Abstract: Extent migration is provided in a data storage environment configured for synchronous replication between a primary and secondary pair of storage entities, each having tiered storage devices. In one embodiment, by way of example only, a migration instruction is sent, by the primary storage entity, to the secondary storage entity, the migration instruction including a time delta approximately equal to a time of an intended migration at the primary storage entity adjusted for a transmission time such that the primary and secondary storage entities conduct the extent migration at approximately a same time.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present description, a data preservation function is provided for preserving a set of data on a source storage device at a point in time, and includes identifying as a function of prior update usage, such as input/output usage, of the data to be preserved, a portion of the data which is more likely to be the subject of updates during at least a portion of the data preservation operation as compared to the remaining portion of the data to be preserved, and copies the identified portion of the data to be preserved to a target storage device. In another aspect, the size of the portion of data to be identified is variable. In one embodiment, the size of the portion of data to be identified is a function of a parameter of the command, such that a user can specify the command parameter which affects the size of the portion of data which is prewritten to the target storage device.

Abstract: Extent migration is provided in a data storage environment configured for synchronous replication between a primary and secondary pair of storage entities, each having tiered storage devices. In one embodiment, by way of example only, a migration instruction is sent, by the primary storage entity, to the secondary storage entity, the migration instruction including a relative priority based on a primary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the primary storage entity. The relative priority is used against a secondary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the secondary storage entity to perform the extent migration, regardless of whether the primary and secondary storage entities are identical.

Abstract: Extent migration is provided in a data storage environment configured for synchronous replication between a primary and secondary pair of storage entities, each having tiered storage devices In one embodiment, by way of example only, a migration instruction is sent, by the primary storage entity, to the secondary storage entity, the migration instruction including a relative priority based on a primary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the primary storage entity. The relative priority is used against a secondary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the secondary storage entity to perform the extent migration, regardless of whether the primary and secondary storage entities are identical.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system, includes logic for creating a snapshot of first data stored on a source storage system, wherein the snapshot is a logical copy of the first data stored on the source storage system with respect to data content and data structure; logic for copying the snapshot to a target storage system; logic for copying the first data represented by the snapshot from the source storage system to the target storage system; logic for detecting one or more write operations affecting data on the source storage system; logic for detecting one or more collisions affecting the first data on the source storage system, logic for setting a consistency group interval; and logic for altering the consistency group interval to minimise collisions affecting data on the source storage system. Other systems and computer program products for dynamic consistency group formation are also described.

Abstract: A method for dynamic consistency group formation, in one embodiment, includes creating a snapshot of first data stored on a source storage system with respect to data content and data structure, copying the snapshot to a target storage system, detecting one or more write operations affecting data on the source storage system while copying the first data, detecting one or more collisions affecting the first data on the source storage system, wherein a collision occurs whenever the write operations affect the first data prior to the first data being written, setting a consistency group interval which represents an interval duration between successive snapshot create-and-copy events, and altering the consistency group interval to minimize collisions affecting data on at least one of the storage systems. Other methods for dynamic consistency group formation are also described.

Abstract: A method for singleton process control in a computer environment is provided. A process identification (PID) for a background process is stored in a first temporary file. The PID is stored by a parent process and subsequently accessed by the background process. The background process is exited if an active PID is determined to exist in a second, global temporary file. The PID from the first temporary file is stored into the second, global temporary file. A singleton code block is then executed.

Abstract: Exemplary method, system, and computer program product embodiments for audio feedback for command line interface (CLI) commands in a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, auditory notifications are generated for indicating a completion of CLI commands. The auditory notifications are configurable by user preferences. Additional system and computer program product embodiments are disclosed and provide related advantages.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining pricing for data storage includes receiving from a data provider a request indicating an amount of data storage space in at least one of one or more tiers of data storage, receiving data from the data provider to store in the at least one of the one or more tiers of data storage, storing the data provider's data in the at least one of the one or more tiers of data storage, and calculating a base price for storage of the data provider's data. In another embodiment, a tiered storage system includes a processor, a memory, logic adapted for determining an amount of a data provider's data in each of at least two tiers of data storage, and logic adapted for calculating a price for storage of the data provider's data.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present description, a data preservation function is provided for preserving a set of data on a source storage device at a point in time, and includes identifying as a function of prior update usage, such as input/output usage, of the data to be preserved, a portion of the data which is more likely to be the subject of updates during at least a portion of the data preservation operation as compared to the remaining portion of the data to be preserved, and copies the identified portion of the data to be preserved to a target storage device. In another aspect, the size of the portion of data to be identified is variable. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

Abstract: A method for more effectively distributing the I/O workload in a data replication system is disclosed herein. In selected embodiments, such a method may include generating an I/O request and identifying a storage resource group associated with the I/O request. In the event the I/O request is associated with a first storage resource group, the I/O request may be directed to a first storage device and a copy of the I/O request may be mirrored from the first storage device to a second storage device. Alternatively, in the event the I/O request is associated with a second storage resource group, the I/O request may be directed to a second storage device and a copy of the I/O request may be mirrored from the second storage device to the first storage device.

