Patent ID: 7181607

Claim:
A storage system comprising: a plurality of ports for receiving data from a plurality of host computers wherein each host computer is identified by a World Wide Name (WWN) and wherein the WWNs of the host computers include at least one priority WWN and at least one non-priority WWN; a plurality of storage regions including a plurality of storage devices wherein at least one storage device is a priority storage device and at least one storage device is a non-priority storage device; and a processor operative to selectively process an I/O request that specifies a storage device for storing or retrieving data, the I/O request further specifying a WWN associated with a host computer, wherein said processor delays processing the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority WWN and if there is a priority WWN whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level, and wherein said processor delays processing the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority storage device and if there is a priority storage device whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level.