Importance

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Abstract

A system for balancing the loads on channel paths in a digital computer during long running applications is disclosed. Only the load associated with relatively long running applications is monitored. For each volume of data eligible for processing, the selection of volumes is first made from those having affinity to the calling host. The load across the respective connected channel paths is calculated. The calculation is weighted to account for the different magnitudes of load resulting from different applications and to prefer the selection of volumes connected to the fewest unused channel paths such that processing of the selected volume will maintain the maximum number of unused channel paths. The optimal volume is selected as the next volume to be processed. The monitored load on each channel path is then updated to include the load associated with the newly selected volume, assuming that the load associated with processing the volume is distributed evenly across the respective connected channel paths. The selection of the following volume is then based on the updated load information and the method continues cyclically during subsequent selection of the remaining volumes for processing.

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First Claim