US Patent 7644168 SAS expander

Systems and methodologies associated with providing additional functionality to a conventional SAS expander are described. One exemplary SAS expander embodiment includes logic for selectively performing source identifier checking for frames received at the SAS expander. The logic may also facilitate selectively performing explicit route checking for frames received at the SAS expander. In one example, the logic may also facilitate selectively providing VLAN-like services to devices connected to the SAS expander.