back end director 315 BE 1. The back end director 315 BE 1 includes: the back end data pipe 316BE1 adapted for coupling to the PBC B of chassis 304 via a cable 406 external of chassis 302 and chassis 304; the back end message engine 314 BE1 which is coupled thereto the back end data pipe 316BE1 and a microprocessor 199; a portion of the message network 260 (FIG. 2), i.e., message network 260, coupled to the back end message engine 314 BE1; and a switch 318_A of switch network 318₀ coupled to the back end data pipe 316BE1 and to a port A of the director board 306a.

[0054] The front end director 315 FE 1 includes: the front end data pipe 316FE1 adapted for coupling to the host computer 120 (FIG. 1) via a cable 404 external of chassis 302 and to switch 318_A; the front end message engine 314 FE1 which is coupled thereto the front end data pipe 316FE1 and a microprocessor 199; the other portion of the message network 260 (FIG. 2), i.e., message network 260, coupled to the front end message engine 314 FE1. The portion of the message network 260, is coupled to port C of the director board 306b. Also on the printed circuit board 306b is a switch 318_B of switch network 318₀ coupled to: the front end data pipe 316FE1; the back end data pipe 316BE1; and a B port of the director board 306a.

[0055] Thus, the back end data pipe 316BE1 may be coupled to either port A or Port B of the director board 306b via switches 318_A and 318_B. Likewise, the front end data pipe 316FE1 may be coupled to either port A or Port B of the director board 306b via switches 318_A and 318_B of switch network 318₁. Further, both the front end and back end data pipes 316FE1 and 316BE1 are coupled to the message network 2061.

[0056] As described in the first-mentioned patent application, the message network 260, 260₀ and 260₁ are switches that enable each one of the data pipes 316BE0, 316FE0, 316BE1 and 316FE1 to communicate with each other.

[0057] As noted above, each the chassis 302 includes a pair of memory printed circuit boards 308a and 308b. Each one of the memory boards is identical in physical construction and layout. Each one includes a memory region coupled to a pair of ports Port A and Port B thereof through a switch SW. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,287, issued Aug. 24, 1999, inventor John Walton, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, the entire subject matter thereof being incorporated herein by reference. The pair of memory printed circuit boards are disposed within the chassis 302 in overlaying relationship but with one of the boards also being back-to-back with respect to the other as will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 5.

[0058] More particularly, the printed circuit board 308a, includes a pair of switches 317A0, 317B0, as shown in FIG. 4. Each one of the switches 317A0, 317B0 here has two ports connected to the backplane 310 and a port connected to the memory region on the printed circuit board 308a. Thus, considering an exemplary one of the switches, here switch 317A0, such switch 317A0 has a pair of ports A and EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A. Port A of switch 317A0 is connected to switch 318A of the director board 0. The other port, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A is for expansion and will be described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E. In like manner, switch 317B0 has an expansion port EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—B.

[0059] In like manner, the printed circuit board 308b, includes a pair of switches 317A1, 317B1, as shown in FIG. 4. Each one of the switches 317A1, 317B1 here has two ports connected to the backplane 310 and a port connected to the memory region on the printed circuit board 308b. Thus, considering an exemplary one of the switches, here switch 317A1, such switch 317A1 has a pair of ports A and EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—C. Port A of switch 317A1 is connected to switch 318b of the director board 0. The other port, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—C is for expansion and will be described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E. In like manner, switch 317B1 has an expansion port EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—D.

[0060] Backplane 310 is used to electrically interconnect the four printed circuit boards 306a, 306b, 308a and 308b. More particularly: Port A of board 306a is connected to Port A of memory board 308a; Port B of board 306a is connected to Port A of board 308b; Port C of board 306a is connected to Port C of board 306b; Port A of board 306b is connected to Port B of memory board 308a; and Port B of board 306b is connected to Port B of board 308b. Thus, with this arrangement, each one of the data pipes 316BE0, 316FE0, 316BE1 and 316FE1 has access to both memory regions. Further, as noted above, all of the data pipes 316BE0, 316FE0, 316BE1 and 316FE1 have access to each other.

