Reset propagation for a multi-port storage controller

摘要

A mass storage system having a storage controller connnecting a plurality of host computers to an array of disk drives provides a method and apparatus for propagating a reset command from the host computer to other host computers. The storage controller is used as the intermediary. When the host computers connect to the storage controller using standard bus protocols, certain commands such as a reset command can have profound effects on the storage system, but are not adequately communicated to other host computers connecting to the storage controller over separate bus channels. The storage controller either passes such reset commands to the other host computers or enables the other host computers to sense and request an updated status report from the storage controller indicative of a change in storage configuration or operation.