Patent ID: 7689743

Claim:
A system for copying data, the system comprising: at least one data storage subsystem configured to support fast replication operations; a host system configured to: communicate a first fast replication request for data to the at least one data storage subsystem, the first fast replication request comprising a request for the data to be moved via a fast replication operation; estimate an expected wait time for completion of a pending fast replication operation on the at least one data storage subsystem if the first fast replication request is not granted by the at least one data storage subsystem; move the data requested by the first fast replication request via conventional input/output (I/O) operations if the expected wait time exceeds an expected duration for moving the data via the conventional I/O operations; await the expiration of the expected wait time if the expected wait time does not exceed the expected duration for moving the data via conventional I/O operations; communicate a second fast replication request for the data to the at least one data storage subsystem after expiration of the expected wait time, the second fast replication request comprising a request for the data to be moved via a fast replication operation; and record the data as moved if the second fast replication request is granted.