Storage server configuration despite an out-of-service storage adapter

In one version of the present invention, a system to configure a storage server despite an out-of-service storage adapter includes a storage array and a pair of storage servers connected to the storage array via a corresponding pair of storage adapters. The storage servers may be configured to retrieve configuration metadata from the storage array during a system initialization sequence and communicate the configuration metadata to the other storage server in case one of the storage servers is blocked from accessing the storage array due to an out-of-service storage adapter. The storage servers may also be configured to share a processing load despite the out-of-service storage adapter. The configuration metadata may include a variety of definitions and control parameters such as rank definitions, volume definitions, logical subsystem definitions, mirroring parameters, remote archiving parameters, a rank segment table, and page pointer data.