A method, system, and computer program product for connection state recovery of a connection after fault in a networked channel-to-channel computer system are provided. The method includes identifying essential data in response to detecting a state change in a channel of the computer system, the essential data including connection state information used in performing a recovery operation. The method also includes separating the essential data from transient or incidental data, augmenting the essential data with validation data, and storing the augmented essential data in a memory location of a control unit in communication with the channel. In response to initiation of a recovery operation, the method includes retrieving the augmented essential data and validating contents of persistent data fields containing the essential data. The method further includes using the contents to restore the connection to an operational state when it is determined that the contents of the persistent data fields are valid.