Arbitration suspension in a sas domain

A method operable in a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface domain comprising at least first and second expanders, the method comprising:

• detecting a failure of an initiator via the first expander;
• indicating a change in the domain from the first expander to the second expander;
• detecting, via the second expander, an increase in arbitration wait time for a connection between the initiator and the target device;
• determining a race condition exists in the expander;
• denying, via the second expander, the connection between the initiator and the target device based on the increased arbitration wait time;
• directing, via the second expander, the target device to wait for another connection to the initiator;
• performing, via the second expander, a discovery of the domain based on the change to the domain;
• and
• preventing, via the second expander, a subsequent connection by the target device to the failed initiator after discovery completes.

One or more non-transitory computer readable mediums comprising instructions that, when executed by at least first and second expanders in a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface domain, direct the expanders to:

• detect a failure of an initiator via the first expander;
• indicate a change in the domain from the first expander to the second expander;
• detect, via the second expander, an increase in arbitration wait time for a connection between the initiator and the target device;
• determine a race condition exists in the expander;
• deny, via the second expander, the connection between the initiator and the target device based on the increased arbitration wait time;
• direct, via the second expander, the target device to wait for another connection to the initiator;
• perform, via the second expander, a discovery of the domain based on the change to the domain;
• and
• prevent, via the second expander, a subsequent connection by the target device to the failed initiator after discovery completes.