Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying data to be transferred as part of a point-in-time snapshot copy operation; setting a data consistency application in an idle state; marking the data while the data consistency application is in the idle state; restarting the data consistency application; identifying, by the data consistency application, the marked data; creating, by the data consistency application, a consistency group including the marked data; and performing replication of the consistency group.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to withdraw a point-in-time snapshot copy operation being implemented by a data consistency application; in response to determining that the data consistency application is creating a current consistency group, maintaining the withdrawal request while allowing the creation of the current consistency group by the data consistency application; and in response to determining that the data consistency application is idle, preventing a formation of a new consistency group by the data consistency application during the withdrawal of the point-in-time snapshot copy operation.

Abstract: A wagering game system configured to perform operations to transmit to a mobile device, via a wireless communication device of the gaming system, an offer for presentation via the mobile device in response to detecting that the mobile device is located at a casino. The offer is associated with a wagering game machine within the casino. The operations can further include detecting, via an electronic tracking device associated with the wagering game machine, an electronic identifier provided from the mobile device. For instance, the mobile device can provide the electronic identifier to the wagering game machine. The operations can further include associating, via an electronic processing unit of the gaming system, the offer with the wagering game machine in response to detecting the electronic identifier.

Abstract: A method for converting from one asynchronous data replication technology to another is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes utilizing a first asynchronous data replication technology to asynchronously replicate data from a primary volume to a secondary volume. The method initiates, at time T1, tracking of post-T1 changes to the primary volume and waits for all pre-T1 changes to the primary volume to be propagated to the secondary volume. When all pre-T1 changes have been propagated to the secondary volume, the method suspends operation of the first asynchronous data replication technology and replicates all post-T1 changes from the primary volume to the secondary volume. The method further sets up and initiates a second asynchronous data replication technology to asynchronously replicate data from the primary volume to the secondary volume. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a data modification operation at a primary storage location. A determination is made whether data stored at the primary storage location is currently being synchronized with data stored at a secondary storage location. In response to determining that the data stored at the primary storage location is not currently being synchronized with the data stored at the secondary storage location: one or more instructions to satisfy the data modification operation are sent, and a bit in a first bitmap is set. Additionally, an extent that includes the modified track is determined, and a bit in a first summary bitmap is set. The bit set in the first bitmap corresponds to a track modified as a result of satisfying the data modification operation, while the bit in the first summary bitmap corresponds to the extent that includes the modified track.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and a computer program product for collecting performance data on a consistency group boundary is provided. The present invention may include positioning a plurality of software applications into idle mode. The present invention may also include starting a consistency group based on a command from a Global Mirror Master. The present invention may then include collecting a plurality of performance data associated with the started consistency group. The present invention may then include removing a plurality of remaining data associated with the collected plurality of performance data. The present invention may further include ending the collection of the collected plurality of data.

Abstract: Remote copy operations are performed to copy data from a primary storage controller to a secondary storage controller, wherein input/output (I/O) requests are received at the primary storage controller from a host both via a bus interface and a network interface while the remote copy operations are in progress, and wherein consistency groups are formed during the remote copy operations to copy the data consistently. Quiescing of I/O operations performed via the bus interface are performed while a current consistency group is being replaced by a next consistency group during the remote copy operations.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for providing track access reasons for track accesses resulting in the release of prefetched cache resources for the track. A first request for a track is received from a process for which prefetched cache resources to a cache are held for a second request for the track that is expected. A track access reason is provided for the first request specifying a reason for the first request. The prefetched cache resources are released before the second request to the track is received. Indication is made in an unexpected released track list of the track and the track access reason for the first request.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for providing track access reasons for track accesses resulting in the release of prefetched cache resources for the track. A first request for a track is received from a process for which prefetched cache resources to a cache are held for a second request for the track that is expected. A track access reason is provided for the first request specifying a reason for the first request. The prefetched cache resources are released before the second request to the track is received. Indication is made in an unexpected released track list of the track and the track access reason for the first request.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining space to release in a target volume to which tracks from a source volume are mirrored. A copy of a source volume table for the source volume providing a state of the tracks in the source volume for a consistency group is received. Tracks received from the source volume are written to the target volume to form the consistency group of tracks in the source volume at the target volume. A determination is made of tracks available to release from the copy of the source volume table and space allocated to the determined tracks is replaced. A point-in-time copy is created of the target volume for the consistency group. Complete is returned to forming the consistency group in response to releasing the space and creating the point-in-time copy.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining tracks to release in a target volume mirroring tracks from a source volume. Tracks received from the source volume are written to the target volume to form a consistency group of tracks in the source volume at the target volume. A determination is made of tracks available to release from a volume table providing a state of the tracks in the target volume and space allocated to the determined tracks is released. A point-in-time copy of the target volume is crated and complete is returned to forming the consistency group in response to releasing the space and creating the point-in-time copy.

