Lsi Corporation

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Peter C Rivera

Brad D Besmer

James A Rizzo

Naman Nair

A storage system and method for identifying a faulty link the storage system is disclosed. The storage system includes a plurality of target devices and at least one expander configured to communicatively couple a plurality of initiators to the plurality of target devices. Each initiator of the plurality of initiators monitors occurrences of link disruptions independently, wherein upon detecting occurrences of a predetermined number of link disruptions within a predetermined time period, a reporting initiator reports a detection of a faulty link in the multi-initiator topology and requests an arbitrator to identify at least one peer initiator in the multi-initiator topology that shares at least one shared link with the reporting initiator. This reporting initiator and its peer initiators then jointly execute a common diagnostic process to identify the faulty link in the multi-initiator topology.

Fault detection and identification in a multi-initiator system

A storage system and method for preventing propagation of link reset among initiators in the storage system is disclosed. The method includes issuing a link reset command by the initiator, and entering the initiator into a back-off period immediately following the issuing of the link reset command. The initiator remains idle for the entire duration of the back-off period and resumes its operations at the end of the back-off period.

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Peter C Rivera