A method is provided to improve the efficiency of the transmission of
consistency groups across multiple storage components by ensuring that
volume transactions are evenly allocated among backup components. Each
volume is initially assigned to a specified backup component. Once a
color period begins, volume transactions are transmitted to the assigned
backup component. Each backup component accumulates data transfer
information for its assigned volumes throughout at least a portion of the
color period and calculates a new volume assignment for the next color
period. Before the start of the next color period, a captain storage
controller transmits any new assignments to the backup components. During
a next color period, the process is repeated using the new assignments.