Abstract: In one embodiment of the present description, a copy relationship is established between a storage location at a first site and a storage location at a second site in a data storage system, wherein a dynamically assignable bitmap preset to one of a plurality of different predetermined bit patterns is selected as a function of both the availability of the selected bitmap and the type of predetermined bit pattern identified for the selected bitmap. The selected bitmap may be assigned as an out-of-sync bitmap wherein updates to the storage location at one site, which are to be copied to the storage location at the other site, are indicated in the selected bitmap, and data writes being written to the storage location at the one site, are copied to the storage location at the other site, using the selected bitmap as an out-of-sync bitmap. Other aspects are described.

Abstract: For performing efficient management of tracks in an asynchronous Peer-to-Peer Redundant Copy (PPRC) operation in a computing storage environment, a correct status of a sequential bit is determined by performing one of: (1) examining a primary cache, where if data being transferred pursuant to the PPRC operation in a primary track remains in the primary cache, the sequential bit setting found therein is used, and (2) an Out-Of-Sync (OOS) bitmap is examined to determine if the sequential bit is set.

Abstract: For performing efficient full-stride copy source-to-target operations in a computing storage environment by a processor device, pursuant to a destage operation, a determination is made whether to destage a full stride or one track of data on a target volume by comparing a counted number of modified tracks for the full stride against a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for asynchronous pausing of the formation of consistency groups. A first copy operation is initiated to copy the source data from the first storage to the first data copy in the second storage. A second copy operation is initiated to copy the first data copy in the second storage to a second data copy in response to forming a consistency group of the source data at the first data copy forms consistent as of a point-in-time with respect to the source data. The first copy operation is suspended to allow for further processing of the first data copy in response to completing the second copy operation. The formation of a next consistency group is restarted between the source data and the first data copy in response to receiving a resume command.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present description, a copy relationship is established between a storage location at a first site and a storage location at a second site in a data storage system, wherein a dynamically assignable bitmap preset to one of a plurality of different predetermined bit patterns is selected as a function of both the availability of the selected bitmap and the type of predetermined bit pattern identified for the selected bitmap. The selected bitmap may be assigned as an out-of-sync bitmap wherein updates to the storage location at one site, which are to be copied to the storage location at the other site, are indicated in the selected bitmap, and data writes being written to the storage location at the one site, are copied to the storage location at the other site, using the selected bitmap as an out-of-sync bitmap. Other aspects are described.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for asynchronous pausing of the formation of consistency groups. A first copy operation is initiated to copy the source data from the first storage to the first data copy in the second storage. A second copy operation is initiated to copy the first data copy in the second storage to a second data copy in response to forming a consistency group of the source data at the first data copy forms consistent as of a point-in-time with respect to the source data. The first copy operation is suspended to allow for further processing of the first data copy in response to completing the second copy operation. The formation of a next consistency group is restarted between the source data and the first data copy in response to receiving a resume command.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for local locking in a bi-directional synchronous mirroring environment. In response to receiving a write operation for a block of data on a first volume, a lock is obtained on a corresponding block of data on a second volume to obtain exclusive access to that block of data on the second volume. in response to determining that an active write indicator is set to indicate that there is not an active write on the second volume, updated data for the corresponding block of data is written to cache for the second volume, the lock is released to remove exclusive access to the corresponding block of data on the second volume, and a transfer complete message is sent to the first volume.

Abstract: A primary storage controller receives an input/output (I/O) command from a host, wherein a host timestamp is associated with the I/O command. During a mirroring of storage volumes to a secondary storage controller, the primary storage controller communicates the host timestamp associated with the I/O command to the secondary storage controller, wherein mirrored copies of the storage volumes are timestamped based on at least the host timestamp and an elapsed time since a last host I/O command. A recovery is made from a failure of one or more of the storage volumes in the primary storage controller, by using the timestamped mirrored copies of the storage volumes.

