Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for generating point-in-time copy commands for extents of data. An establish point-in-time copy command is generated for at least one range of extents in at least one volume in the source storage for a point-in-time copy identifier. The at least one range of extents comprises less than all the extents included in the at least one volume. The establish point-in-time copy command is transmitted to a point-in-time copy manager to cause the point-in-time copy manager to create a point-in-time copy for the copy point-in-time identifier and the at least one range of extents, to generate change recording information indicating each of the at least one range of extents, to copy data in the source storage to be updated as changed data, and to indicate in the change recording information the data that has been updated.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing point-in-time copies for extents of data. A point-in-time copy for at least one range of extents in at least one volume for a point-in-time copy identifier is established. Change recording information is generated indicating each of the at least one range of extents less than all of the extents in the at least one volume. An update to data in the at least one range of extents in the point-in-time copy is received and data in the source storage in the at least one range of extents to be updated is copied as changed data to the target storage. Indication is made in the change recording information of the data in the at least one range of extents that has been updated.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for providing a reserved data area to use to extend a data set. A data set is configured in the volume configured in the storage. A reserved data area is configured in the storage for the volume. The reserved data area is used to extend the data set in the volume in response to there being insufficient available space in the data set. The reserved data area is used to allocate for use in the volume in response to there being no more available free space for use in the volume and if the reserved data area is available.

Abstract: A method for selecting and utilizing an access method for a VSAM data set includes monitoring a VSAM data set utilizing a first access method to access data therein. When performing such monitoring, specific indicators associated with the VSAM data set are observed. These indicators may include, for example, a number of input/output requests to the VSAM data set, a deferred request count against a control interval of the VSAM data set, a number of systems attempting to access the VSAM data set, and a number of reads/writes simultaneously occurring to the VSAM data set. The method analyzes these indicators to determine whether I/O performance of the VSAM data set would be enhanced by switching to a second access method. If the I/O performance would be enhanced, the method may be configured to automatically switch to the second access method. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for setting up and managing large numbers of storage volumes is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method enables a user to establish a volume class comprising various volume attributes. The method further enables the user to assign a volume or range of volumes to the volume class. Once the volume or range of volumes is assigned to the volume class, the method automatically sets up, without user invention, the volumes with the attributes designated for the volume class. When a new volume is assigned to the volume class, the method automatically sets up the new volume with the attributes of the volume class, including automatically calculating a VTOC size for the new volume based on VTOC sizes for volumes already assigned to the volume class. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: For performing incremental replication of a data set, a source data module identifies a source data set, the source data set including a set of storage locations on a source volume, a target data module that defines the target data set in response to the source data module identifying the source data set, a mapping module that stores a replication relationship table, the replication relationship table mapping the defined data set to a target data set, the target data set including a set of storage locations on a target volume, and a replication module that performs an incremental copy of data stored at the source data set based on the replication relationship.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for providing a reserved data area to use to extend a data set. A data set is configured in the volume configured in the storage. A reserved data area is configured in the storage for the volume. The reserved data area is used to extend the data set in the volume in response to there being insufficient available space in the data set. The reserved data area is used to allocate for use in the volume in response to there being no more available free space for use in the volume and if the reserved data area is available.

Abstract: A method for setting up and managing large numbers of storage volumes is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method enables a user to establish a volume class comprising various volume attributes. The method further enables the user to assign a volume or range of volumes to the volume class. Once the volume or range of volumes is assigned to the volume class, the method automatically sets up, without user invention, the volumes with the attributes designated for the volume class. When a new volume is assigned to the volume class, the method automatically sets up the new volume with the attributes of the volume class, including automatically calculating a VTOC size for the new volume based on VTOC sizes for volumes already assigned to the volume class. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: For flash copy relationship management, a management module identifies a data unit in a flash copy relationship with an extent range using a flash copy table. A resolution module erases the flash copy relationship from the flash copy table in response to the flash copy relationship completing.