Abstract: A simulation tool provides candidate volume mirror simulation in a data storage system. In one embodiment, user selections are received including a user selection of one or more candidate volumes of a primary data storage system for simulating mirroring to a secondary data storage system. As a function of received user selections, host-to-primary I/O activity to a candidate volume is simulated, recorded and measured over a selected interval of time. In addition, primary-to-secondary mirroring of a selected candidate volume to the secondary data storage system is simulated, recorded and measured over the interval of time. Performance measurements of the candidate volume mirror simulation are output by the simulation tool. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for processing a host write operation during a recovery operation of a point-in-time copy restore. Provided are blocking the host write operation to the source volume based on whether a track on the source volume is copied to the target volume. A host and the point-in-time copy restore synchronize simultaneous access to the track using a track lock on track access, causing a requestor without the track lock to be queued until the track lock is available.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for determining which target is most ahead in a multi-target mirroring environment between data from a consistent synchronous mirror copy operation and data from a consistent asynchronous mirror copy operation. It is determined that data is to be retrieved from one of a sync secondary storage of a sync secondary storage controller and an async secondary storage of an async secondary storage controller. Then, it is determined which one of data of a consistent synchronous mirror copy operation on the sync secondary storage and data of a consistent asynchronous mirror copy operation on the async secondary storage is a most current copy of the data. The most current copy of the data is retrieved and used for further processing.

Abstract: A method for more intelligently managing storage space in journal volumes is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, on a primary storage system, a change recording data structure that documents updated storage elements of a primary volume on the primary storage system. The method further determines in which extents of the primary volume the updated storage elements reside. These extents are recorded in an extent-based data structure. The method transmits the extent-based data structure from the primary storage system to a secondary storage system that is in an asynchronous mirroring relationship with the primary storage system. The extent-based data structure is then read at the secondary storage system. The method frees, from a journal volume on the secondary storage system, extents that are not recorded in the extent-based data structure. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining tracks to release in a source volume being copied to a target volume. A consistency group is formed of tracks in the source volume to copy to the target volume. A volume table providing information on the tracks allocated to the source volume is copied to a volume table copy in a memory providing a state of the tracks in the source volume as of a consistency group time. A determination is made of tracks in the source volume to release for tracks that are indicated in the volume table copy as available to release excluding tracks in the source volume that are written after the consistency group time. Space allocated to the determined tracks is released.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using a space release data structure to indicate tracks to release for a space release command to release space of tracks in a consistency group being formed. A space release command is received to free a release space of tracks in a source storage or target storage while transferring changed data in a consistency group to a target storage. A space release data structure is created indicating for each track of the tracks in the release space whether to release or not release the track. The space release data structure is initialized to indicate that each of the tracks is to be released. The tracks in the space release data structure are indicated to be released after the consistency group has completed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a space release command when mirroring data at a source storage to a target storage. A space release command is received to free a release space in the source storage while transferring changed data in a consistency group. A determination is made as to whether a transfer time to transfer remaining consistency group data in the consistency group for the release space that has not been transferred exceeds a response time to process a space release command. The remaining consistency group data in the release space is transferred to the target storage in response to determining that the transfer time does not exceed the response time. The release space for the space release command is freed in response to transferring the consistency group data in the release space to the target storage.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying data to be transferred as part of a point-in-time snapshot copy operation; setting a data consistency application in an idle state; marking the data while the data consistency application is in the idle state; restarting the data consistency application; identifying, by the data consistency application, the marked data; creating, by the data consistency application, a consistency group including the marked data; and performing replication of the consistency group.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to withdraw a point-in-time snapshot copy operation being implemented by a data consistency application; in response to determining that the data consistency application is creating a current consistency group, maintaining the withdrawal request while allowing the creation of the current consistency group by the data consistency application; and in response to determining that the data consistency application is idle, preventing a formation of a new consistency group by the data consistency application during the withdrawal of the point-in-time snapshot copy operation.