Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein configuration information for a first plurality of storage devices is sent to be stored on at least one removable storage media of a removable storage media library. Data corresponding to the first plurality of storage devices is sent to be stored in the removable storage media library. A first plurality of storage devices is replaced by a second plurality of storage devices. The second plurality of storage devices is configured from the configuration information stored in the at least one removable storage media of the removable storage media library, in response to replacing the first plurality of storage devices. The stored data is copied from the removable storage media library to the second plurality of storage devices, in response to configuring the second plurality of storage devices.

Abstract: A mechanism for in-band problem log data collection is provided. Facilities are provided for a host system, host application, or server system to instigate a state save operation in a storage system utilizing direct commands in response to an error or failure. The host system may include an application program interface (API) to force the storage device to collect a set of state save data for debug purposes at a specific time interlocked with a host system log. The API of the illustrative embodiments may be provided in a failover driver and/or host bus adapter (HBA) driver in the prime code path such that first time data capture following an error is maximized. Since the host system is instigating the state save operation with direct commands, a larger amount of transient data may be collected to provide more comprehensive state information for debugging purposes.

Abstract: A common interface and communication methodology are provided for interaction between the components of a storage area network for them to activate “triggers” that cause actions to be taken by the devices to utilize copy service functions to create additional copies of data, and to potentially route load to other resources. The actions can be taken by any of the elements of the storage area network to mitigate the impact of the pending failure. The advantage of this system over current methods is that it can detect both failure and impending failure in any component in the system and use resources in any other component to mitigate the failure. This creates a much more comprehensive recovery strategy and the potential to save more data than in current systems.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein configuration information for a first plurality of storage devices is sent to be stored on at least one removable storage media of a removable storage media library. Data corresponding to the first plurality of storage devices is sent to be stored in the removable storage media library. A first plurality of storage devices is replaced by a second plurality of storage devices. The second plurality of storage devices is configured from the configuration information stored in the at least one removable storage media of the removable storage media library, in response to replacing the first plurality of storage devices. The stored data is copied from the removable storage media library to the second plurality of storage devices, in response to configuring the second plurality of storage devices.

Abstract: A system and method for in-band problem log data collection are provided. Facilities are provided for a host system, host application, or server system to instigate a state save operation in a storage system utilizing direct commands in response to an error or failure. The host system may include an application program interface (API) to force the storage device to collect a set of state save data for debug purposes at a specific time interlocked with a host system log. The API of the illustrative embodiments may be provided in a failover driver and/or host bus adapter (HBA) driver in the prime code path such that first time data capture following an error is maximized. Since the host system is instigating the state save operation with direct commands, a larger amount of transient data may be collected to provide more comprehensive state information for debugging purposes.

Abstract: A common interface and communication methodology are provided for interaction between the components of a storage area network for them to activate “triggers” that cause actions to be taken by the devices to utilize copy service functions to create additional copies of data, and to potentially route load to other resources. The actions can be taken by any of the elements of the storage area network to mitigate the impact of the pending failure. The advantage of this system over current methods is that it can detect both failure and impending failure in any component in the system and use resources in any other component to mitigate the failure. This creates a much more comprehensive recovery strategy and the potential to save more data than in current systems.