Storage Slot Numbering Across Multiple Backplanes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In information handling systems, existing technologies cannot assign the same slot number to storage resources coupled to different backplanes, leading to non-optimal drive numbering schemes where drives in the same region of a chassis do not have consecutive and intuitive numbering.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves configuring an information handling system with a processor and storage subsystems where storage resources from different backplanes can share the same slot number by utilizing reserved bits in SES diagnostic pages to indicate different storage domains, allowing for consistent and intuitive numbering across all backplanes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If drives connected to different backplanes are numbered in continuation sequence, then all drives can be uniquely identified, but drives in the same region do not have intuitive consecutive numbering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension (storage domain identifier) to the drive numbering system. Instead of using a single continuous numbering sequence, the system now uses two dimensions: storage domain ID and slot number. This allows drives in the same physical region to have the same slot number (e.g., 0-23) while being distinguished by their storage domain ID, providing intuitive regional grouping without losing the ability to uniquely identify each drive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the storage system into multiple independent storage domains, each corresponding to a specific backplane or region. Each domain can independently number its drives from 0, creating intuitive local sequences. The segmentation allows each region to have its own numbering context, improving ease of operation while maintaining unique identification through the combination of domain ID and slot number.
2Ease of operation
If each backplane has independent slot numbering starting from zero, then regional drives have intuitive numbering, but multiple drives from different backplanes will have the same slot number
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the ambiguity of duplicate slot numbers by adding another dimension (storage domain identifier) to the identification system. The combination of storage domain ID and slot number creates a unique identifier for each drive, while allowing each domain to maintain its own intuitive numbering sequence starting from zero.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested identification structure where the storage domain identifier contains the backplane/domain information, and the slot number contains the position information within that domain. This nested approach allows hierarchical organization: first identify the domain, then identify the specific slot within that domain, providing both intuitive regional numbering and unique drive identification.
3Adaptability or versatility
If reserved bits in SES diagnostic pages are utilized to indicate storage domains, then multiple drives can share the same slot number, but the data structure must be modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter structure of the SES diagnostic page by utilizing previously unused reserved bits. Instead of modifying the fundamental data structure, the invention repurposes existing reserved space to store storage domain identifiers, enabling slot number reuse without requiring major structural changes to the communication protocol or data formats.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system may include a processor and a storage subsystem. The storage subsystem may include a non-expander backplane, a first plurality of storage resources coupled to the processor via the non-expander backplane, and a second plurality of storage resources coupled to the processor via a communication path that does not include the non-expander backplane. The information handling system may be configured to provide slot numbers for the storage resources according to a numbering scheme in which a storage resource from the first plurality of storage resources and a storage resource from the second plurality of storage resources have the same slot number.