Patent ID: 8301853

Claim:
A multicast data mirroring method comprising: defining a multicast group within a local area network, wherein: the multicast group includes a first synchronous storage target and one or more asynchronous storage targets, and the synchronous storage target is a member of a synchronously-mirrored storage group including at least a second synchronous storage target and a storage initiator device, wherein the first synchronous storage target and the second synchronous storage target emit a periodic heartbeat signal; and in response to determining that the first synchronous storage target or the at least a second synchronous storage target is unavailable based upon, at least in part, the heartbeat signal, synchronizing the available synchronous storage target with a selected asynchronous storage target chosen from the one or more asynchronous storage targets; wherein the selected asynchronous storage target includes a most up to date data segment relative to the available synchronous storage target.