Patent ID: 7403481

Claim:
In a switched arbitrated loop system with multiple trunks including strings, configured for communication using the Fibre Channel protocol, a method to address lockup conditions, comprising: a) with respect to a particular switch in the system, detecting a particular combination of a plurality of pending open conditions on the multiple trunks indicating a lockup condition, wherein step a) further comprises: a1) detecting that, with respect to the particular switch, there is a pending open at a first port on at least one particular one of the strings and a connection on one of a first and second port for at least another of the strings; and a2) detecting at least one port not detected in a1) having a destination that is a connection on at least one string detected in a1) wherein the pending open on the port detected in a2) has a close counter at maximum value; and b) based on the detection, closing at least one of the plurality of pending open conditions, thereby alleviating the lockup condition.