Abstract: A method for converting from one asynchronous data replication technology to another is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes utilizing a first asynchronous data replication technology to asynchronously replicate data from a primary volume to a secondary volume. The method initiates, at time T1, tracking of post-T1 changes to the primary volume and waits for all pre-T1 changes to the primary volume to be propagated to the secondary volume. When all pre-T1 changes have been propagated to the secondary volume, the method suspends operation of the first asynchronous data replication technology and replicates all post-T1 changes from the primary volume to the secondary volume. The method further sets up and initiates a second asynchronous data replication technology to asynchronously replicate data from the primary volume to the secondary volume. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one aspect of metadata track entry sorting in accordance with the present description, recovery logic sorts a list of metadata entries as a function of a source data track identification of each metadata entry to provide a second, sorted list of metadata entries, and generates a recovery volume which includes data tracks which are a function of one or more data target tracks identified by the sorted list of metadata entries. Because the metadata entry contents of the sorted list have been sorted as a function of source track identification number, the particular time version of a particular source track may be identified more quickly and more efficiently. As a result, recovery from data loss may be achieved more quickly and more efficiently thereby providing a significant improvement in computer technology. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one approach includes identifying an inability to access a first storage volume during a first data replication session, creating a second data replication session including the first storage volume, and removing the first storage volume from the first data replication session.

Abstract: Withdrawal of a point-in-time snap copy relationship or a portion of such a relationship, is managed in a manner which can obviate disruption of consistency groups due to the withdrawal. If the withdrawal request is directed to a subrange of the original snap copy relationship, the snap copy relationship is split by creating one or more point-in-time snap copy relationships over one or more subranges of tracks of the snap copy source. A determination is made as to whether to delay execution of the withdrawal request to temporarily preserve data of the withdrawal range. Disruptions to completion of consistency groups may be avoided by selectively delaying the withdrawal of a snap copy relationship corresponding to the withdrawal subrange. In so far as the host is involved, a host may treat the withdrawal request as immediately granted without delay. Other aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

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: Provided is a method for correcting untrusted data and avoiding logical device swapping for at least one logical subsystem of at least one computer system. A processor may monitor a primary storage for one or more errors that indicate untrusted data on the primary storage. An error indicating that a data set on the primary storage is an untrusted data set may be identified. In response to the error being identified, a corresponding uncompromised version of the data set may be read from a secondary storage. The corresponding uncompromised version of the data set may be written over the untrusted data set on the primary storage.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining space to release in a target volume to which tracks from a source volume are mirrored. A copy of a source volume table for the source volume providing a state of the tracks in the source volume for a consistency group is received. Tracks received from the source volume are written to the target volume to form the consistency group of tracks in the source volume at the target volume. A determination is made of tracks available to release from the copy of the source volume table and space allocated to the determined tracks is replaced. A point-in-time copy is created of the target volume for the consistency group. Complete is returned to forming the consistency group in response to releasing the space and creating the point-in-time copy.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for updating change information for current copy relationships when establishing a new copy relationship having overlapping data with the current copy relationships. A first copy relationship indicates changed first source data to copy to first target data. An establish request is processed to create a second copy relationship to copy second source data in to second target data. A second copy relationship is generated, in response to the establish request, indicating data in the second source data to copy to the second target data. A determination is made of overlapping data units in the first source data also in the second target data. Indication is made in the first copy relationship to copy the overlapping data units. The first source data indicated in the first copy relationship is copied to the first target data, including data for the overlapping data units.

Abstract: A method for validating data in a copy repository is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes establishing a template that designates valid fields within a data set, as well as valid values and types of data within the fields. The method further establishes a timeframe over which to validate versions of the data set residing in a copy repository. Starting at a first end of the timeframe and proceeding to a second end, the method validates each version of the data set residing in the copy repository. To accomplish this, the method configures a computing system to a state that existed when the version was created in the copy repository. The method then opens the version on the computing system and validates the version against the template. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for performing a recovery copy command using a recovery copy data structure for a backup volume lookup. In response to receiving a recovery copy command, a recovery copy data structure is created with indicators for storage locations and a recovery target data structure is created with indicators for storage locations. A read operation is received for a storage location in a cache. Based on a value of an indicator in the recovery copy data structure for the storage location and a value of an indicator in the recovery target data structure for the storage location, the data is staged from one of the production volume, the recovery volume, and a backup volume to the cache.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for performing a recovery copy command to restore a safeguarded copy backup to a production volume. In response to receiving a recovery copy command, a production target data structure is created. A read operation is received for data for a storage location. In response to determining that the data for the storage location is in a cache of a host and a generation number is greater than a recovery generation number, the data is read from the cache. In response to determining at least one of that the data for the storage location is not in the cache and that the generation number is not greater than the recovery generation number, the data is read from one of the production volume and a backup volume based on a value of an indicator for the storage location in the production target data structure.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining tracks to release in a target volume mirroring tracks from a source volume. Tracks received from the source volume are written to the target volume to form a consistency group of tracks in the source volume at the target volume. A determination is made of tracks available to release from a volume table providing a state of the tracks in the target volume and space allocated to the determined tracks is released. A point-in-time copy of the target volume is crated and complete is returned to forming the consistency group in response to releasing the space and creating the point-in-time copy.

