Multipath-based migration of data across storage controllers

1. A method for migrating existing data from a source storage controller to a target storage controller, each associated with a first host device, using a processor device in communication with a memory device, comprising:

configuring the target storage controller with at least one target volume comprising pass-through support to a source volume of the source storage controller;

configuring a first portion of a first input/output (I/O) path from the existing data in the source storage controller to the at least one target volume;

configuring a second portion of the first I/O path from the first host device to the existing data in the source storage controller;

temporarily adding, via an operating system (OS) operational on the first host device, a second I/O path connecting the first host device and the source storage controller, wherein temporarily adding includes setting at least one multipath weight to give preference to the first I/O path, and utilizing a load balancing algorithm to determine whether the first I/O path exhibits a better performance than the second I/O path for implementing a greater or smaller amount of data transfer along the first I/O path or the second I/O path;

migrating data from the source volume to the at least one target volume; and

upon completion of migrating the data, removing the second I/O path, wherein:

the OS is adapted for I/O multipath support,

the target storage controller provides a second host device to the source storage controller, and

the target storage controller and the source storage controller are each clustered storage controllers.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein temporarily adding the second I/O path includes configuring the second I/O path to submit an unavailable status to a requesting entity.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including determining whether the target storage controller has the at least one target volume having pass-through support to the source volume of the source storage controller.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the second portion of the first I/O path to the existing data is performed at least partially through a network connecting the source storage controller and the target storage controller.

5. A system for migrating existing data from a source storage controller to a target storage controller, each associated with a data processing storage subsystem, comprising:

a first host module; and

at least one storage module in communication with the first host module, wherein:

the at least one storage module is adapted for configuring at least one target volume comprising pass-through support to a source volume of the source storage controller, and

the host module is adapted for configuring a first portion of a first input/output (I/O) path from the existing data in the source storage controller to the at least one target volume, configuring a second portion of the first I/O path from the first host module to the existing data in the source storage controller, temporarily adding, via an operating system (OS) operational on the first host module, a second I/O path connecting the first host module and the source storage controller, setting at least one multipath weight to give preference to the first I/O path, utilizing a load balancing algorithm to determine whether the first I/O path exhibits a better performance than the second I/O path for implementing a greater or smaller amount of data transfer along the first I/O path or the second I/O path, migrating data from the source volume to the at least one target volume, and removing the second I/O path upon completion of migrating the data, wherein the OS is adapted for I/O multipath support, the target storage controller provides a second host module to the source storage controller, and the target storage controller and the source storage controller are each clustered storage controllers.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first host module is further adapted for, pursuant to temporarily adding the second I/O path, configuring the second I/O path to submit an unavailable status to a requesting entity.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first host module is further adapted for determining whether the target storage controller has the at least one target volume having pass-through support to the source volume of the source storage controller.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first host module is further adapted for configuring the second I/O path to the existing data at least partially through a network connecting the source storage controller and the target storage controller.

9. A computer program product for migrating existing data from a source storage controller to a target storage controller, each associated with a first host device, using a processor device in communication with a memory device, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for configuring the target storage controller with at least one target volume comprising pass-through support to a source volume of the source storage controller;

a second executable portion for configuring a first portion of a first input/output (I/O) path from the existing data in the source storage controller to the at least one target volume;

a third executable portion for configuring a second portion of the first I/O path from the first host device to the existing data in the source storage controller;

a fourth executable portion for temporarily adding, via an operating system (OS) operational on the first host device, a second I/O path connecting the first host device and the source storage controller, for setting at least one multipath weight to give preference to the first I/O path, and for utilizing a load balancing algorithm to determine whether the first I/O path exhibits a better performance than the second I/O path for implementing a greater or smaller amount of data transfer along the first I/O path or the second I/O path;

a fifth executable portion for migrating data from the source volume to the at least one target volume; and

a sixth executable portion for, upon completion of migrating the data, removing the second I/O path, wherein:

the OS is adapted for I/O multipath support,

the target storage controller provides a second host device to the source storage controller, and

the target storage controller and the source storage controller are clustered storage controllers.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , further including a seventh executable portion for, pursuant to temporarily adding the second I/O path, configuring the second I/O path to submit an unavailable status to a requesting entity.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , further including a seventh executable portion for determining whether the target storage controller has the at least one target volume comprising pass-through support to the source volume of the source storage controller.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the third executable portion for configuring the second portion of the first I/O path to the existing data is further adapted for configuring the second portion of the first I/O path least partially through a network connecting the source storage controller and the target storage controller.

13. A method of manufacturing a system for migrating existing data from a source storage controller to a target storage controller, each associated with a data processing storage subsystem, comprising:

providing a first host module; and

providing at least one storage module in communication with the first host module, wherein:

the at least one storage module is adapted for configuring at least one target volume comprising pass-through support to a source volume of the source storage controller, and

the host module is adapted for configuring a first portion of a first input/output (I/O) path from the existing data in the source storage controller to the at least one target volume, configuring a second portion of the first I/O path from the first host module to the existing data in the source storage controller, temporarily adding, via an operating system (OS) operational on the first host module, a second I/O path connecting the first host module and the source storage controller, setting at least one multipath weight to give preference to the first I/O path, utilizing a load balancing algorithm to determine whether the first I/O path exhibits a better performance than the second I/O path for implementing a greater or smaller amount of data transfer along the first I/O path or the second I/O path, migrating data from the source volume to the at least one target volume, and removing the second I/O path upon completion of migrating the data,

wherein:

the OS is adapted for I/O multipath support,

the target storage controller provides a second host module to the source storage controller, and

the target storage controller and the source storage controller are clustered storage controllers.

14. The method of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the first host module is further adapted for, pursuant to temporarily adding the second I/O path, configuring the second I/O path to submit an unavailable status to a requesting entity.

15. The method of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the first host module is further adapted for determining whether the target storage controller has the at least one target volume comprising pass-through support to the source volume of the source storage controller.

16. The method of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the first host module is further adapted for configuring the second portion of the first I/O path to the existing data at least partially through a network connecting the source storage controller and the target storage controller.