System for assigning and identifying devices on bus within predetermined period of time without requiring host to do the assignment

摘要

In a computer system having multiple devices on a bus, a method for a first device on the bus to designate its own identifier including the steps of the first device transmitting on the bus a request for a device with a desired identifier to respond, determining that no device on the bus responds to the request, and upon such determination, designating the desired identifier to identify the first device to at least one of the multiple devices on the bus. In addition, in a computer system having multiple devices on a bus, a first device including apparatus for transmitting on the bus a request for a device with a desired identifier to respond, apparatus for determining that no device on the bus responds to the request, and apparatus for, upon such determination, designating the desired identifier to identify at least one of the first device to the multiple devices on the bus.