A computer server system and a method for operating the system are described. An address and a status of each computer device of a plurality of computer devices accessible to a switch is written into a memory in the switch. The status of a first computer device which is off line is set to indicate that the first computer device is off line. The status information is read from the memory in the switch by a second computer device so that the second computer device knows that the first computer device is off line. Embodiments are described where the status of a data storage device and the status of a server are written to the memory in the switch.