Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining that an update to data on a local computer has been initiated by an application and sending a notification to a remote computer that the update has been initiated. The method includes sending, to the remote computer, an indication of the data on the local computer being updated. The method includes, in response to determining that updates to the data on the local computer and meta data corresponding to the data have been completed, sending a second notification to the remote computer that the update has been completed.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a command from a host application to perform a point-in-time backup of a source dataset to a storage cloud. The storage controller generates a target dataset via a point-in-time copy of the source dataset, and a mapping that indicates a correspondence between locations of the source dataset and locations of the target dataset. The storage controller copies the target dataset to the storage cloud to generate a backup dataset that is the point-in-time backup of the source dataset, wherein the backup dataset is accessible via reference to the locations of the source dataset.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a command from a host application to perform a point-in-time backup of a source dataset to a storage cloud. The storage controller generates a target dataset via a point-in-time copy of the source dataset, and a mapping that indicates a correspondence between locations of the source dataset and locations of the target dataset. The storage controller copies the target dataset to the storage cloud to generate a backup dataset that is the point-in-time backup of the source dataset, wherein the backup dataset is accessible via reference to the locations of the source dataset.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a command from a host application to perform a point-in-time backup of a source dataset to a storage cloud. The storage controller generates a target dataset via a point-in-time copy of the source dataset, and a mapping that indicates a correspondence between locations of the source dataset and locations of the target dataset. The storage controller copies the target dataset to the storage cloud to generate a backup dataset that is the point-in-time backup of the source dataset, wherein the backup dataset is accessible via reference to the locations of the source dataset.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for defragmenting backup objects. A metadata object having first format addresses for data sets in data objects for a volume is copied to a temporary metadata object. The data sets in the data objects are copied to consecutive second format addresses in temporary data objects to defragment data in the data sets in the data objects. The first format and the second format addresses comprise different address formats. The temporary metadata object and the temporary data objects are stored in the storage to provide a backup of the volume.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for defragmenting backup objects. A metadata object having first format addresses for data sets in data objects for a volume is copied to a temporary metadata object. The data sets in the data objects are copied to consecutive second format addresses in temporary data objects to defragment data in the data sets in the data objects. The first format and the second format addresses comprise different address formats. The temporary metadata object and the temporary data objects are stored in the storage to provide a backup of the volume.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for accessing records of a backup file in a network storage. A backup file comprises a sequential file of metadata records and data set records is processed. The metadata records include metadata on data of data sets in the data set records. Backup objects store the metadata and the data set records in the backup file. A determination is made of at least one container in the network storage to store the backup objects. Backup object information indicates for each of the backup objects, an order of the metadata or data set record, stored in the backup object, in the backup file, and a container of the at least one container in which the backup object is stored. Multiple of the backup objects are concurrently transmitted to the network storage to concurrently write to the at least one container.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining that an update to data on a local computer has been initiated by an application and sending a notification to a remote computer that the update has been initiated. The method includes sending, to the remote computer, an indication of the data on the local computer being updated. The method includes, in response to determining that updates to the data on the local computer and meta data corresponding to the data have been completed, sending a second notification to the remote computer that the update has been completed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for performing a remote point-in-time copy to a source and target storages in further mirror copy relationships. Each of a plurality of source copy relationships is from the source storage to one corresponding source copy storage. Each of a plurality of target copy relationships is from the target storage to one corresponding target copy storage, where in each relationship an indicator indicates whether to use a remote first type copy operation. The first type copy operation is used to copy data from the source storage to the target storage and copy data from the source copy storage to the target copy storage for the determined source and target copy relationships having the indicator set. A second type of copy operations is used for source and target relationships not having the indicator set.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for serializing access to data objects in a logical entity group in a network storage. Data objects associated with a logical entity at a client storage are generated. A determination is made of a prefix for a container in the network storage associated with the logical entity. The prefix is included in names of the data objects in the logical entity. The prefix is added to a lock queue shared by the client systems having access to the data objects in the container at the network storage. The data objects having the names including the prefix are transmitted to the network storage to store in the container in the network storage.