Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer program product for managing a reserve command includes a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and/or executable by a processor to receive, by the processor, a request to access a data set on one or more volumes of at least one direct access storage device (DASD), the request including a reserve command, and each of the one or more volumes including a consecutive set of one or more tracks of the at least one DASD, and reserve one or more extents of the at least one DASD while reserving less than a volume of the at least one DASD and not allowing any other entity than an entity which requested the reserve to access the one or more extents of the at least one DASD that have been reserved.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes: receiving a request to establish a Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) relationship between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system; and copying one or more data tracks of a primary storage device in the primary storage system to the secondary storage system without copying at least one other data track of the primary storage device to the secondary storage system. The one or more data tracks of the primary storage device comprise one or more data tracks of a first characteristic. Other portions of the primary storage device comprise one or more other data tracks of a second characteristic. Tracks of the first characteristic may include valid data records, while tracks of the second characteristic may include invalid data records and/or empty tracks. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a product includes a magnetic medium having written thereon data in a data track. The data includes encrypted data written over unencrypted data. An indicator of a physical position on the magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of the encrypted data is stored on the product. A product according to another embodiment includes a magnetic medium having written thereon data in a data track. The data includes encrypted data written over unencrypted data. A portion of the unencrypted data is located before the encrypted data on the medium. An indicator of a physical position on the magnetic medium that corresponds to a beginning of the encrypted data is stored on the product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to position a magnetic tape volume to a position corresponding to an end of a last data set stored to the magnetic tape volume, and read an existing tape volume access block (TVAB) from the magnetic tape volume in response to a determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume. The logic is also configured to write one or more data sets to the magnetic tape volume subsequent to reading the existing TVAB in response to the determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and update the existing TVAB with the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to produce an updated TVAB.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a product includes a magnetic medium having written thereon data in a data track. The data includes encrypted data written over unencrypted data. An indicator of a physical position on the magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of the encrypted data is stored on the product. A product according to another embodiment includes a magnetic medium having written thereon data in a data track. The data includes encrypted data written over unencrypted data. A portion of the unencrypted data is located before the encrypted data on the medium. An indicator of a physical position on the magnetic medium that corresponds to a beginning of the encrypted data is stored on the product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes: receiving a request to establish a Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) relationship between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system; and copying one or more data tracks of a primary storage device in the primary storage system to the secondary storage system without copying at least one other data track of the primary storage device to the secondary storage system. The one or more data tracks of the primary storage device comprise one or more data tracks of a first characteristic. Other portions of the primary storage device comprise one or more other data tracks of a second characteristic. Tracks of the first characteristic may include valid data records, while tracks of the second characteristic may include invalid data records and/or empty tracks. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; store an indicator of the physical position on the magnetic medium and/or a memory coupled thereto; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium and program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by the processor to cause the processor to: read an indicator of a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to establish a Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) relationship between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system, and copying one or more data tracks of a primary storage device in the primary storage system to the secondary storage system without copying at least one other data track of the primary storage device to the secondary storage system. The one or more data tracks of the primary storage device comprise one or more data tracks of a first characteristic. Other portions of the primary storage device comprise one or more other data tracks of a second characteristic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to position a magnetic tape volume to a position corresponding to an end of a last data set stored to the magnetic tape volume, and read an existing tape volume access block (TVAB) from the magnetic tape volume in response to a determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume. The logic is also configured to write one or more data sets to the magnetic tape volume subsequent to reading the existing TVAB in response to the determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and update the existing TVAB with the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to produce an updated TVAB.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for synchronous mode replication to multiple clusters receiving a write to a volume from a host. A received write is cached in a memory. A determination is made of a replication rule indicating one of a plurality of replication modes for a first cluster and a second cluster used for replication for the write, wherein one of the replication modes comprises a synchronous mode. A determination is made that the replication rule indicates a synchronous mode for the first and the second clusters. The write is transmitted from the memory to the first cluster to store in a first non-volatile storage of the first cluster and to the second cluster to store in a second non-volatile storage in response to determining that the replication rule indicates the synchronous mode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer program product for managing a reserve command includes a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and/or executable by a processor to receive, by the processor, a request to access a data set on one or more volumes of at least one direct access storage device (DASD), the request including a reserve command, and each of the one or more volumes including a consecutive set of one or more tracks of the at least one DASD, and reserve one or more extents of the at least one DASD while reserving less than a volume of the at least one DASD and not allowing any other entity than an entity which requested the reserve to access the one or more extents of the at least one DASD that have been reserved.

