Abstract: A method for managing storage functions in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes continually monitoring for changes to a storage configuration at a secondary site. Upon detecting changes to the storage configuration at the secondary site, the method transmits remote metadata describing the changes to the primary site and stores the remote metadata at the primary site. The method then initiates a storage management function at the primary site which is mirrored to the secondary site. In order to perform the storage management function, the method reads the remote metadata at the primary site to determine the storage configuration at the secondary site. The method then performs the storage management function at the primary site in a way that takes into account the storage configuration at the secondary site. A corresponding apparatus, system, and computer-readable medium are also disclosed and claimed herein.

Abstract: A method for managing storage functions in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes continually monitoring for changes to a storage configuration at a secondary site. Upon detecting changes to the storage configuration at the secondary site, the method transmits remote metadata describing the changes to the primary site and stores the remote metadata at the primary site. The method then initiates a storage management function at the primary site which is mirrored to the secondary site. In order to perform the storage management function, the method reads the remote metadata at the primary site to determine the storage configuration at the secondary site. The method then performs the storage management function at the primary site in a way that takes into account the storage configuration at the secondary site.

Abstract: Provided are a system and article of manufacture for providing an address format compatible with different addressing formats used for addressing different sized address spaces. An address format is used in an operating system to address storage space in a storage device comprising a first region and a second region of storage space. A first group of applications uses the address format to only address the storage space in the first region and is not coded to use the address format to access the second region and a second group of applications uses the address format to address the storage space in the first and second regions.

Abstract: Provided is a method for maintaining mirror and storage system copies of volumes at multiple remote sites. A first server maintains a mirror copy relationship between a first storage system at a first site and a second storage system at a second site. The first server performs a first point-in-time copy operation from the first storage system to a first storage system copy, wherein the data for the first storage system copy is consistent as of the determined point-in-time. The first server transmits a command to a second server to create a point-in-time copy of the second storage system. The second server processes mirror data transferred from the first server as part of the mirror copy relationship to determine when to create a second point-in-time copy. The second server performs the second point-in-time copy operation.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for maintaining mirror and storage system copies of volumes at multiple remote sites. A first server maintains a mirror copy relationship in a computer readable storage medium between a first storage system at a first site and a second storage system at a second site to mirror data at the first storage system to the second storage system, wherein the first and second sites connect over a network. The first server performs a first point-in-time copy operation from the first storage system to a first storage system copy, wherein the data for the first storage system copy is consistent as of the determined point-in-time, wherein the point-in-time copy operation is completed upon creating a data structure indicating data for the first storage system copy as located at the first storage or the first storage system copy. The first server transmits a command to a second server to create a point-in-time copy of the second storage system.

Abstract: A data storage system which copies data from source data storage volumes to target data storage volumes restricts a write operation to at least one source data storage volume (FREEZE), to prevent the updating of a source while the data of a consistency group of interdependent data is being copied. Program logic selects a source data storage volume to which the restriction applies as a verification volume; and the program logic responds to a verification request to first employ the verification volume to verify that the restriction remains in place with respect to the verification volume, and to allow a reset of the restriction (THAW).

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for recovering multivolume data. In one embodiment, a backup module physically backs up a plurality of source volumes to plurality of backup volumes. A data set size module may also capture a data set size for a data set during the physical backup. A retrieval module retrieves metadata for the data set from a catalog. A location module locates the data set on the plurality of backup volumes using the metadata. A recovery module recovers the data set as a recovered data set from the plurality of backup volumes. In one embodiment, a verification module verifies that the recovered data set is successfully recovered.

Abstract: Provided are a system and article of manufacture for providing an address format compatible with different addressing formats used for addressing different sized address spaces. An address format is used in an operating system to address storage space in a storage device comprising a first region and a second region of storage space. A first group of applications uses the address format to only address the storage space in the first region and is not coded to use the address format to access the second region and a second group of applications uses the address format to address the storage space in the first and second regions.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and article of manufacture for providing an address format compatible with different addressing formats used for addressing different sized address spaces. An address format is used in an operating system to address storage space in a storage device comprising a first region and a second region of storage space. A first group of applications uses the address format to only address the storage space in the first region and is not coded to use the address format to access the second region and a second group of applications uses the address format to address the storage space in the first and second regions.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for recovering multivolume data. In one embodiment, a backup module physically backs up a plurality of source volumes to plurality of backup volumes. A data set size module may also capture a data set size for a data set during the physical backup. A retrieval module retrieves metadata for the data set from a catalog. A location module locates the data set on the plurality of backup volumes using the metadata. A recovery module recovers the data set as a recovered data set from the plurality of backup volumes. In one embodiment, a verification module verifies that the recovered data set is successfully recovered.

