Abstract: An input/output (I/O) request is received that indicates a priority for performing the received I/O request by a storage controller. If a base device is not available to handle the received I/O request, whether the received I/O request is eligible for performance throttling is determined. The received I/O request is transmitted to the storage controller indicating whether the received I/O request is eligible for performance throttling. An alias device is allocated to the base device based on the priority for performing the received I/O request. If the throttling information received from the storage controller for the previous I/O request indicates that a request type of the received I/O request is not being throttled, and it is determined that the received I/O request is a new request, then a control block is representing the base device is flagged, indicating that the received I/O request is eligible for performance throttling.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system and computer program product for managing a microcode error in a storage operation. Embodiments include receiving an error code that corresponds to the microcode error and receiving a received error path signature for the error code. Embodiments also include identifying a metadata error path signature for the error code within a metadata table and determining whether the received error path signature for the error code substantially matches the metadata error path signature for the error code. Embodiments also include initiating a mitigation action in response to the received error path signature for the error code substantially matching the metadata error path signature for the error code.

Abstract: For advanced function usage-based billing, a processor detects the storage controller associating a microcode version for a given advanced function of one or more advanced functions with a logical volume. A given customer is associated with the logical volume. In response to detecting the storage controller associating the microcode version for the given advanced function with the logical volume, the processor monitors for use of a memory address of the microcode version and a logical volume address of the logical volume. The processor further detects an associated use of the memory address of the microcode version and the logical volume address of the logical volume. In response to detecting the associated use, the processor communicates the given advanced function and the given customer to a billing entity.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for preemptively migrating a failing extent includes receiving information of one or more failure conditions associated with an extent stored in a first storage portion of a first storage tier; predicting a failure of the extent based on the information; selecting a second storage portion located in one of a plurality of storage tiers; and migrating the extent to the selected second storage portion.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a system for managing the migration of extents on tiered systems. The system can include receiving a space reservation request for one or more requested extents on a first storage tier of a storage system. The system can also include releasing a first storage tier reserve space that includes one or more first tier reserved extents in response to the first storage tier reserve space being insufficient for the reservation request. The system can also include migrating the one or more requested extents to the first storage tier reserve space.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a computer program product for managing the migration of extents on tiered systems. The computer program product can be configured to receive a space reservation request for one or more requested extents on a first storage tier of a storage system. The computer program product can also be configured to release a first storage tier reserve space that includes one or more first tier reserved extents in response to the first storage tier reserve space being insufficient for the reservation request. The computer program product can also be configured to migrate the one or more requested extents to the first storage tier reserve space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system and computer program product for managing a microcode error in a storage operation. Embodiments include receiving an error code that corresponds to the microcode error and receiving a received error path signature for the error code. Embodiments also include identifying a metadata error path signature for the error code within a metadata table and determining whether the received error path signature for the error code substantially matches the metadata error path signature for the error code. Embodiments also include initiating a mitigation action in response to the received error path signature for the error code substantially matching the metadata error path signature for the error code.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for preemptively migrating a failing extent includes receiving information of one or more failure conditions associated with an extent stored in a first storage portion of a first storage tier; predicting a failure of the extent based on the information; selecting a second storage portion located in the first storage tier, a higher storage tier, and/or a lower storage tier; and migrating the extent to the selected second storage portion.

Abstract: A plurality of logical volumes are stored at a plurality of sites. A command to execute an operation on a logical volume is received. A determination is made as to whether a rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume. In response to determining that the rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume, the operation is executed on the logical volume.

Abstract: A method for managing storage functions in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes continually monitoring for changes to a storage configuration at a secondary site. Upon detecting changes to the storage configuration at the secondary site, the method transmits remote metadata describing the changes to the primary site and stores the remote metadata at the primary site. The method then initiates a storage management function at the primary site which is mirrored to the secondary site. In order to perform the storage management function, the method reads the remote metadata at the primary site to determine the storage configuration at the secondary site. The method then performs the storage management function at the primary site in a way that takes into account the storage configuration at the secondary site. A corresponding apparatus, system, and computer-readable medium are also disclosed and claimed herein.

