Abstract: In one aspect of write sort management in accordance with the present disclosure, a write sort task related to write sorting a write list of data units to be destaged to storage, is assigned to a storage controller to improve the load balance among plural storage controllers. In one embodiment, available processing capacities of each of the storage controllers is determined by, for example, polling each of the storage controllers. A write sort task may then be assigned to a selected storage controller as a function of determined available processing capacities of each of the storage controllers to improve the load balance among the storage controllers. Other aspects and advantages are provided, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: In one aspect of write sort management in accordance with the present disclosure, a sort/no-sort determination is made prior to issuing to a write command to a target storage controller. The write command identifies a write data unit such track write data, for example, of a first write list of write data units to be written to storage locations of storage. The write command further identifies the storage location at which the write data unit of the first write list is to be stored. In one embodiment, the sort/no-sort determination determines whether an insertion point for an entry in a target write list is to be determined as a function of a write list search such as a logarithmic time search for a write list sort. As a result, the write list search for a write list sort, may be selectively either performed or bypassed for insertion of the target write list entry as a function of the sort/no-sort determination Other aspects and advantages are provided, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for establishing reverse paths between servers in a copy environment. A path establish request operation is initiated to establish paths between a first system and a second system for a copy relationship to copy data from a first storage to a second storage managed by the second system. In response to the path establish request, a pair of ports is established at the first system and the second system to use for a first path from the first system to the second system. The first system sends a reverse path establish request to establish a second path from the second system to the first system, wherein the second system sends messages to the first system on the second path for the copy relationship.

Abstract: In one aspect of write sort management in accordance with the present disclosure, a sort/no-sort determination is made prior to issuing to a write command to a target storage controller. The write command identifies a write data unit such track write data, for example, of a first write list of write data units to be written to storage locations of storage. The write command further identifies the storage location at which the write data unit of the first write list is to be stored. In one embodiment, the sort/no-sort determination determines whether an insertion point for an entry in a target write list is to be determined as a function of a write list search such as a logarithmic time search for a write list sort. As a result, the write list search for a write list sort, may be selectively either performed or bypassed for insertion of the target write list entry as a function of the sort/no-sort determination Other aspects and advantages are provided, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: In one aspect of write sort management in accordance with the present disclosure, a write sort task related to write sorting a write list of data units to be destaged to storage, is assigned to a storage controller to improve the load balance among plural storage controllers. In one embodiment, available processing capacities of each of the storage controllers is determined by, for example, polling each of the storage controllers. A write sort task may then be assigned to a selected storage controller as a function of determined available processing capacities of each of the storage controllers to improve the load balance among the storage controllers. Other aspects and advantages are provided, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for establishing reverse paths between servers in a copy environment. A path establish request operation is initiated to establish paths between a first system and a second system for a copy relationship to copy data from a first storage to a second storage managed by the second system. In response to the path establish request, a pair of ports is established at the first system and the second system to use for a first path from the first system to the second system. The first system sends a reverse path establish request to establish a second path from the second system to the first system, wherein the second system sends messages to the first system on the second path for the copy relationship.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for establishing reverse paths between servers in a copy environment. A path establish request operation is initiated to establish paths between a first system and a second system for a copy relationship to copy data from a first storage to a second storage managed by the second system. In response to the path establish request, a pair of ports is established at the first system and the second system to use for a first path from the first system to the second system. The first system sends a reverse path establish request to establish a second path from the second system to the first system, wherein the second system sends messages to the first system on the second path for the copy relationship.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for replicating tracks from a first storage to a second and third storages. A determination is made of a track in the first storage to transfer to the second storage as part of a point-in-time copy relationship and of a stride of tracks including the target track. The stride of tracks including the target track is staged from the first storage to a cache according to the point-in-time copy relationship. The staged stride is destaged from the cache to the second storage. The stride in the cache is transferred to the third storage as part of a mirror copy relationship. The stride of tracks in the cache is demoted in response to destaging the stride of the tracks in the cache to the second storage and transferring the stride of tracks in the cache to the third storage.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for establishing reverse paths between servers in a copy environment. A path establish request operation is initiated to establish paths between a first system and a second system for a copy relationship to copy data from a first storage to a second storage managed by the second system. In response to the path establish request, a pair of ports is established at the first system and the second system to use for a first path from the first system to the second system. The first system sends a reverse path establish request to establish a second path from the second system to the first system, wherein the second system sends messages to the first system on the second path for the copy relationship.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for establishing reverse paths between servers in a copy environment. A path establish request operation is initiated to establish paths between a first system and a second system for a copy relationship to copy data from a first storage to a second storage managed by the second system. In response to the path establish request, a pair of ports is established at the first system and the second system to use for a first path from the first system to the second system. The first system sends a reverse path establish request to establish a second path from the second system to the first system, wherein the second system sends messages to the first system on the second path for the copy relationship.

