METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM FOR A SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE FOR AN ARBITRARY NUMBER OF BACKUP COMPONENTS

Disclosed is a technique for transferring data using multiple backup components. Responsibility for a portion of data is assigned to a first backup component. When a data update for the portion of data is received at the first backup component from a primary source, the data update is mirrored to a second backup component that is not assigned responsibility for the portion of data.Also disclosed is a technique for processing data updates with a group of backup components. It is determined that a new backup component is active. Near an end of a consistent transactions set formation period, responsibility for one or more portions of data are assigned to each backup component in the group and to the new backup component. During a next consistent transactions set formation period, data updates are processed with each backup component in the group and the new backup component.Moreover, disclosed is a technique for processing data updates with a group of backup components. It is determined that a first backup component in the group is no longer available. Portions of data for which the first backup component had been assigned responsibility are reassigned to each of the other backup components in the group.