US Patent 7809964 Storage system assembly with distributed enclosure management

An I/O interface module of a storage system controller includes a management controller and power regulation and monitoring/control circuitry responsible for management of the I/O expansion module and pluggable I/O interface modules, which each include electrical power regulating circuitry to power circuit components. Temperature regulation components (e.g. fan and temperature sensor) provide a cooling airflow and monitor operating temperature. A controller works with the power regulation and monitor/control circuitry and temperature regulation components to perform first and second management activities concurrently. The first management activity involves managing the environmental operating conditions of the I/O expansion module itself, including (i) monitoring and regulating operating temperature and (ii) monitoring and controlling electrical power regulating circuitry of the power regulation and monitor/control circuitry. The second management activity involves managing environmental operating conditions of the I/O interface module, including (i) monitoring insertion and removal of the I/O interface module and reporting such insertion and removal to a separate controller within the storage system controller, (ii) controlling reset status of the I/O expansion module, and (iii) monitoring and controlling the electrical power regulating circuitry of the I/O interface module.