Coordinating a data transfer between a sending computer and a receiving computer that are both members of a message group of a sysplex includes transmitting, by the sending computer using a first communications channel, a scheduling message directly to the receiving computer, wherein the scheduling message comprises meta-data about a desired data transfer; receiving, by the sending computer, a reply message from the receiving computer agreeing to participate in the desired data transfer; wherein the reply message is received via the first communications channel; and transmitting, by the sending computer using a second communications channel, data related to the desired data transfer, wherein the first and second communications channels are different from one another.