Abstract: Various embodiments of accidental shared volume erasure prevention include systems, methods, and/or computer program products for receiving a request to access a volume from a requesting system, determining whether the volume is associated with any system other than the requesting system, and preventing accidental erasure of the volume based on the determination.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to write one or more data sets to a magnetic tape volume, the magnetic tape volume being configured to store data thereon, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and write the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to a tape volume access block (TVAB) stored to the magnetic tape volume after a last written data set. In yet another embodiment, a method for managing a magnetic tape volume includes auditing a magnetic tape volume to determine a plurality of data sets stored thereto, determining metadata corresponding to the plurality of data sets, storing the metadata corresponding to the plurality of data sets to a TVAB, and writing the TVAB to the magnetic tape volume after a last written data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to establish a Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) relationship between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system, and copying one or more data tracks of a primary storage device in the primary storage system to the secondary storage system without copying at least one other data track of the primary storage device to the secondary storage system. The one or more data tracks of the primary storage device comprise one or more data tracks of a first characteristic. Other portions of the primary storage device comprise one or more other data tracks of a second characteristic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to write one or more data sets to a magnetic tape volume, the magnetic tape volume being configured to store data thereon, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and write the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to a tape volume access block (TVAB) stored to the magnetic tape volume after a last written data set. In yet another embodiment, a method for managing a magnetic tape volume includes auditing a magnetic tape volume to determine a plurality of data sets stored thereto, determining metadata corresponding to the plurality of data sets, storing the metadata corresponding to the plurality of data sets to a TVAB, and writing the TVAB to the magnetic tape volume after a last written data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; store an indicator of the physical position on the magnetic medium and/or a memory coupled thereto; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium and program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by the processor to cause the processor to: read an indicator of a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a primary storage system, includes: logic integrated with and/or executable by at least one controller, the logic being adapted to: receive a request to establish a Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) relationship between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system; set a path between the primary storage system and the secondary storage system via a hardwire connection in response to receiving the request; receive a memory map; establish the PPRC relationship between the primary storage system and the secondary storage system in response to receiving the memory map; and copy, based at least in part on the memory map, one or more data tracks of a primary storage device to the secondary storage system without copying at least one other data track of the primary storage device to the secondary storage system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor, logic in the processor and/or memory configured to determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of encrypted data written over residual unencrypted data, and logic configured to store an indicator of the physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto. In another embodiment, a method includes determining a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of encrypted data written over residual unencrypted data, storing an indicator of the physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto.

Abstract: Various embodiments of accidental shared volume erasure prevention include systems, methods, and/or computer program products for receiving a request to access a volume from a requesting system, determining whether the volume is associated with any system other than the requesting system, and preventing accidental erasure of the volume based on the determination.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a processor; logic in the processor and/or a memory configured to determine a furthest physical position on a magnetic medium that unobscured data has been written to; and logic configured to store an indicator of the furthest physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto. A system according to another embodiment includes a processor; logic in the processor and/or a memory configured to receive an instruction to obscure data on a magnetic medium; logic configured to read an indicator of a furthest physical position on the magnetic medium that unobscured data has been written to; and logic configured to cause obscuring of the unobscured data on the magnetic medium, and terminating the obscuring upon reaching the physical position in the indicator.