An enhanced
SCSI storage adapter with multiple queues for use by different
server processors or partitions. For a non-partitioned
server, the
operating system (OS) owns the
SCSI storage adapter, controls the adapter queues, both creation of and changes to the queues, and updates the
queue table(s) in the storage adapter with
queue address information, device
list, message signaled interrupt (MSI) information and optional
queue priorities. An OS operator can specify that one or more
SCSI devices can be accessed by a specific processor or group of processors. The processor or group of processors is given an adapter queue to access the SCSI device or devices. For a partitioned
server, one partition, which may be a hosting partition, owns the SCSI storage adapter, controls the adapter queues, both creation of and changes to the queues, and updates the queue table(s) in the storage adapter with queue address information, device
list, message signaled interrupt (MSI) information and optional queue priorities. A
system operator can assign one or more SCSI devices under a storage adapter to a partition. Each partition that has access to a SCSI device(s) under a SCSI adapter is given an adapter queue to access the device(s).