Abstract: Methods operable on a storage controller and related structure are provided for responding to inquiry commands from a host for a storage device. A command requesting information about a storage device is received from a host. In response to the command, the storage controller determines that the storage device is not initialized, and begins an initialization process for the storage device. Information received from the storage device during the initialization process is stored for completing a response to the inquiry. A response to the inquiry is transmitted to the host based on the stored information to complete the inquiry without waiting for the storage device to complete the initialization.

Abstract: Methods operable on a storage controller and related structure are provided for responding to inquiry commands from a host for a storage device. A command requesting information about a storage device is received from a host. In response to the command, the storage controller determines that the storage device is not initialized, and begins an initialization process for the storage device. Information received from the storage device during the initialization process is stored for completing a response to the inquiry. A response to the inquiry is transmitted to the host based on the stored information to complete the inquiry without waiting for the storage device to complete the initialization.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamic provisioning of reliable connections in the presence of multiple failures in optical networks are described. One embodiment is a method for allocation of protection paths after a failure in an optical network. The method comprises, responsive to a failure in an active lightpath, switching traffic on the active lightpath to a protection path; subsequent to the switching, identifying all active lightpaths in the network that no longer have an available protection path; and attempting to allocate a protection path to each of the identified active lightpaths.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamic provisioning of reliable connections in the presence of multiple failures in optical networks are described. One embodiment is a method for allocation of protection paths after a failure in an optical network. The method comprises, responsive to a failure in an active lightpath, switching traffic on the active lightpath to a protection path; subsequent to the switching, identifying all active lightpaths in the network that no longer have an available protection path; and attempting to allocate a protection path to each of the identified active lightpaths.