Patent ID: 6754853
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for testing an operational condition of a first controller in a computerized data storage system having the first controller, a second controller and one or more storage devices, the storage devices having data stored thereon, and the first and second controllers controlling the storage devices to store and retrieve the data onto and from the storage devices, comprising the steps of:sending a test command from the second controller to the first controller to cause the first controller to execute predetermined operating functions wherein the predetermined operating functions include functions to test operations involving the first controller accessing the storage devices and wherein the predetermined operating functions include functions to test operations involving the first controller accessing a SAN fabric coupling the first controller to a host system; responding to the test command by the first controller attempting to perform the predetermined operating functions; analyzing an outcome of the first controller attempting to perform the predetermined operating fictions; determining from the analyzed outcome whether the first controller was successful in performing the predetermined operating functions; and determining the operational condition of the first controller depending on the determination of whether the first controller was successful in performing the predetermined operating functions.