Patent ID: 7099995

Claim:
A method for initializing a storage controller, comprising: commencing an initial microcode load (IML) operation; initializing a parameter in a field of the tracks of copy state data to a first state; commencing background staging of copy state data tracks from a disk storage device to a memory device; changing the state of the parameter of a track to a second state; receiving a request to access a track of copy state data; if the requested track of copy state data has been staged and the parameter is in the state, accessing the requested track of copy state data; if the requested track of copy state data has not been staged and the parameter is in the first state; issuing a wait command in response to the request to access the track of copy state data; staging the requested track of copy state data; revoking the wait command; and accessing the requested track of copy state data; completing the staging of the copy state data tracks; and completing the IML.