Abstract: A computer-implemented method for effectively delivering notifications in data storage environments includes, receiving, by a storage controller from a host system, a request to register the host system with the storage controller to receive notifications. These notifications may be associated with a selected type of event detected by the storage controller. In certain embodiments, the selected type of event is a space-related condition associated with a particular storage resource controlled by the storage controller. The computer-implemented method registers the host system with the storage controller. In response to detecting an event of the selected type on the storage controller, the computer-implemented method transmits a notification from the storage controller to the host system to provide notice of the event. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Ensuring that enterprise data that has potentially become corrupted is recoverable and usable by creating safeguarded copy volumes of the enterprise data. One important aspect of any corruption detection scheme is to determine when the data has become corrupted and locate the last known uncorrupted copy of the data as quickly as possible. Once this set of data is identified, the restoration process can begin with that data, and subsequent logged transactions can be reapplied if possible, which brings the data to the most recent and uncorrupted version.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing request directed through a channel subsystem to a storage server. In one embodiment, a pattern search request is embedded in a Device Command Word (DCW) which allows the storage server to do all or substantially all of the search and comparison work in response to as few as a single DCW from the host. In addition, I/O processing can be enhanced to use the target record of interest of a successful embedded pattern search request as the starting point for read/write I/O processing, all in response to as few as a single DCW. Still further, orientation rules can also be relaxed such that once a target record is found, any and all fields of the record can be accessed and utilized in execution of subsequent commands of the initial or subsequent DCWs of the chain.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing request directed through a channel subsystem to a storage server. In one embodiment, a pattern search request is embedded in a Device Command Word (DCW) which allows the storage server to do all or substantially all of the search and comparison work in response to as few as a single DCW from the host. In addition, I/O processing can be enhanced to use the target record of interest of a successful embedded pattern search request as the starting point for read/write I/O processing, all in response to as few as a single DCW. Still further, orientation rules can also be relaxed such that once a target record is found, any and all fields of the record can be accessed and utilized in execution of subsequent commands of the initial or subsequent DCWs of the chain.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for indicating tracks as erased without deleting data for the tracks. In response to receiving erase commands to erase tracks in the storage, indicating the tracks as erased without performing an erase operation on the tracks subject to the erase command. Data in the storage for the tracks indicated as erased remains in the storage while requests are directed to the tracks indicated as erased. A command is received indicating an operation with respect to a target track. The operation to proceed is permitted with respect to the target track in response to determining that the target track is not indicated as erased. An alternate operation is performed providing a result different from the operation indicated in the command in response to determining that the target track is indicated as erased.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for indicating tracks as erased without deleting data for the tracks. In response to receiving erase commands to erase tracks in the storage, indicating the tracks as erased without performing an erase operation on the tracks subject to the erase command. Data in the storage for the tracks indicated as erased remains in the storage while requests are directed to the tracks indicated as erased. A command is received indicating an operation with respect to a target track. The operation to proceed is permitted with respect to the target track in response to determining that the target track is not indicated as erased. An alternate operation is performed providing a result different from the operation indicated in the command in response to determining that the target track is indicated as erased.

Abstract: A method for suppressing data mirroring between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes defining a data class with an attribute designed to suppress mirroring of data from a primary storage system to a secondary storage system. The method assigns a data set to the data class, thereby causing the data set to inherit the attribute. In certain embodiments, assigning the data set to the data class includes recording the attribute in one or more of a volume-table-of-contents (VTOC) and a catalog used to reference the data set. The method automatically suppresses mirroring of the data set from the primary storage system to the secondary storage system in accordance with the assigned attribute. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Write transfer resource management in a data storage system in accordance with the present description includes overdue write transfer management logic which detects whether or not an established write set has become stale. In one embodiment, a determination is made as a function of whether a write transfer from a host and associated with an established write transfer set is overdue as measured by a time-out period of time. Upon determination that an established write transfer set has become stale, the stale write set is removed and the resources associated with the removed write set are freed for use by other write sets, significantly improving system performance. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for indicating tracks as erased without deleting data for the tracks. In response to receiving erase commands to erase tracks in the storage, indicating the tracks as erased without performing an erase operation on the tracks subject to the erase command. Data in the storage for the tracks indicated as erased remains in the storage while requests are directed to the tracks indicated as erased. A command is received indicating an operation with respect to a target track. The operation to proceed is permitted with respect to the target track in response to determining that the target track is not indicated as erased. An alternate operation is performed providing a result different from the operation indicated in the command in response to determining that the target track is indicated as erased.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of storing I/O statistics of a data set during initialization of a system. The computer-implemented method includes receiving during system initialization, by a processor, a data extent block associated with the data set. Next, the method identifies during system initialization, by the processor, a data set statistics block linked to an identified data set block, and stores, by the processor, the I/O statistics in the data set statistics block.

