Selective isolation of a storage subsystem bus utilzing a subsystem controller

Claim 2

An information handling system comprising: a first computer system; a first SCSI bus, the first computer system operably coupled to the first SCSI bus; a data storage subsystem including: a second SCSI bus capable of being operably coupled to a data storage device; a first SCSI connector circuit, the first SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling the first SCSI bus with the second SCSI bus; a subsystem controller, the subsystem controller, deactivating the first SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the first SCSI bus from the second SCSI bus based upon a first SCSI signal from the first SCSI bus.

Claim 3

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the subsystem controller deactivates the first SCSI connector circuit in response to a change in state of the first SCSI signal.

Claim 4

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first SCSI signal is a termination power signal from the first SCSI bus.

Claim 5

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein a subsystem controller includes an input for monitoring the first SCSI signal, the subsystem controller includes an output for providing a first control signal to the first connector circuit to deactivate the first SCSI connector circuit.

Claim 6

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the subsystem controller monitors at least one environmental condition of the data storage subsystem.

Claim 7

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the subsystem controller executes firmware to provide the first control signal based upon the first SCSI signal.

Claim 8

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the second SCSI bus is implemented on a SCSI backplane.

Claim 9

The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the subsystem controller is embedded in the SCSI backplane.

Claim 10

The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the first SCSI connector circuit is embedded in the SCSI backplane.

Claim 11

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein: the first SCSI signal is a termination power signal from the first SCSI bus; the subsystem controller deactivating the first SCSI connector circuit in response to the termination power signal transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 12

The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: a second computer system; a third SCSI bus, the second computer system operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; wherein data storage subsystem further includes: a second SCSI connector circuit, the second SCSI connector circuit when activated, operably coupling the third SCSI bus with the second SCSI bus; wherein the subsystem controller deactivates the second SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the third SCSI bus from the second SCSI bus based upon a second SCSI signal from the third SCSI bus.

Claim 13

The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the second SCSI signal is a termination power signal from the third SCSI bus.

Claim 14

The information handling system of claim 11 further comprising: a third computer system; a fourth SCSI bus, the third computer system operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the data storage subsystem further including: a third SCSI connector circuit, the third SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling the fourth SCSI bus with the second SCSI bus; wherein the subsystem controller deactivates the third SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the fourth SCSI bus from the second SCSI bus based upon a third SCSI signal from the fourth SCSI bus.

Claim 15

The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of hard disk drives operably coupled to the second SCSI bus.

Claim 16

The information handling system of claim 14 wherein data is stored on the plurality of hard disk drives in a RAID configuration, wherein the data is accessible to the first computer system via the first and second SCSI buses when the first SCSI connector circuit is activated.

Claim 17

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the second SCSI bus has a first bus end and a second bus end, the second SCSI bus is terminated at the first and second bus ends.

Claim 18

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first SCSI connector circuit is a SCSI driver circuit.

Claim 19

The information handling system of claim 17 wherein the first SCSI connector circuit is SCSI expander circuit.

Claim 20

An information handling system comprising: a first server; a second server; a first SCSI bus, the first server operably coupled to the first SCSI bus via a first SCSI controller; a second SCSI bus, the second server operably coupled to the second SCSI bus via a second SCSI controller; and a data storage subsystem including: a third SCSI bus having two ends, the third SCSI bus being terminated at both ends; a data storage device operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; a first SCSI connector circuit, the first SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling the first SCSI bus with the third SCSI bus; a second SCSI connector circuit, the second SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling the second SCSI bus with the third SCSI bus; a subsystem controller, the subsystem controller deactivating the first SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the first SCSI bus from the third SCSI bus in response to a first SCSI signal from the first SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state, the subsystem controller deactivating the second SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the second SCSI bus from the third SCSI bus in response to a second SCSI signal from the second SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 21

An information handling system comprising: a first server; a second server; a first SCSI bus, the first server operably coupled to the first SCSI bus via a first SCSI controller; a second SCSI bus, the second server operably coupled to the second SCSI bus via a second SCSI controller; and a data storage subsystem including: a third SCSI bus having two ends, the third SCSI bus being terminated at both ends; a data storage device operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; a first SCSI connector circuit, the first SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling the first SCSI bus with the third SCSI bus; a second SCSI connector circuit, the second SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling the second SCSI bus with the third SCSI bus; a subsystem controller, the subsystem controller deactivating the first SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the first SCSI bus from the third SCSI bus in response to a first SCSI signal from the first SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state, the subsystem controller deactivating the second SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the second SCSI bus from the third SCSI bus in response to a second SCSI signal from the second SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 22

The information handling system of claim 19 wherein the first and second SCSI connector circuits are SCSI driver circuits.

Claim 23

The information handling system of claim 19 wherein: the first SCSI signal is a termination power signal from the first SCSI bus; the second SCSI signal is a termination power signal from the second SCSI bus.

