Abstract: A method for collecting diagnostic information associated with an I/O error is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting an error associated with an input/output (I/O) operation. The method determines whether the error can be re-driven and, if so, enables various diagnostic functions to improve collection of diagnostic information. The method then immediately re-drives the I/O operation associated with the error in order to recreate the error. Using the diagnostic functions that have been enabled, the method captures diagnostic information associated with the recreated error. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods that can parallel search a partitioned data set extended (PSDE) indexes are provided. One method includes managing a set of quick indexes in a memory device in which the set of quick indexes include references to storage locations for a subset of members of a PDSE stored in a set of long-term storage devices. The method further includes receiving a request to determine a storage location of a member of the PDSE and, in response to the request, searching the set of quick indexes to determine the storage location. Systems and computer program products for performing the above method are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, and program product are disclosed for customizing input device operation. In one example, an apparatus includes an interface module that receives an input click pattern from an input device. The apparatus also includes a comparison module that compares the input click pattern to a user defined click pattern. The apparatus includes an execution module that performs a user defined action corresponding to the user defined click pattern in response to the input click pattern matching the user defined click pattern.

Abstract: A method for releasing storage space in a space-efficient secondary volume includes placing a first lock on a free-space data structure stored on the space-efficient secondary volume. The method reads a copy of the free-space data structure into memory while the first lock is in place, and releases the first lock. The method then analyzes the copy to determine which storage elements in the space-efficient secondary volume are not being used. The method then places a second lock on the free-space data structure and, while the second lock is in place, analyzes the free-space data structure to determine which storage elements had their usage status change during analysis of the copy. The method then releases storage elements in the space-efficient secondary volume that are not being used and releases the second lock. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for recovering a volume table and data sets from a volume. Content from a backup volume table comprising a valid backup of a volume table from backup of the volume is processed to generate a recovery volume table for a recovery volume. The data sets in the volume are processed to determine whether they are valid. The valid data sets are moved to the recovery volume. A data recovery operation is initiated for the data sets determined not to be valid.

Abstract: A method for collecting diagnostic information associated with an error is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting an error at one of a storage system and a host system coupled to the storage system. In response, the host system gathers software-related diagnostic information related to the error and sends the software-related diagnostic information to the storage system. Meanwhile, the storage system gathers hardware-related diagnostic information related to the error. Once the storage system obtains both software-related diagnostic information and hardware-related diagnostic information, the storage system bundles the information together and sends it to a service provider using a “call home” function. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for allocating a resource to multiple requesters is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, for a resource, a regular queue and an express queue. The method receives requests to control the resource and determines, for each request, an anticipated amount of time that the request needs to control the resource. In the event the anticipated amount of time for a request is greater than a selected threshold, the method allocates the request to the regular queue. In the event the anticipated amount of time for a request is less than the selected threshold, the method allocates the request to the express queue. The method provides priority to requests allocated to the express queue over requests allocated to the regular queue. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for collecting diagnostic information associated with an error is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting an error condition associated with mirroring data from a primary volume to a secondary volume. In response to detecting the error condition, the method modifies various diagnostic parameters to improve collection of diagnostic information. The method then immediately re-drives the data from the primary volume to the secondary volume. This will ideally recreate the error. Upon recreating the error, the method captures diagnostic information associated with the error in accordance with the modified diagnostic parameters. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments for retaining diagnostic information for data in a computing storage environment. In one such embodiment, a diagnostic component, apart from a volume table of contents (VTOC), associated with an integrated catalog facility (ICF) catalog and with a base data set from data sets via a catalog association record, is initialized. The diagnostic component is configured to retain base data set-specific diagnostic information retrievable by the computing storage environment to assist in error diagnosis. The base data set-specific diagnostic information is stored pursuant to at least one detected event associated with the base data set.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for a data set connection manager having a plurality of data sets to represent one data set. A request is processed to open a connection to a data set having members, wherein the connection is used to perform read and write requests to the members in the data set. In response to establishing the connection, establishing for the connection a primary data set having all the members; a secondary data set to which updated members in the primary data set are written; and a pending delete data set to pending delete members comprising members that are updated.

Abstract: A method for volume defragmentation utilizing a temporary spill area is disclosed. The method includes analyzing a volume, and, based on the analysis, determining to temporarily extend the volume. The method further includes identifying at least one area on another volume to use for temporarily extending the volume, and allocating the at least one area on the other volume as a temporary extension of the volume.

