Patent ID: 7606806

Claim:
A storage system, comprising: a processor, in response to receiving a first frame including an Inquiry Command, which is used to inquire about the status of a logical unit (LU), and being received from at least one computer of a plurality of computers according to a fibre channel protocol, being adapted to send a second frame including Inquiry Data to the at least one computer of the plurality of computers according to said fibre channel protocol; wherein, if the first frame is received from a first computer and includes a first virtual logical unit number (LUN), which corresponds to a first LUN identifying a first LU which is accessible by the first computer, the storage system is adapted to send the second frame including first Inquiry Data, wherein the first virtual LUN is 0, and the first Inquiry Data indicates that the first LU, related to the first virtual LUN, is installed in the storage system, wherein, if the first frame is received from a second computer of the plurality of computers, other than the first computer, and includes a second virtual LUN, which does not relate to any LU that is accessible by the second computer, the storage system is adapted to send the second frame including second Inquiry Data, the second Inquiry Data indicating that the second LU, related to the second virtual LUN, is not installed in the storage system, wherein, if the first frame is received from a third computer, other than the first and second computers, and includes a third virtual LUN, which corresponds to a third LUN, different from the first LUN, identifying a third LU which is accessible by the third computer, the storage system is adapted to send the second frame including third Inquiry Data, wherein the third virtual LUN is 0, and the third Inquiry Data indicates that the third LU, related to the third virtual LUN, is installed in the storage system.