Fiber channel port by-pass selector section for dual ported disk drives

摘要

A data storage system having a plurality of disk drives. Each one has a pair of bi-directional ports. A pair of directors controls the flow of data to and from the disk drives. A first fiber channel port by-pass selector section is provided. The first fiber channel by-pass selector section includes: an input/output port coupled to a first one of the directors; and, a plurality of output/input ports connected between a first one of the ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first plurality of fiber channel links. The first fiber channel port by-pass selector section is adapted to couple the first one of the directors serially to one, or ones, of the first ports of the plurality of disk drives through a first fiber channel selectively in accordance with a control signal fed to the first fiber channel by-pass selector section. The first fiber channel includes one, or more, of the first plurality of fiber channel links. A second fiber channel port by-pass selector section is provided having an input/output port coupled to a second one of the directors and a plurality of output/ports serially connected between a second one of the pair of ports of the plurality of disk drives through a second plurality of fiber channel links. The second fiber channel port by-pass selector section is adapted to couple the second one of the directors serially to one, or ones, of the second ports of the plurality of disk drives through a second fiber channel selectively in accordance with the control signal. The second fiber channel includes one, or more, of the second plurality of fiber channel links.