Patent ID: 7474623

Claim:
In a distributed computer system comprising multiple root nodes, each including one or more system images, and further comprising one or more PCI switches and one or more I/O adapters, a method for routing I/O adapter error messages to respective system images, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the occurrence of an error at a specified one of said adapters, wherein said error affects one of said system images, said specified adapter is affected in its entirety by said error, and said error is detected by the PCI switch that is immediately above said specified adapter in said distributed computer system; generating an error message that provides notice of said error, wherein said error message is generated by creating a PCI transaction packet that contains said error message, said error message packet is directly routed to all root nodes involved with said error, and said error message contains a source element identifying the source requesting said message and an error element identifying the type of error associated with said message; routing said error message from said specified adapter to the particular root node that includes said affected system image, wherein said step of routing said error message includes directing said error message to a selected PCI switch containing a look-up table, and using said source element, together with information in said look-up table, to select a port of said selected switch for use as an egress port for said error message, wherein said egress port is disposed to route said error message to said particular node; and selectively processing said error message at said particular root node in order to identify said affected system image, wherein said affected system image is identified by selectively comparing said source element with information contained in a look-up table located at said particular node.