Abstract: A computer readable media, a method, and a system registering a third party application providing an available communication system between a local user and a remote user identity, storing information related to the available communication system in a first database, obtaining contact information for the remote user identity from the third party application, determining a communication type for the third party application, pairing the remote user identity with a contact, and updating a graphical representation of contact information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for implementing enhanced expertise and evidence based decision making in knowledge-based applications. Expertise and evidence based decision making operations include differentiating between an average user and an expert user, and using real time feedback from expert users to update and embed expert knowledge into a predefined baseline command sequence model for a given task or problem.

Abstract: A method for more effectively utilizing computing resources in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method detects, at a primary system, activity occurring on the primary system. This activity is recorded in systems logs located at the primary system. The method automatically mirrors the system logs from the primary system to a secondary system that is in a mirroring relationship with the primary system. The system logs are analyzed at the secondary system. In the event abnormal activity is detected in the system logs at the secondary system, the method automatically sends, from the secondary system to the primary system, one or more commands that are designed to address the abnormal activity. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method to dynamically switch between catalog sharing protocols includes monitoring, over a period of time, access to a catalog used to index data sets. Using information gathered during this monitoring period, the method divides the period of time into intervals based on which of a plurality of sharing protocols, used to access the catalog, would provide the best performance during the respective interval. The method schedules the sharing protocols to operate during their respective intervals going forward, and switches between the sharing protocols in accordance with the schedule. In certain embodiments, switching between the sharing protocols includes temporarily operating in a hybrid mode in which multiple sharing protocols operate simultaneously. When using this hybrid mode, the switch may occur when one sharing protocol begins to perform better than the other. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes, prior to executing a point-in-time copy job, running a space checker program to generate a list that includes: source data sets that will be used in the point-in-time copy job and a pool of potential target volumes that are eligible to be used for the point-in-time copy job. The method further includes determining that insufficient space is available on the potential target volumes to perform the point-in-time copy job. An on-demand migration is issued against one or more target volumes of the pool of potential target volumes for ensuring there is sufficient space available on the one or more target volumes associated with the issued on-demand migration to perform the point-in-time copy job. The method further includes performing the point-in-time copy job.

Abstract: Air conditioning systems for cooling multiple-zone spaces, each zone having a thermostat, where each of multiple pump modules delivers chilled water to chilled beams in a plurality of zones and a chilled-water distribution system circulates chilled water through a chilled-water distribution loop to the multiple pump modules. Current dew points are determined in zones that call for cooling, and temperature of chilled water delivered to the chilled beams is maintained for each pump module at least a predetermined temperature differential above the highest dew point within the zones served by that pump module. Each zone has a zone control valve to shut off flow to that zone. Serving a plurality of zones from each pump module reduces how many pump modules are required. Zones served by one pump module may be selected to have similar thermal loads. Pump modules may supply hot water when heat is needed instead of cooling.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a first data set to be backed up, where the first data set is stored on a first storage volume; removing empty data tracks from the first data set to create an intermediary data set; storing the intermediary data set at a plurality of secondary storage volumes different from the first storage volume; and creating a backup data set for the first data set, utilizing the intermediary data set.

Abstract: A method for preventing data overlays in a data storage system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method detects a write operation directed to a storage area of a data storage system. The write operation includes one or more of a format write operation and a full-track write operation. Upon detecting the write operation, the method determines a data set that is associated with the storage area. The method analyzes metadata associated with the data set to determine whether the storage area contains valid data. In the event the storage area contains valid data, the method performs a data protection operation that prevents execution of the write operation and/or logs details of the write operation. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes, prior to executing a point-in-time copy job, running a space checker program to generate a list that includes: source data sets that will be used in the point-in-time copy job and a pool of potential target volumes that are eligible to be used for the point-in-time copy job. The method further includes determining that insufficient space is available on the potential target volumes to perform the point-in-time copy job. An on-demand migration is issued against one or more target volumes of the pool of potential target volumes for ensuring there is sufficient space available on the one or more target volumes associated with the issued on-demand migration to perform the point-in-time copy job. The method further includes performing the point-in-time copy job.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for maintaining metadata from a catalog in a repository to return to requests for the metadata. A first instance of a request for metadata from a catalog of metadata on data sets is intercepted from an application and the metadata is retrieved from the catalog and saved in a repository. The retrieved metadata is associated with the request in the repository. The metadata retrieved from the catalog is returned to the application for the first instance of the request. A second instance of the request is intercepted from the application. A determination is made whether to fulfill the second instance of the request from the repository. The metadata for the second instance of the request is retrieved from the repository in response to determining to fulfill the second instance of the request from the repository.

