Patent ID: 7529781

Claim:
A method performed by a storage switch which routes data between a plurality of initiators and targets in a storage network for managing a mirrored target comprising a source target and at least one destination target, the method comprising: determining by the switch an availability of said at least one destination target to receive data by providing one of a write command or a verify command to said at least one destination target; providing by the switch a read command to said source target only when said at least one destination target is determined to be available to receive data; receiving by the switch read data from said source target in response to said read command; converting by the switch said read data to write data or verify data without buffering said read data or said write data or verify data; transferring the switch said write data or verify data to said at least one destination target without buffering the write data or verify data; and provisioning by the switch a first internal virtual logical unit corresponding to said at least one destination target and a second internal virtual logical unit corresponding to said source target to pre-establish an internal data flow through the switch to facilitate said transferring of data without buffering from said source target to said at least one destination target.