[0061] Referring now to FIG. 4A, here, in this embodiment, each director board 306a, 306b has three directors: the front end directors 315 FE 0, 315 FE 1, respectively; the back end directors 315 BE 0, 315 BE 1, respectively; and additional directors 315 FE/BE/R 0, 315 FE/BE/R 1, respectively, as shown. Each additional director 315 FE/BE/R 0, 315 FE/BE/R 1 may serve as: front end directors, in which case such directors would be coupled to host computers, not shown, via cables 403, 405, respectively; back end directors, in which case such directors would be coupled to port by-pass card units, not shown; or, directors for a remote facility, not shown, via cables 403, 405.

[0062] Referring now to FIG. 4B, the switches 418A and 418B in each in the director boards 306a and 306b of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A include an additional port. Thus, the switch 318A in board 306a includes an expansion port EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—A, the switch 318B in board 306a includes an expansion port EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—B, the switch 318A in board 306b includes an expansion port EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C, and the switch 318B in board 306b includes an expansion port EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D. The expansion port EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—A is adapted for coupling to port A of switch 318A of board 306a; the expansion port EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—B is adapted for coupling to port B of switch 318B of board 306a; the expansion port EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C is adapted for coupling to port A of switch 318A of board 306b; and, the expansion port EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D is adapted for coupling to port B of switch 318B of board 306b.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 4C, two identical chassis 302 (FIG. 4B), here designated as 302A and 302B, are electrically interconnected via the expansion ports EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—A, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—B, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C, and EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D and via the memory expansion ports EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—B, EXP_—PORT_—MEM C, and EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—D, described above in connection with FIG. 4, to provide a system with twice the memory.

[0064] The director expansion ports EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—A, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—B, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C, and EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D for chassis 302A are designated as EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—A_—0, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—B_—0, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C_—0, and EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D_—0, respectively, and are connected to cables 500_—0, 502_—0, 504_—0 and 506_—0, respectively.

[0065] The director expansion ports EXP_—PORT_—DIR_{—A, EXP—}PORT_—DIR_—B, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C, and EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D for chassis 302B are designated as EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—A_—1, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—B_—1, EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C_—1, and EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D_—1, respectively, and are connected to cables 500_—1, 502_—1, 504_—1 and 506_—1, respectively.

[0066] The memory expansion ports EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—B, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—C, and EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—D for chassis 302A are designated as EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A_—0, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—B_—0, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—C_—0, and EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—D_—0, respectively, and are connected to cables 600_—0, 602_—0, 604_—0 and 606_—0, respectively.

[0067] The memory expansion ports EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—B, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—C, and EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—D for chassis 302B are designated as EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A_—1, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—B_—1, EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—C_—1, and EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—D_—1, respectively, and are connected to cables 600_—1, 602_—1, 604_—1 and 606_—1, respectively.

[0068] Referring to FIGS. 4C and 4D, the connections between the pair of chassis 302A and 302B is shown. Thus:

• • [0069] EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A_—0 is connected to EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—A_—1
  • [0070] EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—B_—0 is connected to EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C_—1
  • [0071] EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—C_—0 is connected to EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—B_—1
  • [0072] EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—D_—0 is connected to EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D_—1
  • [0073] EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—A_—1 is connected to EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—A_—0
  • [0074] EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—B_—1 is connected to EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—C_—0
  • [0075] EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—C_—1 is connected to EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—B_—0 and
  • [0076] EXP_—PORT_—MEM_—D_—1 is connected to EXP_—PORT_—DIR_—D_—0
  • [0077] such connections being by the cables designated above and in FIGS. 4C and 4D externally of the chassis 302A and 302B.

[0078] It follows that the system can be expanded further by adding additional ports to the switches 318A and 318B.

[0079] In another embodiment, these ports EXP_—PORT_—MEM, EXP_—PORT_—DIR can be connected to an external switching network, not shown, disposed in another rack mountable chassis. This switching network, not shown, can provide many more ports and virtually unlimited capability.