Abstract: A method for enabling data set changes to be reverted to a prior point in time or state is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing a data set comprising one or more data elements and a specified number of generations of the data elements. In certain embodiments, the data set is a partitioned data set extended (PDSE) data set, and the data elements are “members” within the PDSE data set. The method further includes tracking changes made by a job to data elements of the data set. The method further references, in a data structure (also referred to herein as a “cluster”) associated with the job, previous generations of the data elements changed by the job. In certain embodiments, the data structure is stored in the data set. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using a machine learning module to rank technical solutions to user described technical problems to provide to a user. A solutions database is searched to determine a result set of answer files having keywords related to keywords of a technical problem in a user description. The result set of answer files, the user description of the technical problem, user profile information, and technical specifications of the computing system are provided as input to a machine learning module. The machine learning module outputs ranks of the answer files in the result set. A subset of answer files in the result set is selected based on ranks of the answer files in the result set and returned to the user.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selecting a plurality of processing systems to sort a data set. A determination is made of processing systems to perform a sort of records in a data set. The data set is divided into data subsets, each data subset comprising a portion of the records of the data set. Each of the determined processing systems of is notified of a data subset to sort. In response to receiving notification from the determined processing systems that the records in the data subsets have been sorted, the sorted data subsets are merged into a sorted data set comprising the records of the data set sorted.

Abstract: Air conditioning systems for cooling multiple-zone spaces, each zone having a thermostat, where each of multiple pump modules delivers chilled water to chilled beams in a plurality of zones and a chilled-water distribution system circulates chilled water through a chilled-water distribution loop to the multiple pump modules. Current dew points are determined in zones that call for cooling, and temperature of chilled water delivered to the chilled beams is maintained for each pump module at least a predetermined temperature differential above the highest dew point within the zones served by that pump module. Each zone has a zone control valve to shut off flow to that zone. Serving a plurality of zones from each pump module reduces how many pump modules are required. Zones served by one pump module may be selected to have similar thermal loads. Pump modules may supply hot water when heat is needed instead of cooling.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a first data set to be backed up, where the first data set is stored on a first storage volume; removing empty data tracks from the first data set to create an intermediary data set; storing the intermediary data set at a plurality of secondary storage volumes different from the first storage volume; and creating a backup data set for the first data set, utilizing the intermediary data set.

Abstract: A method can include obtaining catalog data of a catalog. The catalog can include one or more records. The method can further include detecting one or more damaged records among the one or more records and isolating the one or more damaged records. The method can further include identifying one or more undamaged records among the one or more records. The method can further include transferring the one or more undamaged records to a backup catalog. The method can further include obtaining a transfer status of a first undamaged record of the one or more undamaged records. The method can further include obtaining an access request corresponding to the first undamaged record. The method can further include determining, based on the transfer status, a response to the access request and generating, based at least in part on the backup catalog, a restored catalog.

Abstract: Described are techniques for utilization of a disaster recovery site including a method comprising receiving a mirrored data stream at a disaster recovery site from a production site. The mirrored data stream includes a workload instruction stored in a designated location of the mirrored data stream. The workload instruction indicates an operation to perform on a set of data that is replicated between the production site and the disaster recovery site and a time indicator indicating a correct version of the set of data. The method further comprises generating a consistency point by retrieving replicated data from the disaster recovery site corresponding to the correct version of the set of data in the production site. The method further comprises performing the operation on the consistency point, generating an output, and transmitting the output to the production site.

Abstract: A method for modifying a configuration of a storage system. The method includes a computer processor querying a network-accessible computing system to obtain information associated with an executing application that utilizes a storage system for a process of data mirroring. The method further includes identifying a set of parameters associated with a copy program executing within a logical partition (LPAR) of the storage system based on the obtained information, where the set of parameters dictates a number of reader tasks utilized by the copy program, where the copy program is a program associated with the process for data mirroring from the network-accessible computing system to the storage system. The method further includes executing the dictated number of reader tasks for the process of mirroring data associated with the executing application, from the network-accessible computing system to the storage system.

Abstract: Methods that can batch process data on a remote system or disaster recovery (DR) site are disclosed herein. One method includes determining, by a processor, a first performance level for a production site based on a set of first resources for the production site and determining a second performance level for a DR site based on a set of second resources for the DR site. The method further includes allocating a portion of a workload scheduled for processing on the production site to the DR site for processing on the DR site in response to determining that a set of predetermined parameters related to the first performance level, the second performance level, or both the first performance level and the second performance level is satisfied. Apparatus, systems, and computer program products that can include, perform, and/or implement the methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present description, operations are described for detecting whether programming code of a first computer program has been modified by a second computer program. In one embodiment, the modification detecting includes registering a first section of programming code of the first computer program in a first registry data structure. To detect a modification, the registered first section of programming code may be validated. In one embodiment, the validating includes comparing the section of programming code actually located at the first memory address to the registered first section of programming code. In another aspect, various selectable remedial actions may be taken upon detecting modification of programming code of the first computer program. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.