Method and apparatus for managing computer storage devices for improved operational availability

A method and apparatus for managing computer storage devices and updating code in a computing system. An example of the method begins by mirroring at least one logical volume in an original volume group across a first storage device and a second storage device, and then ceasing mirroring the at least one logical volume on the second storage device. The first storage device is kept on-line with the computing system, and information is copied from the first storage device to the second storage device to clone the information from the first storage device. Code is then updated in an alternate volume group on the second storage device, while the computing system is operated with the original volume group on the first storage device. The computing system is then booted from the alternate volume group on the second storage device.