Patent ID: 6226717
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for providing exclusive access to a shared storage device for a first processor in a system having a plurality of processors, the method comprising:creating a first critical storage block and a second critical storage block associated with the shared storage device;providing a unique processor ID for each of the plurality of processors;determining when the first critical block becomes available;determining a time point at which the second critical storage block becomes available;after both the first and second critical blocks become available, storing a processor identifier associated with the first processor in the second critical storage block;after a preselected delay from the time point, determining whether the processor identifier remains stored in the second critical block;in response to determining that the processor identifier remains stored in the second critical storage block, checking to determine whether the processor identifier remains in the first critical storage block; andonce the process identifier is stored in both the first and second critical storage blocks, providing the first processor with exclusive access to the shared storage location.