Dynamic path selection in a storage network

An apparatus for dynamic path selection in a storage network, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out:

• receiving, by a host that is coupled to a plurality of storage devices via a storage network, an I/O operation to be serviced by a target storage device;
• determining, for each of a plurality of paths between the host and the target storage device, a data transfer maximum associated with the path, wherein the data transfer maximum specifies a cumulative amount of data that may be associated with I/O operations pending on the path;
• determining, for one or more of the plurality of paths, a number of I/O operations pending on the path;
• and
• selecting a target path for transmitting the I/O operation to the target storage device in dependence upon the number of I/O operations pending on the path and the data transfer maximum associated with the path.

A computer program product for dynamic path selection in a storage network, the computer program product disposed upon a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to carry out:

• receiving, by a host that is coupled to a plurality of storage devices via a storage network, an I/O operation to be serviced by a target storage device;
• determining, for each of a plurality of paths between the host and the target storage device, a data transfer maximum associated with the path, wherein the data transfer maximum specifies a cumulative amount of data that may be associated with I/O operations pending on the path;
• determining, for one or more of the plurality of paths, a number of I/O operations pending on the path;
• and
• selecting a target path for transmitting the I/O operation to the target storage device in dependence upon the number of I/O operations pending on the path and the data transfer maximum associated with the path.