Patent ID: 7370147

Claim:
A disk array device comprising a plurality of controllers for executing data input/output processing for disk drives in response to a data input/output request from a host computer, each of the plurality of controllers comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); a Fibre Channel Protocol controller having a first core connected to the host computer via a first interface for controlling a first Fibre Channel Protocol for communication between the first interface and the host computer, and a second core connected to the disk drives via a second interface for controlling a second Fibre Channel Protocol for communication between the second interface and the disk drives; two FC-ALs loop-connected to the disk drives; and a connection switching circuit for switching the FC-ALs to establish a path between one of the FC-ALs and the second interface, wherein, when a failure occurs in one of the plurality of controllers, the CPU of the faulty controller is configured to send a command to the Fibre Channel Protocol controller of the faulty controller to disable an interruption request from the Fibre Channel Protocol controller without initializing said Fibre Channel Protocol controller, to inhibit communication with the host computer while maintaining operation of the first core and the second core.