A method can include, by operation of a host device, initiating a first transaction with at least a first device on a serial bus in synchronism with a clock, the first transaction having a predetermined response latency. The host device can initiate a second transaction on the serial bus in synchronism with the clock signal during the response latency. The first transaction and second transaction can be completed on the serial bus in synchronism with the clock. The serial bus is configured to transmit instruction data identifying transactions, target data identifying a destination for transactions, and data for transactions. Corresponding devices and systems are also disclosed.

A RAID storage management system includes a plurality of RAID storage devices and a controller configured to manage the plurality of RAID storage devices. The RAID storage management system also includes at least one expander operatively connected to the controller and operatively connected to the plurality of RAID storage devices. The expander is configured to receive a request from the controller for a RAID operation. The expander is also configured to, upon receiving the request, operate to assist the controller in performing the requested RAID operation.

Methods, apparatus, and systems, for transporting data units comprising multiple pieces of transaction data over high-speed interconnects. A flow control unit, called a KTI (Keizer Technology Interface) Flit, is implemented in a coherent multi-layer protocol supporting coherent memory transactions. The KTI Flit has a basic format that supports use of configurable fields to implement KTI Flits with specific formats that may be used for corresponding transactions. In one aspect, the KTI Flit may be formatted as multiple slots used to support transfer of multiple respective pieces of transaction data in a single Flit. The KTI Flit can also be configured to support various types of transactions and multiple KTI Flits may be combined into packets to support transfer of data such as cache line transfers.

A method and system for pre-attaching volumes onto a host. The method includes analyzing a plurality of hosts in a cloud environment. The method also includes identifying a least populated host based on the analyzation of the hosts. The least populated host is based on the attributes of the hosts. The method also includes identifying at least one popular volume in the cloud environment. The popular volume is a volume type most frequently used by the hosts in the cloud environment. Further, the method includes attaching the popular volume to the least populated host.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to performing varying frequency memory sub-system background scans using either or both a timer and an I/O event limit. This can be accomplished by identifying a background scan trigger event from one of multiple possible types of background scan trigger events, such as a timer expiration or reaching an event count limit. In response to the background scan trigger event, a background scan can be initiated on a memory portion. The background scan can produce results, such as CDF-based data. When a metric based on the results exceeds a background scan limit, a refresh relocation can be performed and logged. A metric can be generated based on the CDF-based data, obtained error recovery depth data, or refresh relocation event data. When the metric is above or below corresponding background scan thresholds, a background scan frequency can be adjusted.

A method can include, by operation of a host device, initiating a first transaction with at least a first device on a serial bus in synchronism with a clock, the first transaction having a predetermined response latency. The host device can initiate a second transaction on the serial bus in synchronism with the clock signal during the response latency. The first transaction and second transaction can be completed on the serial bus in synchronism with the clock. The serial bus is configured to transmit instruction data identifying transactions, target data identifying a destination for transactions, and data for transactions. Corresponding devices and systems are also disclosed.

Connectivity type detection for a data storage system in accordance with the present description includes, in one aspect of the present description, automated host-target discovery logic which is configured to automatically discover the connectivity type for a connection path between a host and a storage system, and select and initiate target discovery procedures which are appropriate for the discovered connectivity type. As a result, mapping a target volume of the target storage system which is connected to the host, may be facilitated, reducing or eliminating delays which may have otherwise resulted from the change in connectivity type. In this manner, efficiency of the computing system may be improved. Other aspects and advantages may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

Multiple virtual host ports corresponding to a same physical host port may be determined by or on behalf of a storage system, for example, in response to logging the one or more virtual host ports into the storage system. For one or more virtual host ports, it may be determined whether the virtual host port is connected to a same fabric port as another virtual host port, where a fabric port is a port of a fabric configured to connect to a virtual host port. If two virtual host ports are determined to be connected to a same fabric port, it may be concluded that the two virtual host ports correspond to (e.g., share) a same physical host port. One or more actions may be taken on a storage network based at least in part on a determination that two virtual host ports are sharing a same physical host port.

A method and system for pre-attaching volumes onto a host. The method includes analyzing a plurality of hosts in a cloud environment. The method also includes identifying a least populated host based on the analyzation of the hosts. The least populated host is based on the attributes of the hosts. The method also includes identifying at least one popular volume in the cloud environment. The popular volume is a volume type most frequently used by the hosts in the cloud environment. Further, the method includes attaching the popular volume to the least populated host.

A system and method to allocate serial interconnection lanes on a die to multiple communication protocols is disclosed. The die has at least one processing core. The die incudes a first communication subsystem including a controller, a protocol coding sublayer (PCS) for interchanging data, and a data interface coupled to the core. The die includes a second communication subsystem including a controller, a PCS for interchanging data, and a data interface coupled to the core. A mode input selects at least one of the first or second communication protocol. A data router has an input coupled to the PCS of the first communication subsystem and an input coupled to the PCS of the second communication subsystem. The data router has an output coupled to the set of serial interconnection lanes, and a selection input coupled to the mode input to allocate some of the lanes for the selected protocol.