Disk array systems

A description is given of the Strategy 2 Architecture, which consists of a control processor, a large data buffer, direct memory access controllers, disk drive control interfaces, a high-speed FIFO (first-in first-out) interface, and a data-flow processor for data reconstruction and parity. Strategy 2 is an intelligent controller capable of storing and retrieving data from multiple banks of four or eight standard, SMD- or ESDI-type rigid disk drives in parallel. The Strategy 2 supports up to four parallel high-speed data channels, up to four command channels for multihost configurations, and the serial maintenance port (RS232) which is used to initiate maintenance commands and diagnostics and to monitor system status.<>