Path selection methods for storage based remote copy

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• storing data in a primary storage volume;
• specifying a first network to be used for transferring remote mirror copy data from the primary storage volume to a secondary storage volume remote from the primary storage volume, the first network having a first status indication of a plurality of status indications associated therewith;
• specifying a first network port associated with said first network;
• specifying a user-provided policy comprising a first-network-based constraint for said first network;
• specifying a second network to be used for transferring the remote mirror copy data from the primary storage volume to the secondary storage volume, the second network having a second status indication of the plurality of status indications associated therewith;
• specifying a second network port associated with said second network;
• making said first network a higher priority network than said second network;
• detecting at least one condition within the first network and the second network;
• setting at least one of the plurality of the status indications;
• and
• transferring said remote mirror copy data using said first network port associated with said first network when condition in said first network are in accordance with said user-provided policy, otherwise transferring said remote mirror copy data using said second network port associated with said second network, wherein a connection between said primary storage and said secondary storage may be routed through either the first network port or alternatively through the second network port and wherein the aforesaid selection of the first network or the second network for transfer of the remote mirror copy is performed based on at least one of the plurality of the status indications.

A computer-implemented method for selecting a network, said method comprising:

• providing primary storage for storing data;
• providing secondary storage remote from the primary storage for storing a copy of the data, the secondary storage being coupled to the primary storage via a plurality of networks, the plurality of networks including a first network and a second network, the first network having a higher priority than said second network, the plurality of networks each having at least one of a plurality of status indications associated therewith;
• detecting at least one condition in the plurality of networks;
• setting at least one status indication of the plurality of status indications;
• comparing said at least one condition against at least one user provided policy;
• and
• using said user provided policy to select at least one of a plurality of alternative ports connected to said plurality of networks in accordance with said comparison, wherein a connection between said primary storage and said secondary storage may be routed through at least two alternative ports of the plurality of alternative ports wherein the aforesaid selection of at least one of a plurality of alternative ports is performed based on at least one of the plurality of the status indications.