Computer system having a virtual drive array controller

Patent 5809285 Issued on September 15, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 21, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Hilland, Jeffrey R.

Assignee

Compaq Computer Corporation

Application

No. 576555 filed on 12/21/1995

US Classes:

703/25, I/O adapter (e.g., port, controller)710/2, Input/Output expansion710/20, Concurrent Input/Output processing and data transfer710/62, Peripheral adapting711/114, Arrayed (e.g., RAIDs)714/7Reconfiguration (e.g., adding a replacement storage component)

Examiners

Primary: Teska, Kevin J.
Assistant: Phan, Tho

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Beyer & Weaver, LLP

International Class

G06F 012/06

Abstract

A computer system having a virtual drive array controller incorporated therein. The virtual drive array controller enables plural physical devices, which may be of a single type of device or a combination of multiple types of devices, to be represented to the computer system as a single logical drive. The virtual drive array controller includes a front end coupled to a secondary storage bus and a back end to which plural physical devices are coupled. Additional virtual drive array controllers may be arranged in a cascading configuration by coupling the additional virtual drive array controllers to the back end of the virtual drive array controller.

Other References

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