Abstract: Receipt of an Xcopy command to copy data between storage objects that are both mirrored by a remote storage system prompts a local storage system to generate a remote Xcopy to prompt the remote storage system to copy the data between the remote mirrors of the storage objects, thereby avoiding transmission of the data from the local storage system to the remote storage system. If there are write-pendings or invalids on the tracks designated by the local Xcopy, then the associated data is sent to the remote storage system. Similarly, the associated data is sent if the code levels of the local and remote storage systems are incompatible.

Abstract: In an example system comprising a location engine and a protocol engine, the location engine determines a direction of movement between a first device and a second device and the protocol engine establishes a communication connection when a distance between the first device and the second deice is less than a distance designated for automatic connection.