Patent ID: 7539745

Claim:
A method, operable on a computer system, for managing network resources for copying data stored on a first data storage system to a second data storage system in a data replication process, wherein each data storage system includes an array of data storage devices on which data involved in the copying is stored, the method comprising the computer-executed steps of: requesting from a server for services on a network, an allocation of bandwidth for data copying from the first data storage system to the second data storage system over the network, said bandwidth allocation based on an estimate of the data to be copied, a number of invalid tracks between said first and second data storage systems, and a known time period in which to copy said data; copying data in response to the bandwidth allocation from the server based on the request; monitoring network traffic performance characteristics during the data copying; and responsive to the monitored network traffic characteristics, selectively requesting an effect on the bandwidth allocation.