Abstract: A method for maintaining intelligent write ordering in an asynchronous data replication system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes performing the following, in order, for each extent of each rank of the primary storage device: (1) determining which primary volume the extent is associated with on the primary storage device; (2) if the primary volume that is associated with the extent is in a mirroring relationship with a corresponding secondary volume on the secondary storage device, scanning an out-of sync bitmap associated with the primary volume; and (3) sending, from the primary volume to the secondary volume, tracks in the extent having corresponding bits set in the out-of sync bitmap. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments for grouping tracks for destaging by a processor device in a computing environment are provided. Tracks are selected for destaging from a least recently used (LRU) list and the selected tracks are moved to a destaging wait list. One of the selected tracks is selected from the destaging wait list and the selected tracks are grouped for destaging. A first track and a last track are located from the group of selected tracks of the destaging wait list. The destaging is commenced from the first track in the group of selected tracks. A track is added to the group of selected tracks if the track is one of modified and located in a cache, otherwise, a next one of the selected tracks in the group of selected tracks is moved to.

Abstract: Dynamically adjust an error threshold in a data system based system status changes caused by either an external environment and/or an internal status.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for adjusting an extended power line disruption time and end-of-life for at least one battery backup unit used in a system. A request is received to change from a first extended power line disruption time currently used in the system to a second extended power line disruption time. A first end-of-life and a second end-of-life correspond to the first extended power line disruption time and the second extended power line disruption time, respectively. A message is sent to a power distribution unit with information on the second extended power line disruption time to cause the power distribution unit to initiate a graceful shutdown of the system after power is supplied from the at least one battery backup unit for the second extended power line disruption time.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes selecting blocks of data in at least one solid state drive for garbage collection in a garbage collection process, and creating a bitmap indicating which blocks of data are in the garbage collection process. The bitmap has a two bit structure for each of the blocks, where the two bit structure includes a unique pair of bits associated with a logical block address (LBA) of the individual one of the blocks associated with the two bit structure. One bit indicates whether the block is in the garbage collection process. The other bit indicates whether rebuilding of the block has been completed.

Abstract: A storage controller determines a presence of an indication from an Input/Output (I/O) enclosure that the I/O enclosure will be powered off after a predetermined amount of time. The storage controller quiesces all I/O adapters of the I/O enclosure, in response to receiving the indication. The storage controller quiesces the I/O enclosure, in response to completion of quiescing of all of the I/O adapters of the I/O enclosure.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for adjusting an extended power line disruption time and end-of-life for at least one battery backup unit used in a system. A request is received to change from a first extended power line disruption time currently used in the system to a second extended power line disruption time. A first end-of-life and a second end-of-life correspond to the first extended power line disruption time and the second extended power line disruption time, respectively. A message is sent to a power distribution unit with information on the second extended power line disruption time to cause the power distribution unit to initiate a graceful shutdown of the system after power is supplied from the at least one battery backup unit for the second extended power line disruption time.

Abstract: A method for preventing data loss in a RAID includes monitoring the age of storage drives making up a RAID. When a storage drive in the RAID reaches a specified age, the method individually tests the storage drive by subjecting the storage drive to a stress workload test. This stress workload test may be designed to place additional stress on the storage drive while refraining from adding stress to other storage drives in the RAID. In the event the storage drive fails the stress workload test (e.g., the storage drive cannot adequately handle the additional workload or generates errors in response to the additional workload), the method replaces the storage drive with a spare storage drive and rebuilds the RAID. In certain embodiments, the method tests the storage drive with greater frequency as the age of the storage drive increases. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes initiating a rebuild process in a storage system having at least one solid state drive, obtaining a bitmap indicating which blocks of data are in a garbage collection process, determining which blocks of data are in the garbage collection process using the bitmap, accessing the blocks of data that are not in the garbage collection process, not accessing the blocks of data that are in the garbage collection process, and performing the rebuild process using the blocks of data that are not in the garbage collection process.

