Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to: receive, by the computer, a data set allocation request; determine, by the computer, whether a size of the data set is greater than a threshold; use, by the computer, first key values in a first index to select a volume in response to determining that the size of the data set is greater than the threshold; use, by the computer, second key values in a second index to select a volume in response to determining that the size of the data set is less than the threshold; perform, by the computer, the allocation request in the selected volume; and store, by the computer, control data about the data set in the control data set corresponding to the selected volume.

Abstract: A method for allocating storage space in a volume to a new data set is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, for a volume, a record of available storage elements. The method further receives an allocation request to allocate available storage elements in the volume to accommodate a new data set. The method allocates available storage elements in the volume to the new data set to fulfill the allocation request. In doing so, the method favors storage elements that have been available for a longer amount of time over storage elements that have been available for a shorter amount of time. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preserving and recovering a deleted data set is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes, upon deleting a data set from a volume, gathering metadata associated with the data set. This metadata is saved in a volume table of contents (VTOC) associated with the volume. Upon writing over a storage area occupied by the data set on the volume, the method deletes the metadata from the VTOC. Upon receiving an instruction to restore the data set, the method determines if the metadata is present in the VTOC. If the metadata is present in the VTOC, the method uses the metadata to rebuild control information associated with the data set and thereby restore the data set to the volume. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for allocating storage space in a volume to a new data set is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, for a volume, a record of available storage elements. The method further receives an allocation request to allocate available storage elements in the volume to accommodate a new data set. The method allocates available storage elements in the volume to the new data set to fulfill the allocation request. In doing so, the method favors storage elements that have been available for a longer amount of time over storage elements that have been available for a shorter amount of time. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to: receive, by the computer, a data set allocation request; determine, by the computer, whether a size of the data set is greater than a threshold; use, by the computer, first key values in a first index to select a volume in response to determining that the size of the data set is greater than the threshold; use, by the computer, second key values in a second index to select a volume in response to determining that the size of the data set is less than the threshold; perform, by the computer, the allocation request in the selected volume; and store, by the computer, control data about the data set in the control data set corresponding to the selected volume.

Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to: receive, by the computer, a data set allocation request; determine, by the computer, whether a size of the data set is greater than a threshold; use, by the computer, first key values in a first index to select a volume in response to determining that the size of the data set is greater than the threshold; use, by the computer, second key values in a second index to select a volume in response to determining that the size of the data set is less than the threshold; perform, by the computer, the allocation request in the selected volume; and store, by the computer, control data about the data set in the control data set corresponding to the selected volume.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes initializing a storage volume, receiving a request to secure unallocated data within the storage volume, sending a bit map to a hardware portion of the storage volume, in response to receiving the request, identifying unallocated data within the hardware portion of the storage volume utilizing the bit map, and marking the unallocated data as read inhibited within the hardware portion of the storage volume.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for correcting overlapping data sets in a volume. A determination is made of overlapping data sets in a first volume that are assigned a same data unit. The data sets in the first volume that are not assigned a same data unit are copied to a second volume. The same data unit is processed to determine one of the overlapping data sets for which the same data unit is intended and copied to the determined overlapping data set in the second volume.

Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to: receive, by the computer, a data set allocation request; determine, by the computer, whether a size of the data set is greater than a threshold; use, by the computer, first key values in a first index to select a volume in response to determining that the size of the data set is greater than the threshold; use, by the computer, second key values in a second index to select a volume in response to determining that the size of the data set is less than the threshold; perform, by the computer, the allocation request in the selected volume; and store, by the computer, control data about the data set in the control data set corresponding to the selected volume.

Abstract: Provided a computer program product, system, and method for rebuilding damaged areas of a volume table using a volume data set for managing data sets assigned data units in a volume in a storage. A determination is made of damaged areas in a volume table providing information on data sets allocated in the volume. The determined damaged areas are formatted to produce reformatted areas to make the volume table usable. A volume data set in the volume having information on data sets configured in the volume is processed to determine from the volume data set salvaged data sets comprising the data sets in the volume not indicated in the volume table. Data set information is rebuilt in the reformatted areas of the volume table for the salvaged data sets.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes initializing a storage volume, receiving a request to secure unallocated data within the storage volume, sending a bit map to a hardware portion of the storage volume, in response to receiving the request, identifying unallocated data within the hardware portion of the storage volume utilizing the bit map, and marking the unallocated data as read inhibited within the hardware portion of the storage volume

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for correcting overlapping data sets in a volume. A determination is made of overlapping data sets in a first volume that are assigned a same data unit. The data sets in the first volume that are not assigned a same data unit are copied to a second volume. The same data unit is processed to determine one of the overlapping data sets for which the same data unit is intended and copied to the determined overlapping data set in the second volume.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for correcting overlapping data sets in a volume. A determination is made of overlapping data sets in a first volume that are assigned a same data unit. The data sets in the first volume that are not assigned a same data unit are copied to a second volume. The same data unit is processed to determine one of the overlapping data sets for which the same data unit is intended and copied to the determined overlapping data set in the second volume.

Abstract: Provided a computer program product, system, and method for rebuilding damaged areas of a volume table using a volume data set for managing data sets assigned data units in a volume in a storage. A determination is made of damaged areas in a volume table providing information on data sets allocated in the volume. The determined damaged areas are formatted to produce reformatted areas to make the volume table usable. A volume data set in the volume having information on data sets configured in the volume is processed to determine from the volume data set salvaged data sets comprising the data sets in the volume not indicated in the volume table. Data set information is rebuilt in the reformatted areas of the volume table for the salvaged data sets.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for correcting overlapping data sets in a volume. A determination is made of overlapping data sets in a first volume that are assigned a same data unit. The data sets in the first volume that are not assigned a same data unit are copied to a second volume. The same data unit is processed to determine one of the overlapping data sets for which the same data unit is intended and copied to the determined overlapping data set in the second volume.

Abstract: Various embodiments for optimizing automated system-managed storage (SMS) operations in a computing storage environment. An execution of at least one automatic class selection (ACS) routine is monitored to determine at least one frequently used instruction. The ACS routine is modified for at least one predetermined time interval. The at least one frequently used instruction is moved to a higher execution priority of the modified ACS routine.

Abstract: A method is provided for isolating errors which occur when code supplied by independent software vendors (ISV code) interacts with code supplied by a primary vendor (host code). Code suspected of containing ISV code with host code is executed. If the results are in error, the code is scanned and then compared with a master host code. Any differences are stored in a delta file, including locations in the host code where ISV code hooks into the host code. The code is then modified to by-pass the hooks to ISV code to generate a side-executable code and both codes are executed and the results are compared. A lack of substantial difference in the results is indicative that the ISV code adversely affects the host code while a difference between the results is indicative of an error in the modified code.

Abstract: Various embodiments for optimizing automated system-managed storage (SMS) operations in a computing storage environment. An execution of at least one automatic class selection (ACS) routine is monitored to determine at least one frequently used instruction. The ACS routine is modified for at least one predetermined time interval. The at least one frequently used instruction is moved to a higher execution priority of the modified ACS routine.

Abstract: A method is provided for isolating errors which occur when code supplied by independent software vendors (ISV code) interacts with code supplied by a primary vendor (host code). Code suspected of containing ISV code with host code is executed. If the results are in error, the code is scanned and then compared with a master host code. Any differences are stored in a delta file, including locations in the host code where ISV code hooks into the host code. The code is then modified to by-pass the hooks to ISV code to generate a side-executable code and both codes are executed and the results are compared. A lack of substantial difference in the results is indicative that the ISV code adversely affects the host code while a difference between the results is indicative of an error in the modified code.