Abstract: Extent migration is provided in a data storage environment configured for synchronous replication between a primary and secondary pair of storage entities, each having tiered storage devices. In one embodiment, by way of example only, a migration instruction is sent, by the primary storage entity, to the secondary storage entity, the migration instruction including a relative priority based on a primary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the primary storage entity. The relative priority is used against a secondary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the secondary storage entity to perform the extent migration, regardless of whether the primary and secondary storage entities are identical.

Abstract: Extent migration is provided in a data storage environment configured for synchronous replication between a primary and secondary pair of storage entities, each having tiered storage devices. In one embodiment, by way of example only, a migration instruction is sent, by the primary storage entity, to the secondary storage entity, the migration instruction including a time delta approximately equal to a time of an intended migration at the primary storage entity adjusted for a transmission time such that the primary and secondary storage entities conduct the extent migration at approximately a same time.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining whether to extend a drain time to copy data blocks from a first storage to a second storage. A data structure indicates data blocks in the first storage to copy to the second storage. A drain operation copies the data blocks indicated in the first storage to the second storage for a drain time period. Write requests to the data blocks indicated in the data structure are queued during the drain time period, wherein the queued write requests are not completed while queued. Metric information based on the writes that occur to data blocks in the first storage are gathered during the drain time period; and in response to expiration of the drain time period, a determination is made from the gathered metric information of whether to continue the drain operation or terminate the drain operation.

Abstract: A method for dynamic consistency group formation, in one embodiment, includes creating a snapshot of first data stored on a source storage system with respect to data content and data structure, copying the snapshot to a target storage system, detecting one or more write operations affecting data on the source storage system while copying the first data, detecting one or more collisions affecting the first data on the source storage system, wherein a collision occurs whenever the write operations affect the first data prior to the first data being written, setting a consistency group interval which represents an interval duration between successive snapshot create-and-copy events, and altering the consistency group interval to minimize collisions affecting data on at least one of the storage systems. Other methods for dynamic consistency group formation are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, pursuant to migrating the data from the first to the second storage medium, the data is allocated to the second storage medium while retaining an allocation of the data in the first storage medium. If the data is migrated from the second storage medium back to the first storage medium, the data is pointed to the allocation of the data in the first storage medium to alleviate data movement from the second storage medium to the first storage medium. If the allocation of the data in the first storage medium is determined to be needed for other data, the allocation of the data in the first storage medium is freed.

Abstract: A read/write ratio for each of a plurality of data segments classified in a hot category as hot data segments is determined. Each of the plurality of hot data segments is ordered by the read/write ratio in a descending order. Each of a plurality of available SSD devices is ordered by a remaining life expectancy in an ascending order. Those of the plurality of hot data segments are matched with those of the plurality of hot data segments with those of the plurality of available SSD devices such that a hot data segment having a higher read/write ratio is provided to an SSD device having a smaller remaining life expectancy than another hot data segment having a lower read/write ratio.

Abstract: A method for migrating extents between extent pools in a tiered storage architecture maintains a data access profile for an extent over a period of time. Using the data access profile, the method generates an extent profile graph that predicts data access rates for the extent into the future. The slope of the extent profile graph is calculated and used to determine whether the extent will reach a migration threshold within a specified “look-ahead” time. If so, the method calculates a migration window that allows the extent to be migrated prior to reaching the migration threshold. In certain embodiments, the method determines the overall performance impact on the source extent pool and destination extent pool during the migration window. If the overall performance impact is below a designated impact threshold, the method migrates the extent during the migration window.

Abstract: A method for managing extents in a data storage system includes monitoring usage statistics for an extent residing on one or more powered-up storage devices. In the event the extent has not been accessed for specified period of time (as determined from the usage statistics), the method automatically compresses the extent and migrates the extent to an intermediate repository. Once the amount of data in the intermediate repository reaches a specified level, the method migrates the extent from the intermediate repository to one or more normally powered-down storage devices. If I/O is received for the extent while it resides in the normally powered-down storage devices or the intermediate repository, the method automatically migrates the extent from the normally powered-down storage devices or the intermediate repository to the normally powered-up storage devices. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for concurrently converting a standard volume to a thin-provisioned volume includes initially establishing metadata for a thin-provisioned volume. The method then updates the metadata for the thin-provisioned volume to point to extents residing in a standard volume. The method then suspends I/O to metadata for the standard volume. Upon suspending the I/O, the method migrates control of the extents in the standard volume from a standard-volume control algorithm to a thin-provisioned-volume control algorithm. The method then resumes the I/O to the metadata for the thin-provisioned volume. Using this technique, standard volumes may be rapidly converted to thin-provisioned volumes while minimally disrupting I/O to the volumes. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein.