Patent ID: 7401254

Claim:
A network storage appliance, comprising: a chassis; a first server, enclosed in said chassis, comprising a first I/O port having a first unique ID for communicating on a network; a second server, enclosed in said chassis, comprising a second I/O port having a second unique ID for communicating on said network; at least one storage controller, enclosed in said chassis, coupled to said first and second servers, for transferring data between storage devices and said first and second servers; a control path, enclosed in said chassis, between said first and second servers, for said second server to deterministically inactivate said first I/O port from communicating on said network, wherein said second server is configured to assume said first unique ID for communicating on said network after said second server inactivates said first I/O port; and a shield circuit, coupled to said control path, for selectively preventing said second server from inactivating said first I/O port, wherein said first server selectively enables said shield circuit to prevent said second server from inactivating said first I/O port.