Abstract: A method to control access to logical volumes disposed in one or more information storage and retrieval systems when using copy service relationships. The method provides a first information storage and retrieval system, a second information storage and retrieval system, and a plurality of host computers capable of communicating with the first information storage and retrieval system. The method forms (N) host computer group, and assigns each of the plurality of host computers to the a host computer group. The method forms (N) logical volume groups, and assigns one or more of the plurality of first logical volumes to a logical volume group. The method receives a request from a host computer assigned to the (i)th host computer group to establish a copy service relationship between a source logical volume and a target logical volume. The method determines if both the source and target logical volumes are assigned to the (i)th logical volume group.