Patent ID: 6021475
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A device adapter that provides an interface between a plurality of disk devices each having an I/O controller and a controller of a disk drive subsystem in a computer system, the device adapter comprising:a device adapter controller that receives requests for disk device status information from the disk drive subsystem controller, polls the disk devices for disk device status information, and receives interrupt signals from the disk devices that require servicing from the disk drive subsystem controller;a plurality of device electronic switch elements that provide an interface between the device adapter controller and the disk device I/O controllers;a device address table containing data that represents a physical address for each disk device; anda polling information table containing data that represents the disk device status information for the disk devices listed in the device address table;wherein the device adapter controller receives the disk device status information from the disk devices and dynamically changes the device address table and polling information table data for a disk device in response to disk device status information that indicates the disk device has failed.