Abstract: A technique for operating a storage system includes determining, based on a response (e.g., return and reason codes from catalog services) from a storage operating system, that a desired user catalog is unavailable for storage of a new dataset. A new user catalog is then dynamically created, when the desired user catalog is unavailable. An alias entry in a master catalog is then updated to point to the new user catalog, when the desired user catalog is unavailable.

Abstract: When a VTOC and a VVDS are established for information used to access data sets of a volume, unused space remains in both structures. The data sets, VTOC and VVDS are stored on a recordable medium. For VSAM data sets, other, vital information about the data set is also stored in the VTOC; for non-VSAM data sets, vital information about the data set is also stored in the VVDS. If the VOTC entry of a non-VSAM data set becomes corrupted, the vital information in the VVDS may be used to access the stored data set. Similarly, If the VVDS entry of a VSAM data set becomes corrupted, the vital information in the VTOC may be used to access the stored data set.

Abstract: A method of providing maintenance for a software program residing on a customer's computer system enables a customer to easily determine if there are any available updates for the software program, whether the available updates, if any, have been downloaded, which updates, if any, have been installed, and which installed updates, if any, have been activated. The method includes searching an active storage area on the customer's computer system while the software program is executing to determine the particular version of the software program. The method further includes searching a database of a software provider that provided the software program to determine if there is any update available for the software program, and if any update is available, downloading the update to the customer's computer system and installing the update.