Patent ID: 7721136

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of Input/Output (I/O) fencing comprising: establishing an end time of a time interval after which access is not allowed to a target device by a requesting device; obtaining a first time value at the requesting device prior to initiating a first phase of a multiphase operation to the target device, wherein the multiphase operation comprises a plurality of phases including at least the first phase and a subsequent phase, wherein the first phase comprises transmission of a write request, and wherein the subsequent phase comprises transmission of data to be written; determining that the first time value at the requesting device is not greater than the end time; initiating the first phase of the multiphase operation in response to determining that the first time value at the requesting device is not greater than the end time; obtaining a subsequent time value at the requesting device prior to initiating the subsequent phase; determining that the subsequent time value at the requesting device is greater than the end time; and automatically interfering with the multiphase operation in response to determining that the subsequent time value at the requesting device is greater than the end time.