Patent ID: 7567886

Claim:
A method to evaluate the performance of input/output devices and interconnecting buses disposed in a data storage and retrieval system, wherein said data storage and retrieval system comprises a host computer comprising a first host bus adapter and a second host bus adapter, first information comprising one or more valid system configurations, and second information comprising an apparent system configuration, said method comprising the steps of: supplying a library external to said host computer, wherein said library comprises a plurality of input/output devices, a plurality of data storage media disposed in a plurality of data storage cartridges which are stored in a plurality of storage slots, and one or more accessors to retrieve, transport, and insert, said plurality of data storage cartridges in said plurality of input/output devices, supplying a first bus connecting said first host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices; supplying a second bus connecting said second host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices; providing third information via said first bus to one of said plurality of input/output devices, wherein said third information comprises a series of connect commands interspersed with a series of disconnect commands, wherein said connect commands are selected from the group consisting of read buffer commands and write buffer commands; receiving fourth information via said first bus from said one of said plurality of input/output devices, wherein said fourth information comprises device status information, transmitted data, and bus access requests; evaluating-the performance of said first bus; comparing the performance of said first bus with nominal performance specifications for said first bus; when determining that the performance of said first bus is not acceptable, displaying an error message on said host computer; when determining that the performance of said first bus is acceptable, placing said data storage and retrieval system in a ready state.