AUTOMATED PROTOCOL SELECTION FOR HOST ADAPTER CARD

摘要

A method is disclosed, wherein a host adapter is selectively connected to a network using either a four-channel connection or a single-channel connection. Whether the four-channel connection or the single-channel connection has been made to the host adapter is automatically detected. A default four-channel protocol is automatically invoked in response to detecting the four-channel connection has been made. An alternative single-channel protocol is automatically invoked, instead, in response to detecting the single-channel connection has been made. The host adapter communicates over the network using the selected one of the default, four-channel protocol and the alternative, single-channel connection using the same host adapter.