Abstract: A method for releasing storage space in asynchronously mirrored space-efficient secondary volumes is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes reading a first copy of a free-space data structure stored on a space-efficient secondary volume. The free-space data structure tracks the usage status of storage elements in the space-efficient secondary volume. The method analyzes the first copy to determine which storage elements in the space-efficient secondary volume are not being used. Upon completion of a consistency group on the space-efficient secondary volume, the method reads a second copy of the free-space data structure and compares the first copy to the second copy to determine which storage elements had their usage status change during analysis of the first copy. The method releases storage elements in the space-efficient secondary volume that are not being used. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for generating node access information for a transaction accessing nodes of a data set index. Pages in the memory are allocated to internal nodes and leaf nodes of a tree data structure representing all or a portion of a data set index for the data set. A transaction is processed with respect to the data set that involves accessing the internal and leaf nodes in the tree data structure, wherein the transaction comprises a read or write operation. Node access information is generated in transaction information, for accessed nodes comprising nodes in the tree data structure accessed as part of processing the transaction. The node access information includes a pointer to the page allocated to the accessed node prior to the transaction in response to the node being modified during the transaction.

Abstract: For performing incremental replication of a data set, a source data module identifies a source data set, the source data set including a set of storage locations on a source volume, a target data module that defines the target data set in response to the source data module identifying the source data set, a mapping module that stores a replication relationship table, the replication relationship table mapping the defined data set to a target data set, the target data set including a set of storage locations on a target volume, and a replication module that performs an incremental copy of data stored at the source data set based on the replication relationship.

Abstract: For handling data mirror invalid timestamped write activities, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a data mirror that mirrors write activities from a first storage device at a first site to a second storage device at a second site. The apparatus includes a time monitor that retrieves a timestamp for each of the mirrored write activities and monitors a reference clock in a storage control session as a comparison to validate the timestamp for each of the mirrored write activities. If the timestamp of a mirrored write activity is outside of a pre-determined parameter range, then the time monitor identifies the mirrored write activity as having a missing timestamp, assigns a next logical timestamp to the mirrored write activity, and prepares the mirrored write activity for inclusion in a consistency group associated with the next logical timestamp.

Abstract: A computer program product, system, and method for switching over from using a first primary storage to using a second primary storage when the first primary storage is in a mirror relationship. Migration operations are initiated to migrate data in the first primary storage to a second primary storage while the data in the first primary storage indicated in first change recording information is mirrored to a secondary storage and switch from using the first primary storage to the second primary storage. Resynchronization operations are initiated to indicate changes to data in the second primary storage in a second change recording information, copy writes from the second primary storage indicated in the first and the second change recording information to the secondary storage, and mirror writes to the second primary storage to the secondary storage in response to the copying the writes.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a recall request for data migrated from a primary storage system having data mirrored to a secondary storage system mirroring data from the primary storage system to the at least one secondary storage system. The primary storage system receives a recall request to recall a data object that was migrated from the primary storage system to a remote storage location. The recall request is transmitted to each of the at least one secondary storage system to cause each of the at least one secondary storage system receiving the recall request to directly retrieve the data object from the remote storage location. The primary storage system retrieves the data object from the remote storage location in response to the recall request. The primary storage system returns complete to the recall request in response to the data object being confirmed as restored to the primary storage system and the at least one secondary storage system.

Abstract: For replicating a source storage system, a scan module generates a source storage server description for each source storage server of the source storage system from a scan of the source storage system. The source storage server description includes a replication type and a source volume record for each source logical volume of the source storage server. A provision module determines a number of replicated instances of each source logical volume for a target storage system from the replication type. In addition the provision module generates a target storage server description for each target storage server of the target storage system from each source storage server description in response to the target storage system satisfying a target storage requirement.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: determining, using a processor, whether a virtual machine is authorized to run using a data structure having metadata about properties of the virtual machine; determining, using the processor, whether a hypervisor is authorized to run the virtual machine using a digital signature of the data structure; and running the virtual machine on a computer system using the hypervisor in response to determining that the virtual machine is authorized to be run and that the hypervisor is authorized to run the virtual machine. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: Disclosed aspects include management of a set of blocks in a storage system. A set of write requests is initiated to the set of blocks. In response to the set of write requests, a set of expiration metadata for the set of blocks is established. Based on the set of expiration metadata, an expiration event is detected. In response to detecting the expiration event, an expiration operation on the set of blocks is processed.