Patent ID: 8799596

Claim:
A system for switching visibility between virtual data storage entities in a data storage environment between a first storage system and a second storage system, comprising: at least one processor device operable in the data storage environment, wherein the at least one processor device is adapted for: selecting a range of a plurality of available entities for switching visibility, the plurality of available entities including a data storage entity, queueing a switching visibility request for the range of the plurality of available entities including the data storage entity on the first storage system so as not to be visible to the first storage system, replicating data from the data storage entity from the first storage system to the second storage system using a common serial number, while the switching visibility request is queueing, hiding the data storage entity from the first storage system by concealing the common serial number, ejecting the data storage entity from the first storage system, after completion of the replicating, setting visibility of the replicated data storage entity to the second storage system to visible, introducing the replicated data storage entity to the second storage system, and upon the switching visibility request reaching a head of the queue, executing the queue and performing a synchronization operation for the data storage entity to determine one of executing a replication request and executing the switching visibility request, executing the replicating of the data for the data storage entity until completion, the synchronization operation for the data storage entity performing one of returning an authorization for the switching visibility request if the replication request is completed and pausing the switching visibility request during the execution of the replication request, maintaining the queue until the authorization is received, and setting the switching visibility to an active status for the replicated data storage entity.