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: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes, prior to executing a point-in-time copy job, running a space checker program to generate a list that includes: source data sets that will be used in the point-in-time copy job and a pool of potential target volumes that are eligible to be used for the point-in-time copy job. The method further includes determining that insufficient space is available on the potential target volumes to perform the point-in-time copy job. An on-demand migration is issued against one or more target volumes of the pool of potential target volumes for ensuring there is sufficient space available on the one or more target volumes associated with the issued on-demand migration to perform the point-in-time copy job. The method further includes performing the point-in-time copy job.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method related to dynamic resource provisioning, includes: receiving, at a computer, a request to facilitate a testing environment, where the request specifies a number and type of resources to be included in the testing environment. A database which lists available resources in systems and/or devices that are in communication with the computer is inspected and the available resources are compared to the number and type of resources specified in the request to be included in the testing environment. In response to determining that a valid combination of the available resources meets the number and type of resources specified in the request to be included in the testing environment, the database is updated to indicate that each of the resources in the valid combination are in use. Moreover, the request is satisfied by returning information about the resources in the valid combination.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes, prior to executing a point-in-time copy job, running a space checker program to generate a list that includes: source data sets that will be used in the point-in-time copy job and a pool of potential target volumes that are eligible to be used for the point-in-time copy job. The method further includes determining that insufficient space is available on the potential target volumes to perform the point-in-time copy job. An on-demand migration is issued against one or more target volumes of the pool of potential target volumes for ensuring there is sufficient space available on the one or more target volumes associated with the issued on-demand migration to perform the point-in-time copy job. The method further includes performing the point-in-time copy job.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving, at a computer, a request to facilitate a testing environment, where the request specifies a number and type of resources to be included in the testing environment. A database which lists available resources in systems and/or devices that are in communication with the computer is inspected and the available resources are compared to the number and type of resources specified in the request to be included in the testing environment. In response to determining that a valid combination of the available resources meets the number and type of resources specified in the request to be included in the testing environment, the database is updated to indicate that each of the resources in the valid combination are in use. Moreover, the request is satisfied by returning information about the resources in the valid combination.

Abstract: Described are techniques for utilization of a disaster recovery site including a method comprising receiving a mirrored data stream at a disaster recovery site from a production site. The mirrored data stream includes a workload instruction stored in a designated location of the mirrored data stream. The workload instruction indicates an operation to perform on a set of data that is replicated between the production site and the disaster recovery site and a time indicator indicating a correct version of the set of data. The method further comprises generating a consistency point by retrieving replicated data from the disaster recovery site corresponding to the correct version of the set of data in the production site. The method further comprises performing the operation on the consistency point, generating an output, and transmitting the output to the production site.

Abstract: Methods that can batch process data on a remote system or disaster recovery (DR) site are disclosed herein. One method includes determining, by a processor, a first performance level for a production site based on a set of first resources for the production site and determining a second performance level for a DR site based on a set of second resources for the DR site. The method further includes allocating a portion of a workload scheduled for processing on the production site to the DR site for processing on the DR site in response to determining that a set of predetermined parameters related to the first performance level, the second performance level, or both the first performance level and the second performance level is satisfied. Apparatus, systems, and computer program products that can include, perform, and/or implement the methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method verifying mirroring of source data units to target data units. Source data units in a source storage are mirrored to corresponding target data units in a target storage. The source data units are read to compare to corresponding mirrored target data units. The read source data units that did not match the corresponding target data units are saved in source version data. The source data units that were read and did not match the corresponding target data units are read. The mirroring of the source data units are verified in response to determining that for each mirrored source data unit, one of a read source data unit and the read source data unit saved in the source version data matches the corresponding target data unit.

Abstract: Described are techniques for utilization of a disaster recovery site including a method comprising receiving a mirrored data stream at a disaster recovery site from a production site. The mirrored data stream includes a workload instruction stored in a reserved record set type. The workload instruction indicates an operation to perform on a set of data that is replicated between the production site and the disaster recovery site and a time indicator indicating a correct version of the set of data. The method further comprises generating a consistency point by retrieving replicated data from the disaster recovery site corresponding to the correct version of the set of data in the production site. The method further comprises performing the operation on the consistency point, generating an output, and transmitting the output to the production site.