Abstract: A secondary volume of a mirrored volume pair is replicated by suspending the mirroring operations, associating a selected volume identifier with the secondary volume, replicating the secondary volume to a backup volume, and associating the original secondary volume identifier with the backup volume. In some embodiments the original secondary volume identifier is written to a hidden field on the secondary volume and the hidden field is copied to the backup volume identifier field after the replication. In some embodiments the actions of suspending the mirror operations, managing the volume identifiers, replicating the secondary volume to a backup volume, synchronizing the secondary volume with the primary volume, and reestablishing the mirror pair are performed as an automated sequence. The resultant replication method is less costly and error prone because it may be created by an automated process rather than manual commands issued by a system administrator.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for copying storage. A request is received from a host application to copy a plurality of source storage units. A list of potential target storage units is determined based on a policy. Potential target storage units that are eligible for fast replication are selected from the determined list, wherein the selection of the potential target storage units for fast replication includes determining whether a storage unit in the list of potential target storage units is eligible for fast replication by processing an attribute associated with the storage unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and program for data backup. A backup copy of source data is created. A backup dataset inventory is created when the backup copy is created. The backup dataset inventory includes a backup dataset identifier and an originating source volume identifier for cach dataset of the source data. The backup copy is copied to a storage medium. A storage media inventory is created when copying the backup copy to the storage medium. The storage media inventory includes the originating source volume identifier and a storage media identifier for each dataset of the source data. This single backup scheme eliminates having to issue both image copies for individual dataset recovery, as well as, separate full volume dumps for recover of failed physical volumes or to recover an entire application.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for building a list of parameters to include with a command, such as a copy command. A plurality of input parameters is received and a determination is made as to whether a number of the input parameters exceeds a threshold number of parameters that are capable of being included in the command. The content of multiple input parameters is merged into at least one output parameter if the number of input parameters exceeds the threshold number, such that the content of the input parameters is included in a number of output parameters that does not exceed the threshold. The output parameters are then included with the command.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for copying storage. A request is received from a host application to copy a plurality of source storage units. A list of potential target storage units is determined based on a policy. Potential target storage units that are eligible for fast replication are selected from the determined list, wherein the selection of the potential target storage units for fast replication includes determining whether a storage unit in the list of potential target storage units is eligible for fast replication by processing an attribute associated with the storage unit.

Abstract: A secondary volume of a mirrored volume pair is replicated by suspending the mirroring operations, associating a selected volume identifier with the secondary volume, replicating the secondary volume to a backup volume, and associating the original secondary volume identifier with the backup volume. In some embodiments the original secondary volume identifier is written to a hidden field on the secondary volume and the hidden field is copied to the backup volume identifier field after the replication. In some embodiments the actions of suspending the mirror operations, managing the volume identifiers, replicating the secondary volume to a backup volume, synchronizing the secondary volume with the primary volume, and reestablishing the mirror pair are performed as an automated sequence. The resultant replication method is less costly and error prone because it may be created by an automated process rather than manual commands issued by a system administrator.

Abstract: Instant virtual copy operations are adapted for data objects that span storage boundaries such as logical and/or physical DASD subsystems. Initially, a data storage system receives a request to copy a data object contained in the system. The storage system includes multiple storage regions separated by storage boundaries. The regions may correspond to logical or physical DASD subsystems, for example. The storage system determines whether the data object resides in more than one of these regions. If so, the storage system divides the data object into multiple subparts, each subpart contained within a single storage region. Then, the storage system separately performs an instant virtual copy operation for each subpart. On the other hand, if the data object already resides in a single one of the regions, the storage system can perform one instant virtual copy operation for the data object as a whole.

Abstract: A method of copying a body of source data is shown, with rapid creation of an a backup dataset inventory. While write operations to the source data are temporarily suspended, a backup manager conducts an instant virtual copy of the source data creating a backup copy. Also while write operations are being suspended, the backup manager captures contents of a source dataset inventory cross-referencing datasets in the source data and locations in the body of source data where the datasets are stored. After the copy operation completes and writes to the source data resume, the backup manager adds the captured backup contents to a backup dataset inventory cross-referencing datasets in the backup copy and locations where the backup copy datasets are stored in the backup copy.

Abstract: A method of copying a body of source data is shown, with rapid creation of an a backup dataset inventory. While write operations to the source data are temporarily suspended, a backup manager conducts an instant virtual copy of the source data creating a backup copy. Also while write operations are being suspended, the backup manager captures contents of a source dataset inventory cross-referencing datasets in the source data and locations in the body of source data where the datasets are stored. After the copy operation completes and writes to the source data resume, the backup manager adds the captured backup contents to a backup dataset inventory cross-referencing datasets in the backup copy and locations where the backup copy datasets are stored in the backup copy.

Abstract: A backup copy of a source data volume is created by first performing an instant virtual copy with source volume identifier (ID) suspended, then creating a physical tape backup copy from the instant virtual copy with the source volume ID being reintroduced. This creates an exact duplicate of the source volume with minimal impact on access to the source volume. Moreover, the resultant backup copy is less costly and error prone because it is created by a machine-automated process rather than various commands issued by a system administrator. In addition, by differentiating the volume IDs during intermediate copy steps, the invention is more fault tolerant since failure of the storage subsystem will not result in source and a temporary copy having confusingly indistinguishable volume IDs.