Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method in accordance with one embodiment of the present description, in which selected memory resources targeted for secure data cleaning. For example, memory resources which may be targeted for secure data cleaning may include a specific volume (or portion of a volume) of data storage which has been selected for secure erasure of any residual data which may remain on the targeted storage volume before the volume is released for use by others. Other examples of memory resources which may be targeted for secure data cleaning in accordance with the present description may include one or more buffers located in switches or other storage area network components which provide data paths between hosts and storage controllers or storage control units. Other aspects of targeted secure data overwriting in accordance with the present description are described.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for capturing compression efficiency metrics for processing data. In response to retrieving native data for a first operation, perform the first operation; perform a second operation to generate a compression efficiency metric from the native data based on a ratio of the native data to compressed native data; and store the compression efficiency metric persistently for subsequent use in prioritizing compression of the native data.

Abstract: System, computer program product, and method embodiments for communication between a kernel operational on a storage subsystem and a key manager (KM) through a hardware management console (HMC) to provide encryption support are provided. In one embodiment, pursuant to a data request by the kernel to the KM, data including a data payload is sent by the KM to the kernel to provide encryption support, the data payload corresponding to an event flow suborder type selected by the kernel for an event flow.

Abstract: A director node of a plurality of nodes determines a plurality of data arrays, where the plurality of data arrays have been discovered at boot time. The director node determines global metadata information, based on reading boot sectors of at least one of the plurality of data arrays discovered at boot time. A determination is made from the global metadata information as to how many data arrays had been previously configured. In response to determining that the plurality of data arrays discovered at boot time is not equal in number to the previously configured data arrays, the director node determines that all configured data arrays have not been discovered.

Abstract: Systems and methods for initializing a memory system are provided. One system includes a processor and a memory including a storage volume coupled to the processor. The storage volume includes a first bitmap for tracking an initialization process for the storage volume and a second bitmap for tracking a copying process for the storage volume. A method includes performing, via the processor, an initialization process for the storage volume and tracking, via the processor utilizing the first bitmap, the initialization process. The method further includes performing, via the processor, a copying process for the storage volume prior to completing the initialization process and tracking, via the processor utilizing the second bitmap, the copying process. Also provided are computer storage mediums including computer program code for performing the above method.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for capturing compression efficiency metrics for processing data. In response to retrieving native data for a first operation, perform the first operation; perform a second operation to generate a compression efficiency metric from the native data based on a ratio of the native data to compressed native data; and store the compression efficiency metric persistently for subsequent use in prioritizing compression of the native data.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for capturing compression efficiency metrics for processing data. In response to retrieving native data for a first operation, perform the first operation; perform a second operation to generate a compression efficiency metric from the native data based on a ratio of the native data to compressed native data; and store the compression efficiency metric persistently for subsequent use in prioritizing compression of the native data.

Abstract: A storage controller receives a request to establish a point-in-time copy operation by placing a space efficient source volume in a point-in-time copy relationship with a space efficient target volume, wherein subsequent to being established the point-in-time copy operation is configurable to consistently copy the space efficient source volume to the space efficient target volume at a point in time. A determination is made as to whether any track of an extent is staging into a cache from the space efficient target volume or destaging from the cache to the space efficient target volume. In response to a determination that at least one track of the extent is staging into the cache from the space efficient target volume or destaging from the cache to the space efficient target volume, release of the extent from the space efficient target volume is avoided.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method in accordance with one embodiment of the present description, in which selected memory resources targeted for secure data cleaning. For example, memory resources which may be targeted for secure data cleaning may include a specific volume (or portion of a volume) of data storage which has been selected for secure erasure of any residual data which may remain on the targeted storage volume before the volume is released for use by others. Other examples of memory resources which may be targeted for secure data cleaning in accordance with the present description may include one or more buffers located in switches or other storage area network components which provide data paths between hosts and storage controllers or storage control units. Other aspects of targeted secure data overwriting in accordance with the present description are described.

Abstract: Various embodiments for storage initialization and data destage in a computing storage environment are provided. At least a portion of data on a storage device is initialized using a background process, while one of simultaneously and subsequently destaging the at least the portion of the data to the storage device using a foreground process is performed. A persistent metadata bitmap, adapted to indicate whether the at least the portion of the data has been initialized, is staged to cache, the cache operable in the computing storage environment. The background process maintains a volatile bitmap indicating a status of the initialization of the at least the portion of the data in direct correspondence to the metadata bitmap. As the background process initializes the at least the portion of the data, an applicable bit on the persistent metadata bitmap is cleared and a corresponding bit is set on the volatile bitmap.

