A method is disclosed for retrieving the reservation status information of a storage area network (SAN) device, a host transmits a persistent reservation in command with service action setting of ‘read reservation’ to a first LUN, wherein the host is connected to a port of the data storage server to which the LUN belongs. The host receives a message from the LUN. The host determines that the message is a success. The host sends to the LUN a persistent reservation in command with service action setting of ‘read keys’, responsive to a success message. The host determines that the LUN responds with a zero data length. The host determines the LUN is reserved with type 2 reservation, responsive to a determination that the LUN responds with a non-zero data length.