The DMP feature of VxVM enhances system reliability when used with multiported disk arrays. In the event of the loss of a path to a disk array, DMP automatically selects the next available path for I/O requests without intervention from the administrator.

DMP is also informed when a connection is repaired or restored, and when you add or remove devices after the system has been fully booted (provided that the operating system recognizes the devices correctly).

If required, the response of DMP to I/O failure on a path can be tuned for the paths to individual arrays. DMP can be configured to time out an I/O request either after a given period of time has elapsed without the request succeeding, or after a given number of retries on a path have failed.