Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques to vary on and vary off databases simultaneously across a pair of nodes in a mirroring environment. A dual vary off operation is initiated at a first node of the pair of nodes, the dual vary off operation to be performed on copies of a database respectively stored on the pair of nodes, the operation to be performed in tandem with the second node. At the first node the copy of the database stored on the first node is informed of the dual vary off operation, and an operating system of the first node is also informed of the dual vary off operation. Upon receipt at the first node of an indication from the second node that it has completed its vary off operation, the first node completes the dual vary off operation. An analogous technique is performed for a dual vary on operation.

Abstract: Techniques for warm cloning of computing nodes are provided. A request to clone a first computing node is received. Upon determining that a first transaction of a plurality of transactions is ongoing, a first moment in time when data associated with the first transaction was coherent on the first computing node is identified. Tracking data related to the first transaction is collected, beginning at the first moment in time. Further, a first storage associated with the first computing node is copied to a second storage associated with a second computing node, where the first transaction continues during the copying. The tracking data related to the first transaction is then transmitted to the second computing node.

Abstract: In embodiments, the ability to have two separate Db2 Mirror pair environments, each providing HA, which have the capability to switch application spaces between the Db2 Mirror pairs, is presented. At least one IASP is registered to a first node of a first pair of nodes at a first HA mirroring environment at a first location. The at least one IASP is replicated to a second HA mirroring environment, the second HA mirroring environment including a second pair of nodes at a second location, the second location different than the first location. The at least one IASP is registered with one node of the pair of nodes of the second mirroring environment, the at least one IASP is switched offline at the first pair of nodes of the first mirroring environment, and subsequently switched online at the second pair of nodes of the second mirroring environment.

Abstract: Techniques for warm cloning of computing nodes are provided. A request to clone a first computing node is received. Upon determining that a first transaction of a plurality of transactions is ongoing, a first moment in time when data associated with the first transaction was coherent on the first computing node is identified. Tracking data related to the first transaction is collected, beginning at the first moment in time. Further, a first storage associated with the first computing node is copied to a second storage associated with a second computing node, where the first transaction continues during the copying. The tracking data related to the first transaction is then transmitted to the second computing node.

Abstract: In embodiments, the ability to have two separate Db2 Mirror pair environments, each providing HA, which have the capability to switch application spaces between the Db2 Mirror pairs, is presented. At least one IASP is registered to a first node of a first pair of nodes at a first HA mirroring environment at a first location. The at least one IASP is replicated to a second HA mirroring environment, the second HA mirroring environment including a second pair of nodes at a second location, the second location different than the first location. The at least one IASP is registered with one node of the pair of nodes of the second mirroring environment, the at least one IASP is switched offline at the first pair of nodes of the first mirroring environment, and subsequently switched online at the second pair of nodes of the second mirroring environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques to vary on and vary off databases simultaneously across a pair of nodes in a mirroring environment. A dual vary off operation is initiated at a first node of the pair of nodes, the dual vary off operation to be performed on copies of a database respectively stored on the pair of nodes, the operation to be performed in tandem with the second node. At the first node the copy of the database stored on the first node is informed of the dual vary off operation, and an operating system of the first node is also informed of the dual vary off operation. Upon receipt at the first node of an indication from the second node that it has completed its vary off operation, the first node completes the dual vary off operation. An analogous technique is performed for a dual vary on operation.

Abstract: Virtual Network Interface Connection (VNIC) is a client-server protocol that virtualizes access to a single physical Ethernet network adapter. “Dedicated VNIC” describes a configuration where a VNIC server is connected to a single VNIC client via a command/response queue (CRQ), allowing minimal overhead when communicating between the client and the Ethernet network adapter. A VNIC server failover mechanism includes multiple VNIC servers on a prioritized list. The top VNIC server on the prioritized list is selected to serve a VNIC client when a CRQ is opened by the client. When the selected VNIC server stops working, the VNIC server failover mechanism selects the next VNIC client in the prioritized list as the active VNIC server, and establishes a connection to the VNIC client's CRQ. In this manner, recovery of a failure in a VNIC server is done in a way that does not require any changes to the VNIC client.

Abstract: Virtual Network Interface Connection (VNIC) is a client-server protocol that virtualizes access to a single physical Ethernet network adapter. “Dedicated VNIC” describes a configuration where a VNIC server is connected to a single VNIC client via a command/response queue (CRQ), allowing minimal overhead when communicating between the client and the Ethernet network adapter. A VNIC server failover mechanism includes multiple VNIC servers on a prioritized list. The top VNIC server on the prioritized list is selected to serve a VNIC client when a CRQ is opened by the client. When the selected VNIC server stops working, the VNIC server failover mechanism selects the next VNIC client in the prioritized list as the active VNIC server, and establishes a connection to the VNIC client's CRQ. In this manner, recovery of a failure in a VNIC server is done in a way that does not require any changes to the VNIC client.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a skip read command is received that requests transfer of a requested block from a storage device and that requests non-transfer of a skipped block from the storage device. The skip read command specifies a skip mask that comprises an identification of a location of the requested block relative to a location of the skipped block at the storage device. In response to the skip read command, the requested block and the skipped block are transferred from the storage device by creating a read command that requests transfer of the requested block and the skipped block and sending the read command to the storage device. In various embodiments, the skipped block is transferred to a temporary buffer and not transferred to a destination buffer, or the skipped block is transferred to the destination buffer, but overwritten by a transfer of the requested block to the destination buffer.

Abstract: A vendor independent partition interface between a logical partition and an adjunct partition associated with a self-virtualizing IO resource is used to effectively abstract away vender-specific interface details for the self-virtualizing IO resource. By doing so, vender-specific implementation details may be isolated from the operating systems resident in logical partitions, thus requiring only changes in vendor specific firmware in order to support new or revised self-virtualizing IO resources.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a skip read command is received that requests transfer of a requested block from a storage device and that requests non-transfer of a skipped block from the storage device. The skip read command specifies a skip mask that comprises an identification of a location of the requested block relative to a location of the skipped block at the storage device. In response to the skip read command, the requested block and the skipped block are transferred from the storage device by creating a read command that requests transfer of the requested block and the skipped block and sending the read command to the storage device. In various embodiments, the skipped block is transferred to a temporary buffer and not transferred to a destination buffer, or the skipped block is transferred to the destination buffer, but overwritten by a transfer of the requested block to the destination buffer.

Abstract: A vendor independent partition interface between a logical partition and an adjunct partition associated with a self-virtualizing IO resource is used to effectively abstract away vender-specific interface details for the self-virtualizing IO resource. By doing so, vender-specific implementation details may be isolated from the operating systems resident in logical partitions, thus requiring only changes in vendor specific firmware in order to support new or revised self-virtualizing IO resources.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product dynamically allocate limited system memory for direct memory access (DMA) among a plurality of input/output (I/O) adapters in a system partition. Initially a minimum entitlement of I/O entitled memory capacity is allocated to each of the respective multiple I/O adapters. The minimum entitlement enables operation of an I/O adapter driver. Additional entitlement of I/O entitled memory capacity is selectively allocated based upon I/O demands of each I/O adapter.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product dynamically allocate limited system memory for direct memory access (DMA) among a plurality of input/output (I/O) adapters in a system partition. Initially a minimum entitlement of I/O entitled memory capacity is allocated to each of the respective multiple I/O adapters. The minimum entitlement enables operation of an I/O adapter driver. Additional entitlement of I/O entitled memory capacity is selectively allocated based upon I/O demands of each I/O adapter.