Abstract: A method for copying data from a primary fully provisioned volume to a secondary thin-provisioned volume is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes hosting, on a primary storage system, a fully provisioned volume comprising a plurality of storage elements. A volume table of contents (VTOC) associated with the fully provisioned volume is analyzed to determine which storage elements in the fully provisioned volume have been allocated to data sets. In certain embodiments, the VTOC is copied into memory of a secondary host system and the secondary host system analyzes the copy to determine which storage elements in the fully provisioned volume have been allocated to data sets. The method then copies, from the fully provisioned volume to a secondary thin-provisioned volume, data in only those storage elements that have been allocated to data sets. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for copying data from a primary thin-provisioned volume to a secondary thin-provisioned volume includes issuing a query to a primary storage system. The primary storage system hosts a thin-provisioned volume made up of multiple storage elements. The method returns, in response to the query, a reply indicating which storage elements in the thin-provisioned volume are backed by physical storage. In certain embodiments, the reply contains a bitmap having a bit for each storage element in the thin-provisioned volume. In other embodiments, the reply contains a starting address and ending address for each storage area that is backed, or not backed, by physical storage. The method then copies, from the primary storage system to a secondary storage system, data in only those storage elements that are backed by physical storage. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for copying data from a primary fully provisioned volume to a secondary thin-provisioned volume is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes hosting, on a primary storage system, a fully provisioned volume comprising a plurality of storage elements. A volume table of contents (VTOC) associated with the fully provisioned volume is analyzed to determine which storage elements in the fully provisioned volume have been allocated to data sets. In certain embodiments, the VTOC is copied into memory of a secondary host system and the secondary host system analyzes the copy to determine which storage elements in the fully provisioned volume have been allocated to data sets. The method then copies, from the fully provisioned volume to a secondary thin-provisioned volume, data in only those storage elements that have been allocated to data sets. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for copying data from a primary thin-provisioned volume to a secondary thin-provisioned volume includes issuing a query to a primary storage system. The primary storage system hosts a thin-provisioned volume made up of multiple storage elements. The method returns, in response to the query, a reply indicating which storage elements in the thin-provisioned volume are backed by physical storage. In certain embodiments, the reply contains a bitmap having a bit for each storage element in the thin-provisioned volume. In other embodiments, the reply contains a starting address and ending address for each storage area that is backed, or not backed, by physical storage. The method then copies, from the primary storage system to a secondary storage system, data in only those storage elements that are backed by physical storage. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes the steps of establishing a plurality of storage control sessions, wherein each storage control session associates at least one primary storage controller and at least one secondary storage controller with a predetermined path through a data transport network that interconnects the primary and secondary storage controllers; identifying storage control sessions that have data available to be transferred from primary storage controllers to secondary storage controllers; accumulating available data for each session and determining transfer time through the network for each data element to estimate prospective bandwidth utilization; and determining, for a predetermined time interval, whether transferring the available data would fully occupy available bandwidth of the data transport network for the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: When the mirrored point in time copy fails, at that point in time all the data for making the source and target of the point in time copy consistent is available on secondary volumes at disaster recovery site. The data for the source and target of the failed point in time copy are logically and physically equal at that point in time. This logical relationship can be maintained, and protected against ongoing physical updates to the affected tracks on the source secondary volume, by first reading the affected tracks from the source secondary volume, copying the data to the target secondary volume, and then writing the updated track to the source secondary volume.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for a modified asynchronous replication session. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of acquiring a lock on a volume configuration, where the lock prevents changes to the volume configuration between a first volume and a second volume at a remote site. Internal control block information is updated, where the update includes at least a volume serial number of the first volume matching a volume serial number of the second volume. Responsive to updating internal control block information, the acquired lock is released to allow changes to the volume configuration.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for a modified asynchronous replication session. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of acquiring a lock on a volume configuration, where the lock prevents changes to the volume configuration between a first volume and a second volume at a remote site. Internal control block information is updated, where the update includes at least a volume serial number of the first volume matching a volume serial number of the second volume. Responsive to updating internal control block information, the acquired lock is released to allow changes to the volume configuration.

Abstract: For dynamically adjusting write pacing, a calculation module calculates an interval as a maximum threshold for a primary volume divided by a first maximum pacing level for a first importance level. The calculation module further calculates a first pacing level as a number of record sets that have not been mirrored to a secondary volume divided by the interval. The first pacing level is set to the first maximum pacing level if the first pacing level is greater than the first maximum pacing level. The calculation module also selects a first pacing delay associated with the first pacing level from a delay table. A pacing module delays writes for a first channel command word writing to the primary volume by the first pacing delay.

Abstract: When the mirrored point in time copy fails, at that point in time all the data for making the source and target of the point in time copy consistent is available on secondary volumes at disaster recovery site. The data for the source and target of the failed point in time copy are logically and physically equal at that point in time. This logical relationship can be maintained, and protected against ongoing physical updates to the affected tracks on the source secondary volume, by first reading the affected tracks from the source secondary volume, copying the data to the target secondary volume, and then writing the updated track to the source secondary volume.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes the steps of establishing a plurality of storage control sessions, wherein each storage control session associates at least one primary storage controller and at least one secondary storage controller with a predetermined path through a data transport network that interconnects the primary and secondary storage controllers; identifying storage control sessions that have data available to be transferred from primary storage controllers to secondary storage controllers; accumulating available data for each session and determining transfer time through the network for each data element to estimate prospective bandwidth utilization; and determining, for a predetermined time interval, whether transferring the available data would fully occupy available bandwidth of the data transport network for the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for improved point-in-time copying of data within an asynchronous data mirroring environment. A first establish for a first point-in-time copying process is generated, followed by submission of a request to initiate an asynchronous data mirroring process associated with the first point-in-time copying process. In response, a point-in-time establish reservation is generated for a second point-in-time copying process. If it is not possible to successfully perform the second point-in-time copying process, then the point-in-time establish reservation is cancelled and the first point-in-time copy establish is failed. Otherwise, the point-in-time establish reservation is then used to generate an establish for the second point-in-time copying process, which is then initiated.

Abstract: For dynamically adjusting write pacing, a calculation module calculates an interval as a maximum threshold for a primary volume divided by a first maximum pacing level for a first importance level. The calculation module further calculates a first pacing level as a number of record sets that have not been mirrored to a secondary volume divided by the interval. The first pacing level is set to the first maximum pacing level if the first pacing level is greater than the first maximum pacing level. The calculation module also selects a first pacing delay associated with the first pacing level from a delay table. A pacing module delays writes for a first channel command word writing to the primary volume by the first pacing delay.