International Business Machines Corporation
Stale message removal in a multi-path lock facility

Abstract:

A method for removing stale messages from a storage controller is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes querying, by a host system, a storage controller to determine ownership of a lock on the storage controller. The host system receives, in response to the query, information indicating that the lock has been granted to the host system. This allows the host system to treat the lock as being granted even though the host system has not received a "lock granted" message from the storage controller. Before using the lock, the host system sends, to the storage controller, an instruction to clear any stale messages on the storage controller related to the lock. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.