Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing distributed (SCSI) devices using enhanced adapter reservations. A plurality of adapters is provided. Each adapter implements a plurality of logical devices with each logical device respectively coupled to a port of the distributed SCSI devices. The adapters manage reservations for the plurality of logical devices selectively using a no reservation state, an implicit reservation state, and an explicit reservation state. The adapters arbitrarily assign one adapter for managing each of the plurality of logical devices.

Abstract: A method for accurately determining a device location in an arbitrated loop having a number of devices and at least one initiator, where each of the devices has a port bypass circuit associated with it. The method includes enabling the port bypass circuits and initializing the arbitrated loop to determine the initiator's enhanced logical address. Next, a port bypass circuit associated with a selected device is disabled and a unique identifier that, in an advantageous embodiment, is a world wide unique address (WWID) of the device and a physical slot location of the selected device is determined. The unique identifier and the physical slot location of the selected device is saved, preferably in a first Table and the port bypass circuit associated with the selected device is enabled. A unique identifier and physical slot location is determined in the above described manner for each of the devices located on the arbitrated loop.