Persistent reservation IO barriers

1. A method for sharing a storage device among a plurality of storage network controllers while providing data integrity in the storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

registering a first one of the plurality of storage network controllers with the storage device by storing in the storage device a first identifier of the first storage network controller and an indicator of a type of access which the first storage network controller is permitted to make to the storage device;

detecting a failure of the registered storage network controller; and

in response to detection of the failure, performing steps of:

de-registering the registered storage network controller with the storage device; and

re-registering the registered storage network controller with the storage device by storing in the storage device a second identifier of the first network storage controller, the second identifier differing from the first identifier.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the registered storage network controller is a currently registered storage network controller.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the registered storage network controller is a previously registered storage network controller.

4. An apparatus for sharing a storage device among a plurality of storage network controllers while providing data integrity in the storage device, the apparatus comprising:

a register routine which:

registers a storage network controller with the storage device by storing in the storage device a first identifier of the storage network controller and an indicator of a type of access which the storage network controller is permitted to make to the storage device;

upon detection of a failure of the registered storage network controller:

de-registers the registered storage network controller with the storage device; and

re-registers the registered storage network controller with the storage device by storing in the storage device a second identifier of the storage network controller that differs from the first identifier.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the registered storage network controller is a currently registered storage network controller.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the registered storage network controller is a previously registered storage network controller.

7. An apparatus for sharing a storage device among a plurality of storage network controllers while providing data integrity in the storage device, the apparatus comprising:

means for registering a first one of the plurality of storage network controller with a shared storage device by storing in the storage device a first identifier of the first storage network controller and an indicator of a type of access which the first storage network controller is permitted to make to the storage device;

means for detecting a failure of the registered storage network controller;

means, responsive to the means for detecting the failure, comprising:

means for de-registering the registered storage network controller with the storage device; and

means for re-registering the registered storage network controller with the storage device by storing in the storage device a second identifier of the storage network controller that differs from the first identifier.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the registered storage network controller is a currently registered storage network controller.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the registered storage network controller is a previously registered storage network controller.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the identifier for each of the plurality of storage network controllers is unique.

11. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit connected to a memory bus by a system bus;

an I/O system, connected to the system bus by a bus interface, the I/O system including a storage network controller; and

a routine for providing data integrity in a storage device shared by the computer system with another computer system, the routine:

registering the storage network controller with the storage device by storing in the storage device a first identifier of the storage network controller and an indicator of a type of access which the first storage network controller is permitted to make to the storage device;

detecting a failure of the registered computer system; and

in response to detection of the failure:

de-registering the storage network controller with the storage device; and

re-registering the storage network controller with the storage device by storing in the storage device a second identifier of the storage network controller that differs from the first identifier.

12. A computer program product for providing data integrity in a storage device shared by a plurality of computers including a plurality of storage network controllers, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including program code which:

registers a first one of the plurality of storage network controllers with the shared storage device by storing in the storage device a first identifier of the first storage network controller and an indicator of a type of access which the first storage network controller is permitted to make to the storage device; and

upon detection of a failure of the registered computer:

de-registers the registered storage network controller with the storage device; and

re-registers the registered storage network controller with the storage device by storing in the storage device a second identifier of the first storage network controller that differs from the first identifier.