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for providing integrity for data sets backed-up from client systems to objects in a network storage. Data set objects include data sets at a client storage and an inventory object has information on each of the data set objects, which are part of a backup object group to backup to the network storage. The data set and inventory objects in the backup object group are transferred to the network storage to store. The inventory object from the network storage is retrieved to select at least one of the data set objects in the network storage, which is requested. Notification is received that the backup object group has a data integrity error in response to one of the requested data set objects not located in the network storage.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for serializing access to data objects in a logical entity group in a network storage. Data objects associated with a logical entity at a client storage are generated. A determination is made of a prefix for a container in the network storage associated with the logical entity. The prefix is included in names of the data objects in the logical entity. The prefix is added to a lock queue shared by the client systems having access to the data objects in the container at the network storage. The data objects having the names including the prefix are transmitted to the network storage to store in the container in the network storage.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a command from a host application to perform a point-in-time backup of a source dataset to a storage cloud. The storage controller generates a target dataset via a point-in-time copy of the source dataset, and a mapping that indicates a correspondence between locations of the source dataset and locations of the target dataset. The storage controller copies the target dataset to the storage cloud to generate a backup dataset that is the point-in-time backup of the source dataset, wherein the backup dataset is accessible via reference to the locations of the source dataset.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for serializing access to data objects in a logical entity group in a network storage. Data objects associated with a logical entity at a client storage are generated. A determination is made of a prefix for a container in the network storage associated with the logical entity. The prefix is included in names of the data objects in the logical entity. The prefix is added to a lock queue shared by the client systems having access to the data objects in the container at the network storage. The data objects having the names including the prefix are transmitted to the network storage to store in the container in the network storage.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a command from a host application to perform a point-in-time backup of a source dataset to a storage cloud. The storage controller generates a target dataset via a point-in-time copy of the source dataset, and a mapping that indicates a correspondence between locations of the source dataset and locations of the target dataset. The storage controller copies the target dataset to the storage cloud to generate a backup dataset that is the point-in-time backup of the source dataset, wherein the backup dataset is accessible via reference to the locations of the source dataset.

Abstract: A storage controller maintains extent space efficient storage volumes in a primary allocation space and a secondary allocation space. An indicator is used to indicate that extents of the secondary allocation space are available for an extent pool, without releasing the extents from the secondary allocation space.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for pre-allocating storage space for an application operation in a space efficient volume. To transmit application requests to a storage controller managing a space efficient volume, a determination is made of an amount of space required for an application operation requiring a series of write operations over a period of time to the space efficient volume. A space pre-allocation request for the application operation is transmitted to the storage controller. The space pre-allocation request indicates a requested amount of physical space to pre-allocate to the application operation to cause the storage controller to pre-allocate the requested amount of space in advance of the application operation needing the requested amount of space in the volume for the series of write operations.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for pre-allocating storage space for an application operation in a space efficient volume where a host system transmits writes to the space efficient volume. Physical storage space is allocated to the space efficient volume when the host system submits a write request. An amount of space needed by the write request is allocated to the volume in response to receiving the write request. A space allocation request is received from the host system for an application operation indicating a requested amount of space to allocate in the space efficient volume for the application operation. The requested amount of space is pre-allocated in the space efficient volume for the application operation in advance of the application operation needing the requested amount of space for a series of write operations that will be generated during the execution of the application operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing a point in time copy using a block level of granularity. The method includes identifying an index node for a file, and translating data block locations identified by the index node to physical track locations. Further, the method includes performing a point in time copy utilizing the physical track locations.

Abstract: A storage controller maintains an allocation space for extent space efficient storage volumes, in response to a request from a host application for storage space, wherein an extent pool is configured to allocate available extents to the host application. In response to a request from the host application to delete data stored in selected extents that are already allocated to the host application, the storage controller deletes the data but continues to maintain the selected extents as being allocated to the host application. In response to a request to write new data, the storage controller writes the new data to the selected extents that are already allocated.