Abstract: Embodiments are provided for reducing data using a plurality of compression operations in a computing storage environment. A speed of data writing to a virtual tape device and an availability of one or more processor devices for the virtual tape device may be monitored. One or more requests may be received for writing data to the virtual tape device. Data to be written to the virtual tape device, corresponding to a selected number of the one or more requests for writing the data, may be compressed according to both the speed of data writing to the virtual tape device and the availability of one or more processor devices for the virtual tape device. The compressed data may be stored in the virtual tape device in record units. Non-compressed data may be compressed in the virtual tape device at a subsequent period of time (e.g., future time period).

Abstract: In an approach, a processor determines that an inactive data area is present at end-of-tape (EOT) of a tape. A processor, responsive to determining that the inactive data area is present at EOT, securely erases the inactive data area that is present at EOT by overwriting data located at the inactive data area with different data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for maintaining a storage volume in a virtual tape system includes writing one or more logical volumes associated with a first category and one or more logical volumes associated with a second category to a primary storage in a virtual tape system. The computer-implemented method further includes performing a first automatic removal process in order to free up space on the primary storage, wherein the first automatic removal process removes logical volumes associated with the first category in priority to logical volumes associated with the second category. The computer-implemented method further includes performing a second automatic removal process, wherein the second automatic removal process dynamically alters the priority of the first automatic removal process such that one or more virtual volumes associated with the second category are removed in priority to one or more virtual volumes associated with the first category.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method, a system, and a computer program product for performing copy operations of one or more data units in a hierarchical storage management (HSM) system. The HSM system includes an upper layer and a lower layer. The upper layer includes multiple storage nodes having a grid configuration. The method comprises scheduling a copy operations of multiple data units each of which is stored in at least one of the multiple storage nodes such that loads on the copy operations are distributed among the multiple storage nodes in which the multiple data units are stored and copying the multiple data units to the lower layer in accordance with the scheduling.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for maintaining a storage volume in a virtual tape system includes writing one or more logical volumes associated with a first category and one or more logical volumes associated with a second category to a primary storage in a virtual tape system. The computer-implemented method further includes performing a first automatic removal process in order to free up space on the primary storage, wherein the first automatic removal process removes logical volumes associated with the first category in priority to logical volumes associated with the second category. The computer-implemented method further includes performing a second automatic removal process, wherein the second automatic removal process dynamically alters the priority of the first automatic removal process such that one or more virtual volumes associated with the second category are removed in priority to one or more virtual volumes associated with the first category.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for reducing data using a plurality of compression operations in a computing storage environment. A speed of data writing to a virtual tape device and an availability of one or more processor devices for the virtual tape device may be monitored. One or more requests may be received for writing data to the virtual tape device. Data to be written to the virtual tape device, corresponding to a selected number of the one or more requests for writing the data, may be compressed according to both the speed of data writing to the virtual tape device and the availability of one or more processor devices for the virtual tape device. The compressed data may be stored in the virtual tape device in record units. Non-compressed data may be compressed in the virtual tape device at a subsequent period of time (e.g., future time period).

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method, a system, and a computer program product for performing copy operations of one or more data units in a hierarchical storage management (HSM) system. The HSM system includes an upper layer and a lower layer. The upper layer includes multiple storage nodes having a grid configuration. The method comprises scheduling a copy operations of multiple data units each of which is stored in at least one of the multiple storage nodes such that loads on the copy operations are distributed among the multiple storage nodes in which the multiple data units are stored and copying the multiple data units to the lower layer in accordance with the scheduling.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer program product for dynamic volume mounting includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the circuitry to perform a method including receiving, from a host, a command directed to a volume. The command includes a parameter. A policy associated with the host is evaluated. Based on the evaluation, a value of the parameter included in the command is determined. In response to the parameter including a first value, two copies of the volume are opened. The parameter is set to include the first value when the one of the two copies of the volume is already open, and the two copies of the volume are opened in response thereto. In response to the parameter including a second value, only one of the two copies of the volume are opened.

Abstract: In a storage system including plural source storage devices, a target storage device selects which source storage device to accept a copy request from the target storage device so as to minimize the load on the entire system. The system calculates first and second load values for job loads being processed. System load values for the system are derived from job load value of a specific data, and respective load values for first and second source storage devices. The system compares the system load values to select a storage device to provide the data copy so as to minimize the load on the entire system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer program product for disaster recovery (DR) testing includes a computer readable storage device having program code embodied therewith. The program code is readable and/or executable by a hardware processor to define a DR family including one or more DR clusters accessible to a DR host and one or more production clusters accessible to a production host, create a backup copy of data stored to the one or more production clusters, store the backup copy to the one or more DR clusters, establish a time-zero in the DR family, create a snapshot of each backup copy stored to the one or more DR clusters, share a point-in-time data consistency at the time-zero among all clusters within the DR family and perform DR testing. The DR host is configured to replicate data from the one or more production clusters to the one or more DR clusters.