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 is generated indicating data blocks in the first storage to copy to the second storage. A drain operation is initiated to copy 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: 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: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for asynchronous pausing of the formation of consistency groups. A first copy operation is initiated to copy the source data from the first storage to the first data copy in the second storage. A second copy operation is initiated to copy the first data copy in the second storage to a second data copy in response to forming a consistency group of the source data at the first data copy forms consistent as of a point-in-time with respect to the source data. The first copy operation is suspended to allow for further processing of the first data copy in response to completing the second copy operation. The formation of a next consistency group is restarted between the source data and the first data copy in response to receiving a resume command.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for asynchronous pausing of the formation of consistency groups. A first copy operation is initiated to copy the source data from the first storage to the first data copy in the second storage. A second copy operation is initiated to copy the first data copy in the second storage to a second data copy in response to forming a consistency group of the source data at the first data copy forms consistent as of a point-in-time with respect to the source data. The first copy operation is suspended to allow for further processing of the first data copy in response to completing the second copy operation. The formation of a next consistency group is restarted between the source data and the first data copy in response to receiving a resume command.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present description, a copy relationship is established between a storage location at a first site and a storage location at a second site in a data storage system, wherein a dynamically assignable bitmap preset to one of a plurality of different predetermined bit patterns is selected as a function of both the availability of the selected bitmap and the type of predetermined bit pattern identified for the selected bitmap. The selected bitmap may be assigned as an out-of-sync bitmap wherein updates to the storage location at one site, which are to be copied to the storage location at the other site, are indicated in the selected bitmap, and data writes being written to the storage location at the one site, are copied to the storage location at the other site, using the selected bitmap as an out-of-sync bitmap. Other aspects are described.

Abstract: A first data structure stores indications of storage locations that need to be copied for forming a consistency group. A second data structure stores indications of new host writes, subsequent to starting a point in time copy operation to form the consistency group. Locations of the first data structure and the second data structure are exchanged, subsequent to the consistency group being formed successfully.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present description, a copy relationship is established between a storage location at a first site and a storage location at a second site in a data storage system, wherein a dynamically assignable bitmap preset to one of a plurality of different predetermined bit patterns is selected as a function of both the availability of the selected bitmap and the type of predetermined bit pattern identified for the selected bitmap. The selected bitmap may be assigned as an out-of-sync bitmap wherein updates to the storage location at one site, which are to be copied to the storage location at the other site, are indicated in the selected bitmap, and data writes being written to the storage location at the one site, are copied to the storage location at the other site, using the selected bitmap as an out-of-sync bitmap. Other aspects are described.

Abstract: For efficient track destage in secondary storage in a more effective manner, for temporal bits employed with sequential bits for controlling the timing for destaging the track in a primary storage, the temporal bits and sequential bits are transferred from the primary storage to the secondary storage. The temporal bits are allowed to age on the secondary storage.

Abstract: For efficient track destage in secondary storage in a more effective manner, for temporal bits employed with sequential bits for controlling the timing for destaging the track in a primary storage, the temporal bits and sequential bits are transferred from the primary storage to the secondary storage. The temporal bits are allowed to age on the secondary storage.

Abstract: Exemplary method, system, and computer program product embodiments for efficient track destage in secondary storage in a more effective manner, are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, for temporal bits employed with sequential bits for controlling the timing for destaging the track in a primary storage, the temporal bits and sequential bits are transferred from the primary storage to the secondary storage. The temporal bits are allowed to age on the secondary storage. Additional system and computer program product embodiments are disclosed and provide related advantages.

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 priority-based method for replicating data is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing a primary storage device and a secondary storage device. Multiple storage areas (e.g., volumes, groups of volumes, etc.) are designated for replication from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device. A priority level is assigned to each of the storage areas. Using these priority levels, the method replicates the storage areas from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device in accordance with their assigned priority levels. Higher priority storage areas are replicated prior to lower priority storage areas. A corresponding computer program product and system are also disclosed herein.