Abstract: Consistency groups are asynchronously copied to a remote computational device, from a local computational device, wherein point in time copy operations are performed at the local computational device while the consistency groups are being asynchronously copied to the remote computational device. Indicators are stored at the remote computational device to identify those point in time copy operations that are to be restored as part of a recovery operation performed at the remote computational device in response to a failure of the local computational device.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for copying data from multiple point-in-time copies to a log storage to use to roll-back a source storage managing point-in-time copies of a source storage. A plurality of point-in-time copies of a source storage at different point-in-times are established. In response to receiving writes to the source storage after establishing each of the point-in-time copies, point-in-time data in the source storage is copied, before being updated by the received writes, to a log storage, wherein the log storage stores point-in-time data for multiple of the point-in-time copies. The log storage is used to roll-back the source storage to a selected point-in-time of one of the point-in-time copies.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using mirror indicators to determine whether to mirror tracks in a data set in a primary volume mirrored to a secondary volume. A table is read. The table is maintained by a primary controller managing the primary volume that includes a mirror indicator for each of a plurality of tracks in at least one data set configured in the primary volume indicating whether a track is to be mirrored to the secondary volume. Record sets are read from a cache of the primary controller for the tracks in primary volume having the mirror indicators in the table indicating that the track is to be mirrored. The write data in the read record sets is applied to tracks in the secondary volume mirroring the tracks in the primary volume.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining tracks to release in a source volume being copied to a target volume. A consistency group is formed of tracks in the source volume to copy to the target volume. A volume table providing information on the tracks allocated to the source volume is copied to a volume table copy in a memory providing a state of the tracks in the source volume as of a consistency group time. A determination is made of tracks in the source volume to release for tracks that are indicated in the volume table copy as available to release excluding tracks in the source volume that are written after the consistency group time. Space allocated to the determined tracks is released.

Abstract: Provided is a method for correcting pinned data in a primary storage. A primary storage controller may detect a pinned data set on a primary storage. In response to detecting the pinned data set, the primary storage controller may instruct a secondary storage controller to transmit a copy of the pinned data set to the primary storage controller. The copy of the pinned data set may be stored in a secondary storage that is communicatively coupled to the secondary storage controller. The secondary storage may include a synchronous copy of the primary storage. The primary storage controller may receive the copy of the pinned data set from the secondary storage controller. The primary storage controller may also write the copy of the pinned data set over the pinned data set on the primary storage.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using a space release data structure to indicate tracks to release for a space release command to release space of tracks in a consistency group being formed. A space release command is received to free a release space of tracks in a source storage or target storage while transferring changed data in a consistency group to a target storage. A space release data structure is created indicating for each track of the tracks in the release space whether to release or not release the track. The space release data structure is initialized to indicate that each of the tracks is to be released. The tracks in the space release data structure are indicated to be released after the consistency group has completed.

Abstract: A method for providing different message information to users based on authorization level is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting an event, such as an error or abnormal termination, in a hardware or software product. The method generates a message in association with the event and determines an authorization level of a user intended to receive the message. In the event the user is associated with a first authorization level, the method includes first content in the message. In the event the user is associated with a second authorization level, the method includes second content in the message. The second content may be more comprehensive than the first content. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for modifying a configuration of a storage system. The method includes one or more computer processors identifying data received at a logical partition (LPAR) of a storage system, wherein a copy program associated with a process for data mirroring executes within the LPAR. The method further includes determining a first rate based on analyzing a quantity of data received at the LPAR during the process of data mirroring. The method further includes creating a journal file from a set of records within the received data. The method further includes determining a second rate related to migrating the journal file from the LPAR to intermediate storage included in the storage system. The method further includes determining to modify a set of configuration information associated with the process of data mirroring by the storage system based, at least in part, on the first rate and the second rate.