Abstract: Cluster families for cluster selection and cooperative replication are created. The clusters are grouped into family members of a cluster family base on their relationships and roles. Members of the cluster family determine which family member is in the best position to obtain replicated information and become cumulatively consistent within their cluster family. Once the cluster family becomes cumulatively consistent, the data is shared within the cluster family so that all copies within the cluster family are consistent.

Abstract: Embodiments for managing data in a virtual tape storage environment, by a processor device, are provided. A management system on a host is used to define volume expiration attributes for virtual tape volumes and the volume expiration attributes are forwarded to a virtual tape server. Return-to-scratch processing is performed on the virtual tape volumes directly on the virtual tape server by using the volume expiration attributes to compile candidate volumes without querying the host, where the candidate volumes are expired and converted to scratch by the virtual tape server.

Abstract: Embodiments for managing data in a virtual tape storage environment, by a processor device, are provided. A management system on a host is used to define volume expiration attributes for virtual tape volumes and the volume expiration attributes are forwarded to a virtual tape server. Return-to-scratch processing is performed on the virtual tape volumes directly on the virtual tape server by using the volume expiration attributes to compile candidate volumes without querying the host, where the candidate volumes are expired and converted to scratch by the virtual tape server.

Abstract: In a storage system including plural source storage devices, a target storage device selects which source storage device to accept a copy request from the target storage device so as to minimize the load on the entire system. The system calculates first and second load values for job loads being processed. System load values for the system are derived from job load value of a specific data, and respective load values for first and second source storage devices. The system compares the system load values to select a storage device to provide the data copy so as to minimize the load on the entire system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer program product for dynamic volume mounting includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the circuitry to perform a method including receiving, from a host, a command directed to a volume. The command includes a parameter. A policy associated with the host is evaluated. Based on the evaluation, a value of the parameter included in the command is determined. In response to the parameter including a first value, two copies of the volume are opened. The parameter is set to include the first value when the one of the two copies of the volume is already open, and the two copies of the volume are opened in response thereto. In response to the parameter including a second value, only one of the two copies of the volume are opened.

Abstract: Embodiments for managing data in a virtual tape storage environment, by a processor device, are provided. A management system on a host is used to define volume expiration attributes for virtual tape volumes and the volume expiration attributes are forwarded to a virtual tape server. Return-to-scratch processing is performed on the virtual tape volumes directly on the virtual tape server by using the volume expiration attributes to compile candidate volumes without querying the host, where the candidate volumes are expired and converted to scratch by the virtual tape server.

Abstract: Embodiments for managing data in a virtual tape storage environment, by a processor device, are provided. A management system on a host is used to define volume expiration attributes for virtual tape volumes and the volume expiration attributes are forwarded to a virtual tape server. Return-to-scratch processing is performed on the virtual tape volumes directly on the virtual tape server by using the volume expiration attributes to compile candidate volumes without querying the host, where the candidate volumes are expired and converted to scratch by the virtual tape server.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and logic configured to create a backup copy of data stored to one or more production clusters and store the backup copy to one or more disaster recovery (DR) clusters. Moreover, the logic is configured to establish a time-zero in the DR family and create a snapshot of each backup copy stored to the one or more DR clusters. Each snapshot represents data stored to the one or more DR clusters at the time-zero, and each snapshot is a point-in-time flash copy of at least a user data portion of all virtual tapes of the one or more DR clusters with the proviso that the snapshot does not include a metadata portion of the virtual tapes. The logic is further configured to share a point-in-time data consistency at the time-zero among all clusters within the DR family.

Abstract: In a storage system including plural source storage devices, a target storage device selects which source storage device to accept a copy request from the target storage device so as to minimize the load on the entire system. The system calculates first and second load values for job loads being processed. System load values for the system are derived from job load value of a specific data, and respective load values for first and second source storage devices. The system compares the system load values to select a storage device to provide the data copy so as to minimize the load on the entire system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to cause the processor to receive, from a host, a command directed to a volume, the command including a parameter. The logic is further configured to cause the processor to evaluate a policy associated with the host, and, based on the evaluation of the policy associated with the host, determine a value of the parameter included in the command. Still yet, the logic is configured to cause the processor to open two copies of the volume in response to the parameter including a first value, and open only one of the two copies of the volume in response to the parameter including a second value.