Patent ID: 8626967

Claim:
A method for processing requests comprising: receiving a request at a data storage system, wherein the request is a command to perform first processing and the request is sent from a client over a virtualized path, the virtualized path including a virtual target port of the data storage system, the virtual target port being a first physical target port that provides a virtualized counterpart port for a second physical target port whereby requests directed to the second physical target port are routed to the first physical target port rather than the second physical target port, wherein the first physical target port receives requests from the client directed to the first physical target port while also receiving requests directed to the second physical target port as a result of the first physical target port virtualizing the second physical target port; performing said first processing and generating a response to the request, wherein the response includes first information consistent with sending the request over a non-virtualized path to the second physical target port; and sending the response to the client.