A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing storage system resources in a storage area network (SAN). A target data storage server registers itself within a storage area network (SAN) fabric to receive a Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) should a SCSI initiator become inactive. A SCSI initiator then requests reservation of a target LUN. In response, the target data server reserves the LUN for use by the SCSI initiator. If a RSCN is received by the target data storage server, then a GID_PN server request, which comprises the unique identifier of SCSI initiator, is generated after a predetermined time interval and a SAN fabric name server. If the name server's response to the GID_PN server request is positive, then the SCSI initiator was detected as being active and the target data storage server keeps the reservation for the LUN active for the SCSI initiator. Otherwise, the reservation for the LUN is released for use by other SCSI initiators.