Abstract: A plurality of logical volumes are stored at a plurality of sites. A command to execute an operation on a logical volume is received. A determination is made as to whether a rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume. In response to determining that the rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume, the operation is executed on the logical volume.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a request to avoid extent conflict checking from a host application executing in a host that is coupled to the storage controller. In response to receiving a request, a host I/O process that executes in the storage controller to satisfy I/O requests from the host application opportunistically releases a track of an extent to a copy services process at an earliest point in time when the track of the extent is longer needed by the host I/O process and is needed by the copy services process.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a method, a system, and a computer program product for managing the migration of extents on tiered systems. The method can include receiving a space reservation request for one or more requested extents on a first storage tier of a storage system. The method can also include releasing a first storage tier reserve space that includes one or more first tier reserved extents in response to the first storage tier reserve space being insufficient for the reservation request. The method can also include migrating the one or more requested extents to the first storage tier reserve space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, system, and computer program product for managing a microcode error in a storage operation. The method includes receiving an error code that corresponds to the microcode error. The method also includes receiving a received error path signature for the error code. The method also includes identifying a metadata error path signature for the error code within a metadata table. The method also includes determining whether the received error path signature for the error code substantially matches the metadata error path signature for the error code. The method also includes initiating a mitigation action in response to the received error path signature for the error code substantially matching the metadata error path signature for the error code.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present description execution of a particular command by a data processor such as a storage controller, may include obtaining priority over a resource which is also associated with execution of another command, setting a timer for the duration of a dynamically set timeout period, and detecting a potential deadlock condition as a function of expiration of the dynamically set timeout period before execution of the particular command is completed. In one embodiment, the particular command releases priority over the resource upon detection of the potential deadlock condition, and then reobtains priority over the resource in a retry of the command. It is believed that such an arrangement can relieve a potential deadlock condition, allowing execution of one or more commands including the particular command to proceed. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: A method for operating a controller includes receiving a command associated with at least one operation, determining a CPU channel path based on the received command, determining a unique job identifier based on the received command, and determining a state based on the received command. In addition, the method includes updating at least one data matrix based on the determined state, unique job identifier and CPU channel path and operating the controller based on the updated data matrix.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a request to avoid extent conflict checking from a host application executing in a host that is coupled to the storage controller. In response to receiving a request, a host I/O process that executes in the storage controller to satisfy I/O requests from the host application opportunistically releases a track of an extent to a copy services process at an earliest point in time when the track of the extent is longer needed by the host I/O process and is needed by the copy services process.

Abstract: A method for combining storage array copy requests for a disk storage system is disclosed. The method may include receiving a BGC (background copy) request, determining that the BGC request satisfies a set of background copy (BGC) criteria, and adding, based on the determining, the BGC request to a sorted position in the wait accumulation queue (WAQ). The method may also include combining, based on a set of track combining criteria, the BGC request and an adjacent BGC request into a combined BGC request including data locations corresponding to the BGC request and to the adjacent BGC request. The method may also include replacing, in a sorted position in the WAQ, the BGC request and the adjacent BGC request with the combined BGC request, and moving, based on the set of BGC criteria, the combined BGC request to a BGC queue.

Abstract: Provided are a computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for creating a consistency group. For each source volume that has an instant virtual copy relationship with a target volume, an indicator for the source volume is set to true in a Fast Incremental with Freeze (FIF) map. The consistency group for each source volume whose indicator is set to true in the FIF map and each associated target volume is created by: performing a quick Instant Virtual Copy (IVC) freeze command to freeze each source volume whose indicator is set to true in the FIF map and performing a consistency group created command to thaw each source volume whose indicator is set to true in the FIF map.

Abstract: A plurality of logical volumes are stored at a plurality of sites. A command to execute an operation on a logical volume is received. A determination is made as to whether a rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume. In response to determining that the rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume, the operation is executed on the logical volume.