Abstract: Systems and methods for initializing a memory system are provided. One system includes a processor and a memory including a storage volume coupled to the processor. The storage volume includes a first bitmap for tracking an initialization process for the storage volume and a second bitmap for tracking a copying process for the storage volume. A method includes performing, via the processor, an initialization process for the storage volume and tracking, via the processor utilizing the first bitmap, the initialization process. The method further includes performing, via the processor, a copying process for the storage volume prior to completing the initialization process and tracking, via the processor utilizing the second bitmap, the copying process. Also provided are computer storage mediums including computer program code for performing the above method.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for replicating tracks from a first storage to a second and third storages. A determination is made of a track in the first storage to transfer to the second storage as part of a point-in-time copy relationship and of a stride of tracks including the target track. The stride of tracks including the target track is staged from the first storage to a cache according to the point-in-time copy relationship. The staged stride is destaged from the cache to the second storage. The stride in the cache is transferred to the third storage as part of a mirror copy relationship. The stride of tracks in the cache is demoted in response to destaging the stride of the tracks in the cache to the second storage and transferring the stride of tracks in the cache to the third storage.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using queues corresponding to attribute values associated with units of work to select the units of work to process. A plurality of queues for each of a plurality of attribute types of attributes are associated with the units of work to process, wherein there are queues for different possible attribute values for each of the attribute types. A unit of work to process is received. A determination is made for each of the attribute types at least one of the queues corresponding to at least one attribute value for the attribute type associated with the received unit of work. A record for the received unit of work is added to each of the determined queues.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using inactive copy relationships to resynchronize data between storages. A first and second groups of active copy relationships are established to serially copy data among the storages in the first and second groups, respectively. At least one of the storages in both the first group and the second group comprise overlapping storages that are members of both the first and second groups and at least one of the storages in both the first and second groups comprise non-overlapping storages that are a member of only one of the first and second groups. At least one inactive copy relationship is established having as a source storage one of the non-overlapping storages in the first group and as a target storage one of the non-overlapping storages in the second group.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a request to establish a point-in-time copy operation by placing a space efficient source volume in a point-in-time copy relationship with a space efficient target volume, wherein subsequent to being established the point-in-time copy operation is configurable to consistently copy the space efficient source volume to the space efficient target volume at a point in time. A determination is made as to whether any track of an extent is staging into a cache from the space efficient target volume or destaging from the cache to the space efficient target volume. In response to a determination that at least one track of the extent is staging into the cache from the space efficient target volume or destaging from the cache to the space efficient target volume, release of the extent from the space efficient target volume is avoided.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for replicating tracks from a first storage to a second and third storages. A determination is made of a track in the first storage to transfer to the second storage as part of a point-in-time copy relationship and of a stride of tracks including the target track. The stride of tracks including the target track is staged from the first storage to a cache according to the point-in-time copy relationship. The staged stride is destaged from the cache to the second storage. The stride in the cache is transferred to the third storage as part of a mirror copy relationship. The stride of tracks in the cache is demoted in response to destaging the stride of the tracks in the cache to the second storage and transferring the stride of tracks in the cache to the third storage.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for establishing reverse paths between servers in a copy environment. A path establish request operation is initiated to establish paths between a first system and a second system for a copy relationship to copy data from a first storage to a second storage managed by the second system. In response to the path establish request, a pair of ports is established at the first system and the second system to use for a first path from the first system to the second system. The first system sends a reverse path establish request to establish a second path from the second system to the first system, wherein the second system sends messages to the first system on the second path for the copy relationship.

Abstract: Provided are computer program product, system, and method for using inactive copy relationships to resynchronize data among n storages referenced as storages 1 through n, wherein n is greater than or equal to three. n?1 active copy relationships are established. Each active copy relationship copies data from one of the storages 1 through n?1 as a source storage to one other of the storages 2 through n as a target storage respectively. At least one inactive copy relationship is established to copy data from one of the storages 1 through n?1 as the source storage to one other of the storages 2 through n as a target storage, such that the source and target storages in the inactive copy relationship are not both also in a same of at least one of the active copy relationships.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using queues corresponding to attribute values and priorities associated with units of work and sub-units of the unit of work to select the units of work and their sub-units to process. There are a plurality of work unit queues, wherein each of the work unit queues are associated with different work unit attribute values that are associated with units of work, wherein a plurality of the work unit queues include records for units of work to process having work unit attribute values associated with the work unit attribute values of the work unit queues, and wherein the work unit queues are each associated with a different priority. A record for a unit of work to perform is added to the work unit queue associated with a priority and work unit attribute value associated with the work unit.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using queues corresponding to attribute values associated with units of work and sub-units of the unit of work to select the units of work and their sub-units to process. There are a plurality of work unit queues, each associated with different work unit attribute values that are associated with units of work, wherein the work unit queues include records for units of work to process having work unit attribute values associated with the work unit attribute values of the work unit queues. There are a plurality of work sub-unit queues, wherein each are associated with different work sub-unit attribute values that are associated with sub-units of work. Records are added for work sub-units of a unit of work to the work sub-unit queues, and records are selected from the work sub-unit queues to process the sub-units of work.