Method of routing I/O adapter error messages in a multi-host environment

In a distributed computer system comprising multiple root nodes, and further comprising one or more PCI switches and one or more I/O adapters, wherein each root node includes one or more system images, a computer program product in a non-transitory computer readable medium for routing I/O adapter error messages to respective system images, said computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for detecting the occurrence of an error at a specified one of said adapters, wherein said error affects one of said system images;
• second instructions for generating an error message at said specified adapter that provides notice of said error;
• third instructions for routing said error message from said specified adapter to the particular root node that includes said affected system image;
• and
• fourth instructions for selectively processing said error message at said particular root node in order to identify said affected system image.

Apparatus for a distributed computing system comprising:

• a plurality of root nodes, each root node including one or more system images;
• one or more PCI adapters;
• one or more PCI switches operable to connect different root nodes to share the same adapter;
• means associated with a specified adapter for detecting the occurrence of an error at said specified adapter, wherein said error affects one of said system images, and for generating an error message that provides notice of said error;
• a mechanism in one of said switches for receiving said error message from said specified adapter, and for routing said error message to the particular root node that includes said affected system image;
• and
• a component provided with a look-up table for selectively processing said error message at said particular root node, in order to identify said affected system image.