Patent ID: 7093154

Claim:
A method for handling errors in adapters used for communication in data processing network having at least two nodes connected through a switch, said error handling method comprising the steps of: detecting a nonpermanent error condition, within an adapter connected to one of said nodes, from which recovery is possible from within the node connected to said adapter; suspending communications from within the node with the adapter affected by said error condition; disabling communication between said affected adapter and said switch so as to provide an indication to at least one other node in said network that communication with said affected adapter is at least temporarily suspended so as to effectively cause suspension of, but not termination of, applications running on said at least one other node in said network; performing recovery operations, at said affected node, to restore operation of said affected adapter, based on said detected error condition, said recovery including enablement of said disabled communication; and resuming communication with said affected adapter upon enablement of said disabled communication.