1. A method for connection state recovery of a connection after fault in a node or link of a networked channel-to-channel computer system, comprising: identifying essential data in response to detecting a state change in a channel of the networked computer system, the essential data including connection state information used in performing a recovery operation; 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, performing: retrieving the augmented essential data and validating contents of persistent data fields containing the essential data; and 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.