Claim 24

The information handling system of claim 21 wherein: the first termination power signal is provided by the first SCSI controller; the second termination power signal is provided by the second SCSI controller.

Claim 25

The information handling system of claim 22 wherein the first SCSI controller receives a first enable signal, wherein the first termination power signal transitions to an inactive state in response to a change in state of the enable signal, wherein the subsystem controller deactivates the first SCSI connector circuit in response to the first termination signal transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 26

The information handling system of claim 19 wherein the information handling system is a cluster system.

Claim 27

The information handling system of claim 19 further comprising: a third server; a fourth SCSI bus, the third server operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus via a third SCSI controller; wherein the data storage subsystem further includes: a third SCSI connector circuit, the third SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling the fourth SCSI bus with the third SCSI bus; wherein the subsystem controller deactivates the third SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the fourth SCSI bus from the third SCSI bus in response to a third SCSI signal from the fourth SCSI bus tansitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 28

The information handling system of claim 19 wherein: the third SCSI bus is implemented in a SCSI backplane; the subsystem controller is embedded in the SCSI backplane; the first and second connector circuits are embedded in the SCSI backplane.

Claim 29

The information handling system of claim 19 wherein the subsystem controller monitors at least one environmental condition of the data storage subsystem.

Claim 30

An information handling system comprising: a first server; a second server; a third server; a first SCSI bus, the first server operably coupled to the first SCSI bus; a second SCSI bus, the second server operably coupled to the second SCSI bus; third SCSI bus, the third server operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; a data storage subsystem including: a fourth SCSI bus; a data storage device operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the first, second, and third SCSI busses are operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the data storage device is accessible by the first, second, and third servers; wherein the fourth SCSI bus is implemented on a SCSI backplane.

Claim 31

An information handling system comprising: a first server; a second server; a third server; a first SCSI bus, the first server operably coupled to the first SCSI bus; a second SCSI bus, the second server operably coupled to the second SCSI bus; third SCSI bus, the third server operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; a data storage subsystem including: a fourth SCSI bus; a data storage device operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the first, second, and third SCSI busses are operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the data storage device is accessible by the first, second, and third servers; wherein the fourth SCSI bus is implemented on a SCSI backplane.

Claim 32

The information handling system of claim 28 wherein the SCSI backplane includes: a first SCSI physical connector, the first SCSI bus being operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus via the first SCSI physical connector; a second SCSI physical connector, the second SCSI bus being operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus via the second SCSI physical connector; a third SCSI physical connector, the third SCSI bus being operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus via the third SCSI physical connector.

Claim 33

The information handling system of claim 28 further comprising: a fourth server; a fifth SCSI bus, the fourth server operably coupled to the fifth SCSI bus; wherein the fifth SCSI bus is operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the data storage device is accessible by the fourth server.

Claim 34

An information handling system comprising: a first server; a second server; a third server; a first SCSI bus, the first server operably coupled to the first SCSI bus; a second SCSI bus, the second server operably coupled to the second SCSI bus; a third SCSI bus, the third server operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; a data storage subsystem including: a fourth SCSI bus; a data storage device operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the first, second, and third SCSI busses are operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the data storage device is accessible by the first, second, and third servers; wherein the fourth SCSI bus having a first end and a second end; wherein the first SCSI bus is operably coupled to the first end; wherein the second SCSI bus is operably coupled to the second end.

Claim 35

An information handling system comprising: a first server; a second server; a third server; a first SCSI bus, the first server operably coupled to the first SCSI bus; a second SCSI bus, the second server operably coupled to the second SCSI bus; a third SCSI bus, the third server operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; a data storage subsystem including: a fourth SCSI bus; a data storage device operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the first, second, and third SCSI busses are operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the data storage device is accessible by the first, second, and third servers; wherein the fourth SCSI bus having a first end and a second end; wherein the first SCSI bus is operably coupled to the first end; wherein the second SCSI bus is operably coupled to the second end.

Claim 36

An information handling system comprising: a first server; a second server; a third server; a first SCSI bus, the first server operably coupled to the first SCSI bus; a second SCSI bus, the second server operably coupled to the second SCSI bus; a third SCSI bus, the third server operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; a data storage subsystem including: a fourth SCSI bus; a data storage device operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the first, second, and third SCSI busses are operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the data storage device is accessible by the first, second, and third servers; wherein the first SCSI bus having two ends, the first SCSI bus being terminated at both ends; wherein the second SCSI bus having two ends, the second SCSI bus being terminated at both ends; wherein the third SCSI bus having two ends, the third SCSI bus being terminated at both ends; wherein the fourth SCSI bus having two ends, the fourth SCSI bus being terminated at both ends.

