Patent ID: 6170023
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for processing input/output (I/O) operations, comprising the steps of: maintaining information, with a first processing unit, indicating an association of at least one alias address to a base address, wherein the base and associated alias addresses are capable of being used to address an I/O device; querying, with a second processing unit, the first processing unit for information on base and associated alias addresses for at least one I/O device; processing, with the second processing unit, the queried information to determine the base and associated alias addresses that address the I/O device; determining, with the second processing unit, whether the base address for an I/O device is available; initiating a first I/O operation with the second processing unit against the I/O device using the base address after determining that the base address is available; and initiating a second I/O operation with the second processing unit against the I/O device using one of the alias addresses to access the I/O device when the base address is unavailable, wherein the second processing unit executes the first and second I/O operations concurrently against the I/O device.