Abstract: Described are techniques for utilization of a disaster recovery site including a method comprising receiving a mirrored data stream at a disaster recovery site from a production site. The mirrored data stream includes a workload instruction stored in a reserved record set type. The workload instruction indicates an operation to perform on a set of data that is replicated between the production site and the disaster recovery site and a time indicator indicating a correct version of the set of data. The method further comprises generating a consistency point by retrieving replicated data from the disaster recovery site corresponding to the correct version of the set of data in the production site. The method further comprises performing the operation on the consistency point, generating an output, and transmitting the output to the production site.

Abstract: Described are techniques for utilization of a disaster recovery site including a method comprising receiving a mirrored data stream at a disaster recovery site from a production site. The mirrored data stream includes a workload instruction stored in a designated location of the mirrored data stream. The workload instruction indicates an operation to perform on a set of data that is replicated between the production site and the disaster recovery site and a time indicator indicating a correct version of the set of data. The method further comprises generating a consistency point by retrieving replicated data from the disaster recovery site corresponding to the correct version of the set of data in the production site. The method further comprises performing the operation on the consistency point, generating an output, and transmitting the output to the production site.

Abstract: Methods that can batch process data on a remote system or disaster recovery (DR) site are disclosed herein. One method includes determining, by a processor, a first performance level for a production site based on a set of first resources for the production site and determining a second performance level for a DR site based on a set of second resources for the DR site. The method further includes allocating a portion of a workload scheduled for processing on the production site to the DR site for processing on the DR site in response to determining that a set of predetermined parameters related to the first performance level, the second performance level, or both the first performance level and the second performance level is satisfied. Apparatus, systems, and computer program products that can include, perform, and/or implement the methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method verifying mirroring of source data units to target data units. Source data units in a source storage are mirrored to corresponding target data units in a target storage. The source data units are read to compare to corresponding mirrored target data units. The read source data units that did not match the corresponding target data units are saved in source version data. The source data units that were read and did not match the corresponding target data units are read. The mirroring of the source data units are verified in response to determining that for each mirrored source data unit, one of a read source data unit and the read source data unit saved in the source version data matches the corresponding target data unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for providing an information technology build service for building a platform in response to a service request. The invention receives a service request for the platform build from a requester, receives a plurality of platform parameters from the requester, determines whether the service request requires one or more physical machines or one or more virtual machines, and if the service request requires one or more virtual machines, initiates build of the one or more virtual machines. The invention also provisions physical and virtual storage based on received parameters, provisions physical and virtual processing power based on received parameters, and manages power of resources during the build, the managing comprising managing power ups, power downs, standbys, idles and reboots of one or more physical components being used for the build.

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: A gaming machine is disclosed having indicia of a plurality of spinning reels in a first set of reels and indicia of a plurality of spinning reels in a second set of reels. A determination is made as to whether the outcomes of the indicia of the plurality of spinning reels in the first and second sets of reels are winning outcomes. Award-multiplier indicia of a first shared spinning base game award-multiplier reel is positioned between the first and second set of reels. The base game award-multiplier indicia modifies the winning outcome on the first set of reels, modifies the winning outcome on the second set of reels, includes a secondary game trigger symbol, forms a contiguous set of reels having a common axis of rotation with the first and second set of reels, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for providing an information technology build service for building a platform in response to a service request. The invention receives a service request for the platform build from a requester, receives a plurality of platform parameters from the requester, determines whether the service request requires one or more physical machines or one or more virtual machines, and if the service request requires one or more virtual machines, initiates build of the one or more virtual machines. The invention also provisions physical and virtual storage based on received parameters, provisions physical and virtual processing power based on received parameters, and manages power of resources during the build, the managing comprising managing power ups, power downs, standbys, idles and reboots of one or more physical components being used for the build.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method for enhancing the outcome of a reel spinning game having one or more shared award-modifier reels. An embodiment of the method includes providing a game including a first set of reels, a second set of reels, and a shared base award-multiplier reel positioned adjacent to a first and second set of reels, wherein the first set of reels, second set of reels, and the shared base award-multiplier reel form a contiguous set of reels having a common axis of rotation, and the shared base award-multiplier reel enhances any winning outcomes in the first and/or second set of reels. Additionally, an embodiment of the method includes determining whether the game outcome of one set of reels is a winning outcome and enhancing the winning outcome of at least one set of reels when an award-multiplier symbol is present on the shared base award-multiplier reel.

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.