Abstract: A method for suppressing data mirroring between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes defining a data class with an attribute designed to suppress mirroring of data from a primary storage system to a secondary storage system. The method assigns a data set to the data class, thereby causing the data set to inherit the attribute. In certain embodiments, assigning the data set to the data class includes recording the attribute in one or more of a volume-table-of-contents (VTOC) and a catalog used to reference the data set. The method automatically suppresses mirroring of the data set from the primary storage system to the secondary storage system in accordance with the assigned attribute. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request for a creation or expansion of a file within a predetermined volume of a system, determining that a first amount of available space within the predetermined volume is insufficient to allow the creation or expansion of the file within the predetermined volume of the system, expanding the first amount of available space within the predetermined volume to create a second amount of available space that is greater than the first amount of available space, in response to determining that the first amount of available space is insufficient, and implementing the creation or expansion of the file within the predetermined volume of the system, utilizing the second amount of available space within the predetermined volume.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request for a creation or expansion of a file within a predetermined volume of a system, determining that a first amount of available space within the predetermined volume is insufficient to allow the creation or expansion of the file within the predetermined volume of the system, expanding the first amount of available space within the predetermined volume to create a second amount of available space that is greater than the first amount of available space, in response to determining that the first amount of available space is insufficient, and implementing the creation or expansion of the file within the predetermined volume of the system, utilizing the second amount of available space within the predetermined volume.

Abstract: Write transfer resource management in a data storage system in accordance with the present description includes overdue write transfer management logic which detects whether or not an established write set has become stale. In one embodiment, a determination is made as a function of whether a write transfer from a host and associated with an established write transfer set is overdue as measured by a time-out period of time. Upon determination that an established write transfer set has become stale, the stale write set is removed and the resources associated with the removed write set are freed for use by other write sets, significantly improving system performance. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a write of records to maintain atomicity for writing a defined group of records to multiple tracks. A write is received comprising defined groups of records to write to a plurality of tracks in the primary storage system. Sub-writes are generated to write the records in the defined groups in the write. At least one of the sub-writes includes records to write for at least one of the defined groups that spans multiple tracks in response to determining that at least one of the defined groups includes records that will be written to multiple tracks. The sub-writes are transmitted to the primary storage system to mirror to the secondary storage system to cause the secondary storage system to return complete in response to completing writing to all the tracks written to by the sub-write.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for mirroring writes of records to maintain atomicity for writing a defined group of records to multiple tracks. Sub-writes are received from a host system to write records in defined groups in a write, wherein at least one of the sub-writes includes records to write for at least one of the defined groups that spans multiple tracks. For each of the sub-writes including records for at least one of the defined groups that spans multiple tracks, the tracks in the sub-write with to the secondary storage system to cause the secondary storage system to apply the tracks upon receiving all the tracks for the sub-write. Complete is returned for the sub-write to the host system upon receiving confirmation from the secondary storage system that all the tracks for the sub-write have been applied to the secondary storage system.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method is provided for storage controller-mediated volume transformation in a shared-resource environment. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, utilizing a processor, a command, from an initiating host system, to send a notification to at least one other host system connected to a shared volume. The computer-implemented method also includes broadcasting an interrupt to the at least one other host system connected to the shared volume, and receiving a response from one or more of the at least one other host system connected to the shared volume. The computer-implemented method further includes notifying the initiating host system of the response(s) received from the one or more of the at least one other host system connected to the shared volume.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of storing I/O statistics of a data set during initialization of a system. The computer-implemented method includes receiving during system initialization, by a processor, a data extent block associated with the data set. Next, the method identifies during system initialization, by the processor, a data set statistics block linked to an identified data set block, and stores, by the processor, the I/O statistics in the data set statistics block.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method is provided for storage controller-mediated volume transformation in a shared-resource environment. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, utilizing a processor, a command, from an initiating host system, to send a notification to at least one other host system connected to a shared volume. The computer-implemented method also includes broadcasting an interrupt to the at least one other host system connected to the shared volume, and receiving a response from one or more of the at least one other host system connected to the shared volume. The computer-implemented method further includes notifying the initiating host system of the response(s) received from the one or more of the at least one other host system connected to the shared volume.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes making a determination, by a computer, to perform a transforming operation on a shared volume. A notify command is sent to a storage controller of the shared volume, the notify command including an action to be taken by other hosts connected to the shared volume. A message is received from the storage controller, the message indicating that responses have been received from the other host systems connected to the shared volume. A determination is made as to whether to perform the transforming operation based on the responses. The transforming operation is performed on the shared volume in response to the responses from the other host systems indicating that the other host systems successfully performed the action specified in the notify command.