APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STORAGE CLUSTER CONTROL

Input/output (I/O) I/O target selection is achieved within a data storage system having clustered nodes of initiators, I/O targets, and grouped storage logical units. A state definition component defines access states for each combination of one or more combinations of a node, an I/O target, and a storage logical unit. A profiler component produces an access state profile for each I/O target. A rank criteria compiler compiles rank criteria as a basis for best-fit identification of I/O targets for a logical unit (LU) group. A best-fit identifier is responsive to the profile component and the rank criteria compiler and identifies a ranked best-fit order of I/O targets for an LU group. A target selector selects an I/O target for an LU group from the ranked best-fit order.