Patent ID: 7480697
Filing Date: 2009-01-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for sending a message comprising: transferring a message origination command through a channel from a first attached host to a hardware subsystem which comprises a part of a storage area network and that is bidirectionally coupled to a mass data storage unit, the message origination command having at least one second attached host as an intended recipient; buffering at least a message payload portion of the message origination command in the hardware subsystem and generating an unsolicited interrupt from the hardware subsystem to the at least one second attached host; and in response to the generated unsolicited interrupt, transferring a message retrieval command through a channel from the at least one second attached host to the hardware subsystem for retrieving at least the message payload portion buffered at the hardware subsystem, where information regarding disk volumes of the mass data storage unit are dynamically changed by sending the message origination command from the first host as an input/output command.