Abstract: System, computer program product, and method embodiments for communication between a kernel operational on a storage subsystem and a key manager (KM) through a hardware management console (HMC) to provide encryption support are provided. In one embodiment, pursuant to a data request by the kernel to the KM, data including a data payload is sent by the KM to the kernel to provide encryption support, the data payload corresponding to an event flow suborder type selected by the kernel for an event flow.

Abstract: System, computer program product, and method embodiments for communication between a kernel operational on a storage subsystem and a key manager (KM) through a hardware management console (HMC) to provide encryption support are provided. In one embodiment, an event request is initiated by the kernel to the KM to execute an event flow. Pursuant to a communication request by the kernel to the HMC, a socket of the HMC is opened along a communication path between the KM and the kernel according to an event flow type selected by the KM for the event flow. Data including a data payload is sent by the KM to the kernel, the data payload corresponding to the selected event flow type.

Abstract: Various embodiments for initializing metadata in a computing storage environment by a processor. A Release Generation Number (RGN) is associated with a volume, and an RGN is associated with a metadata track. Upon a release of storage space in the volume, the RGN associated with the volume is incremented. Upon an initialization of the metadata track, the RGN associated with the metadata track is updated to be consistent in generation with the RGN associated with the volume. Upon an access of the metadata track, the RGN of the metadata track is compared against the RGN of the volume, and the metadata track is initialized if a match is not found.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer storage mediums including a computer program product method for formatting storage volumes are provided. One method includes creating a storage volume including a global counter and partitioned into multiple storage segments including a segment counter and partitioned into multiple stripes, wherein the global counter and each segment counter match at an initial time. The method further includes receiving a command to write data to a first stripe, comparing a first segment counter associated with the segment, determining if the segment and global counters match, and re-initializing first metadata associated with the segment to indicate the first segment requires formatting if the counters do not match. One system includes a processor for performing the above method and one computer storage medium includes a computer program product configured to perform the above method.

Abstract: Various embodiments for initializing metadata in a computing storage environment by a processor. A Release Generation Number (RGN) is associated with a volume, and an RGN is associated with a metadata track. Upon a release of storage space in the volume, the RGN associated with the volume is incremented. Upon an initialization of the metadata track, the RGN associated with the metadata track is updated to be consistent in generation with the RGN associated with the volume. Upon an access of the metadata track, the RGN of the metadata track is compared against the RGN of the volume, and the metadata track is initialized if a match is not found.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for capturing compression efficiency metrics for processing data. In response to retrieving native data for a first operation, perform the first operation; perform a second operation to generate a compression efficiency metric from the native data based on a ratio of the native data to compressed native data; and store the compression efficiency metric persistently for subsequent use in prioritizing compression of the native data.

Abstract: System, computer program product, and method embodiments for communication between a kernel operational on a storage subsystem and a key manager (KM) through a hardware management console (HMC) to provide encryption support are provided. In one embodiment, an event request is initiated by the kernel to the KM to execute an event flow. Pursuant to a communication request by the kernel to the HMC, a socket of the HMC is opened along a communication path between the KM and the kernel according to an event flow type selected by the KM for the event flow. Data including a data payload is sent by the KM to the kernel, the data payload corresponding to the selected event flow type.

Abstract: A plurality of data arrays are coupled to a plurality of nodes via a plurality of adapters. The plurality of adapters discover the plurality of data arrays during startup, and information about the plurality of data arrays are communicated to corresponding local nodes of the plurality of nodes, wherein the local nodes broadcast the information to other nodes of plurality of nodes. A director node of the plurality of nodes determines which data arrays of the plurality of data arrays are a current set of global metadata arrays, based on the broadcasted information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for initializing a memory system are provided. One system includes a processor and a memory including a storage volume coupled to the processor. The storage volume includes a first bitmap for tracking an initialization process for the storage volume and a second bitmap for tracking a copying process for the storage volume. A method includes performing, via the processor, an initialization process for the storage volume and tracking, via the processor utilizing the first bitmap, the initialization process. The method further includes performing, via the processor, a copying process for the storage volume prior to completing the initialization process and tracking, via the processor utilizing the second bitmap, the copying process. Also provided are computer storage mediums including computer program code for performing the above method.

Abstract: System, computer program product, and method embodiments for communication between a kernel operational on a storage subsystem and a key manager (KM) through a hardware management console (HMC) to provide encryption support are provided. In one embodiment, an event request is initiated by the kernel to the KM to execute an event flow. Pursuant to a communication request by the kernel to the HMC, a socket of the HMC is opened along a communication path between the KM and the kernel according to an event flow type selected by the KM for the event flow. Data including a data payload is sent by the KM to the kernel, the data payload corresponding to the selected event flow type.