Patent ID: 7107420

Claim:
A method to adjust the data transfer rate for one of (N) primary backup appliances, wherein each of said (N) primary backup appliances is capable of communicating with one or more first data storage and retrieval systems and with one or more secondary backup appliance capable of communicating with one or more second data storage and retrieval systems, comprising the steps of: providing a first one of said (N) primary backup appliances, wherein said first primary backup appliance is capable of communicating with a first one of said one or more secondary backup appliances; forming by said first primary backup appliance at least one consistent transactions set comprising information received from said one or more first data storage and retrieval systems; receiving the (n)th status signal from each of the other (N−1) primary backup appliances; receiving the (n+1)th status signal from each of the other (N−1) primary backup appliances; calculating the (n)th effective bandwidth for each of said (N) primary backup appliances; calculating the (n)th time to complete for each of said (N) primary backup appliances; calculating the (n)th effective aggregate bandwidth for all (N) primary appliances; determining if the (n)th time to complete for said first primary backup appliance is greater than the (n)th time to complete for each of the other (N−1) primary backup appliances; operative if the (n)th time to complete for said first primary backup appliance is greater than the (n)th time to complete for each of the other (N−1) primary backup appliances, providing all or part of at least one consistent transactions set from said first primary backup appliance to said first secondary backup appliance with no delay.