Claim 37

An information handling system comprising: a first server; a second server; a third server; a first SCSI bus, the first server operably coupled to the first SCSI bus; a second SCSI bus, the second server operably coupled to the second SCSI bus; a third SCSI bus, the third server operably coupled to the third SCSI bus; a data storage subsystem including: a fourth SCSI bus; a data storage device operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the first, second, and third SCSI busses are operably coupled to the fourth SCSI bus; wherein the data storage device is accessible by the first, second, and third servers; wherein the first SCSI bus having two ends, the first SCSI bus being terminated at both ends; wherein the second SCSI bus having two ends, the second SCSI bus being terminated at both ends; wherein the third SCSI bus having two ends, the third SCSI bus being terminated at both ends; wherein the fourth SCSI bus having two ends, the fourth SCSI bus being terminated at both ends.

Claim 38

A data storage subsystem comprising: a first SCSI bus; a connector operably coupled to the first SCSI bus for operably coupling a data storage device to the first SCSI bus; a first SCSI connector circuit, the first SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a second SCSI bus with the first SCSI bus; a second SCSI connector circuit, the second SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a third SCSI bus with the first SCSI bus; a subsystem controller, the subsystem controller deactivating the first SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the second SCSI bus from the first SCSI bus in response to a first SCSI signal from the second SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state, the subsystem controller deactivating the second SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the third SCSI bus from the first SCSI bus in response to a second SCSI signal from the third SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 39

A data storage subsystem comprising: a first SCSI bus; a connector operably coupled to the first SCSI bus for operably coupling a data storage device to the first SCSI bus; a first SCSI connector circuit, the first SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a second SCSI bus with the first SCSI bus; a second SCSI connector circuit, the second SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a third SCSI bus with the first SCSI bus; a subsystem controller, the subsystem controller deactivating the first SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the second SCSI bus from the first SCSI bus in response to a first SCSI signal from the second SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state, the subsystem controller deactivating the second SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the third SCSI bus from the first SCSI bus in response to a second SCSI signal from the third SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 40

The data storage subsystem of claim 33 wherein: the first SCSI bus is implemented in a SCSI backplane; wherein the first SCSI connector circuit, the second SCSI connector circuit, and the subsystem controller are embedded in the backplane.

Claim 41

The data storage subsystem of claim 33 wherein: the first SCSI signal is a termination power signal from the second SCSI bus; the second SCSI signal is a termination power signal from the third SCSI bus.

Claim 42

The data storage subsystem of claim 33 wherein the subsystem controller monitors at least one environmental condition of the data storage subsystem.

Claim 43

The data storage subsystem of claim 33 wherein the subsystem controller executes firmware in deactivating the first SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the second SCSI bus from the first SCSI bus in response to the first SCSI signal transitioning to an inactive state and in deactivating the second SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the third SCSI bus from the first SCSI bus in response to the second SCSI signal transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 44

The data storage subsystem of claim 33 wherein the first and second SCSI connector circuits are SCSI driver circuits.

Claim 45

The data storage subsystem of claim 33 further comprising: a third SCSI connector circuit, the third SCSI connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a fourth SCSI bus with the first SCSI bus; wherein the subsystem controller deactivates the third SCSI connector circuit to operably isolate the fourth SCSI bus from the first SCSI bus in response to a third SCSI signal from the fourth SCSI bus transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 46

The data storage subsystem of claim 33 wherein the first SCSI bus substantially conforms to the SCSI-2 standard architecture.

Claim 47

A data storage subsystem comprising: a first terminated bus; a connector operably coupled to the first terminated bus for operably coupling a data storage device to the first terminated bus; a first connector circuit, the first connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a second terminated bus with the first terminated bus; a second connector circuit, the second connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a third terminated bus with the first terminated bus; a subsystem controller, the subsystem controller deactivating the first connector circuit to operably isolate the second terminated bus from the first terminated bus in response to a termination power signal from the second terminated bus transitioning to an inactive state, the subsystem controller deactivating the second connector circuit to operably isolate the third terminated bus from the first terminated bus in response to a termination power signal from the third terminated bus transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 48

A data storage subsystem comprising: a first terminated bus; a connector operably coupled to the first terminated bus for operably coupling a data storage device to the first terminated bus; a first connector circuit, the first connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a second terminated bus with the first terminated bus; a second connector circuit, the second connector circuit, when activated, operably coupling a third terminated bus with the first terminated bus; a subsystem controller, the subsystem controller deactivating the first connector circuit to operably isolate the second terminated bus from the first terminated bus in response to a termination power signal from the second terminated bus transitioning to an inactive state, the subsystem controller deactivating the second connector circuit to operably isolate the third terminated bus from the first terminated bus in response to a termination power signal from the third terminated bus transitioning to an inactive state.

Claim 49

The data storage subsystem of claim 41 wherein: the first terminated bus is implemented in a backplane; wherein the first connector circuit, the second connector circuit, and the subsystem controller are embedded in the backplane.