Abstract: In one aspect, multiple data path error collection is provided in a storage management system. In one embodiment, an error condition in a main data path between the storage controller and at least one of a host and a storage unit is detected, and in response, a sequence of error data collection operations to collect error data through a main path is initiated. In response to a failure to collect error data at a level of the sequential error data collection operations, error data is collected through an alternate data path as a function of the error data collection level at which the failure occurred. Other aspects are described.

Abstract: A first asynchronous mirroring session is initiated to asynchronously copy first primary volumes to first secondary volumes. Point in time copy operations generate a local backup copy from the first primary volumes. Second primary volumes are generated from the local backup copy. A second asynchronous mirroring session is initiated to asynchronously copy the second primary volumes to second secondary volumes.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for populating a second cache with tracks from a first cache when transferring management of the tracks from a first node to a second node. Management of a first group of tracks in the storage managed by the first node is transferred to the second node managing access to a second group of tracks in the storage. After the transferring the management of the tracks, the second node manages access to the first and second groups of tracks and caches accessed tracks from the first and second groups in the second cache of the second node.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for populating a secondary cache with unmodified tracks in a primary cache when redirecting host access from a primary server to a secondary server. Host access to tracks is redirected from the primary server to the secondary server. Prior to the redirecting, updates to tracks in the primary storage were replicated to the secondary server. After the redirecting host access to the secondary server, host access is directed to the secondary server and the secondary storage. A secondary cache at the secondary server is populated with unmodified tracks in a primary cache at the primary server when the host access was redirected to the secondary server to make available to the host access redirected to the secondary server.

Abstract: A storage controller determines a presence of an indication from an Input/Output (I/O) enclosure that the I/O enclosure will perform a shutdown after a predetermined amount of time. The storage controller determines whether the I/O enclosure provides a last path to data stored in a storage device. A request is transmitted to the I/O enclosure to perform either an orderly shutdown or abort the shutdown, based on the whether the I/O enclosure provides the last path to the data stored in the storage device.

Abstract: Provided are a method, a system, and a computer program product in which a storage controller determines one or more resources that are impacted by an error. A cleanup of tasks associated with the one or more resources that are impacted by the error is performed, to recover from the error, wherein host input/output (I/O) operations continue to be processed, and wherein tasks associated with other resources continue to execute.

Abstract: Provided are a method, a system, and a computer program product in which a storage controller determines one or more resources that are impacted by an error. A cleanup of tasks associated with the one or more resources that are impacted by the error is performed, to recover from the error, wherein host input/output (I/O) operations continue to be processed, and wherein tasks associated with other resources continue to execute.

Abstract: Various embodiments for grouping tracks for destaging by a processor device in a computing environment are provided. Tracks are selected for destaging from a least recently used (LRU) list and the selected tracks are moved to a destaging wait list. One of the selected tracks is selected from the destaging wait list and the selected tracks are grouped for destaging. A first track and a last track are located from the group of selected tracks of the destaging wait list. The destaging is commenced from the first track in the group of selected tracks. A track is added to the group of selected tracks if the track is one of modified and located in a cache, otherwise, a next one of the selected tracks in the group of selected tracks is moved to.

Abstract: Tracks are selected for destaging from a least recently used (LRU) list and the selected tracks are moved to a destaging wait list. The selected tracks are grouped and destaged from the destaging wait list.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes initiating a rebuild process in a storage system having at least one solid state drive, obtaining a bitmap indicating which blocks of data are in a garbage collection process, determining which blocks of data are in the garbage collection process using the bitmap, accessing the blocks of data that are not in the garbage collection process, not accessing the blocks of data that are in the garbage collection process, and performing the rebuild process using the blocks of data that are not in the garbage collection process.

Abstract: Provided are a method, a system, and a computer program product in which a storage controller determines one or more resources that are impacted by an error. A cleanup of tasks associated with the one or more resources that are impacted by the error is performed, to recover from the error, wherein host input/output (I/O) operations continue to be processed, and wherein tasks associated with other resources continue to execute.