[0080] It is noted from FIG. 4F that each one of the directors has a point-to-point data path between itself and each of the four memory boards in the cache memory 220, as described above in connection with FIG. 2.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 5, the overlaying relationship of director boards 306a and 306b is shown. Further, as noted above, the boards 306a and 306b are identical in layout and with one of the boards being back-to-back with respect to the other. Thus, the Ports A, B and C of one director board are not vertically aligned with the ports A, B and C, respectively, of the other one of the director boards. Likewise, for the pair of memory boards 308a, 308b. Thus, the Ports A and B of memory board 308a are not vertically aligned with the Ports A and B, respectively, of board 308b. As a result, the four printed circuit boards 306a, 306b, 308a and 308b are electrically interconnected in the backplane printed circuit board 310 with only vertical, or substantially vertical, electrical interconnects 311, as shown.

[0082] Further detail of the printed circuit boards 306a, 306b, 308a and 308b and the backplane 310 are shown in FIGS. 6A–6D with a portion of the electrical components 401 (FIGS. 6A and 6C) being shown of surfaces of the boards which face outwardly from the interior region of the chassis. It is also noted that the backplane 310 (FIG. 6D) is disposed perpendicular to the component 401 mounting surface 403 of the boards 306a, 306b, 308a and 308b (FIG. 6A). It is further noted that the backplane has apertures 309 passing therethough along a direction parallel to the component 401 mounting surface 403. Thus, air can flow along over the components and through the apertures 309 and hence through the entire chassis. This configuration also aids in the cooling of the components 410. The interior of the chassis is containing these components is cooled by fans, not shown, mounted to the front end of the chassis.

[0083] Disposed in the other one of the chassis 305 (FIG. 7) is a printed circuit board 500 having: an array of rows and columns of disk drives DD, here a 3×4 array, disposed over, and plugged into, an upper, planar surface thereof with ribbon connectors; the backplane, 307 and the pair of PBC units, PBC A and PBC B. The PCB units PBC A and PBC B are electrically interconnected to the array of disk drives DD through the backplane 307. The electrical interconnections are shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the PBC unit PBC A is connected to the A ports of the disk drives and to the back end data pipe 361BE0 via cables external to the cabinets 302, 304. The PBC unit PBC B is connected to the B ports of the disk drives and to the back end data pipe 361BE1 via cables external to the cabinet 302. The interior of the chassis 304 is cooled by fans 320 (FIG. 7) mounted to the front of chassis 302. An identical second fan assembly, not shown, is mounted to cool chassis 302, as noted above.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 3A, the director boards 306a, 306b have plugs 322 disposed externally of the chassis 302. The PBC units PBC A and PBC B also have plugs 324 disposed externally of the chassis 304. These plugs allow the PBC units PBC A and PBC B to electrically interconnect to the director boards 306a, 306b via cables 400, 406 (FIG. 4) and enable the director boards 306a, 306b to electrically interconnect with the host computer 120 (FIG. 1) via cables 402 and 404 (FIG. 4).

[0085] Referring now to FIG. 9, the cabinet 300 is shown to have a plurality of, here four racks, rack 1, rack 2, rack 3 and rack 4. Disposed in racks 1 and 2 is the pair of electrically interconnected rack mountable chassis 302A and 302B, respectively, described above in connection with FIG. 4D. Here a pair of the chassis 304 shown and described in connection with FIG. 8 are shown, each one being identical to the chassis 304 shown and described in connection with FIG. 8, here one is designated as 304A and the other 304B. Thus, the PBC A and PBC B in rack mountable chassis 304A are connected to the back end directors 315 BE 0 and 315 BE 1, respectively, of chassis 302A, as shown. Likewise, the PBC A and PBC B in rack mountable chassis 404 B are connected to the back end directors 315 BE 0 and 315 BE 1, respectively in chassis 302 B, as shown.

[0086] A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.