International Business Machines Corporation

Cameron James Mcallister

Gordon Douglas Hutchison

Bruce J Smith

Lucy Amanda Raw

Lucy A Harris

Hedley Proctor

Peter Eccles

Luis Alfonso Lastras-Montano

Bulent Abali

David Darden Chambliss

Joseph S Glider

Philip Richard Taunton

William James Scales

Embodiments relate to avoiding out-of-space conditions in storage controllers operating with efficiency capabilities between virtual space in a data container and real space in a storage container. Both the real space and the virtual space are monitored. The real space usage is compared to a threshold to provide information about occupancy of the real space. A virtual size of the virtual object is adjusted responsive to the real space usage meeting or exceeding the threshold.

Avoiding out-of-space conditions in storage controllers

A method of performing a data write on a storage device comprises instructing a device driver for the device to perform a write to the storage device, registering the device driver as a transaction participant with a transaction co-ordinator, executing a flashcopy of the storage device, performing the write on the storage device, and performing a two-phase commit between device driver and transaction co-ordinator. Preferably, the method comprises receiving an instruction to perform a rollback, and reversing the data write according to the flashcopy. In a further refinement, a method of scheduling a flashcopy of a storage device comprises receiving an instruction to perform a flashcopy, ascertaining the current transaction in relation to the device, registering the device driver for the device as a transaction participant in the current transaction with a transaction co-ordinator, receiving a transaction complete indication from the co-ordinator, and executing the flashcopy for the device.

Performing a data write on a storage device

Embodiments of the invention relates to avoiding out-of-space conditions in storage controllers operating with efficiency capabilities between virtual space in a data container and real space in a storage container. Both the real space and the virtual space are monitored and their respective usage is compared to provide information about occupancy of the real space to the virtual space. Usage of the containers is balanced by employing a virtual file associated with a reserved portion of free capacity in the virtual space.

Balancing usage of real and virtual space to avoid out-of-space conditions in storage controllers

A computer system for fast format or reproducing data of a computer data storage device includes a computer system executing a reproducing process for reproducing data. A source disk (Ds) data storage device and a target disk (Dt) data storage device have data communication between each other and communicate with the computer system. The Ds data is reproducible to the Dt, and the Ds has blank regions with no data which corresponds to zero. The Ds having data regions and an intermediary flash copy map (D) is generated by the program having all logical zeros for copying blank regions in the Ds to the Dt. The Ds is disengaged from reproducing after all data regions are copied from the Ds to the Dt. The reproducing of the Ds to the Dt continues after disengaging the Ds from the reproducing process by copying the zeros of the Dto the Dt.

Method for fast format of a fully allocated volume when copied from a space efficient volume

Various method, system, and computer program product embodiments for performing a backup of a source storage volume to a target storage volume are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a flashcopy of the source storage volume to the target storage volume is initiated. The content of the source storage volume is stored on the target storage volume in a space efficient manner. The space requirement of the stored content on the target storage volume is monitored. The flashcopy is terminated when the space requirement reaches a predetermined level. The stored content on the target storage volume is copied to a backup storage medium. A new flashcopy of the source storage volume is initiated.

Incremental backup of source to target storage volume

A system, method, computer program product, and program storage device for storing trace information of a program is disclosed. Upon entering or calling a subroutine, a memory buffer is created. Whenever a nested subroutine is called inside the subroutine, a subordinate memory buffer is created. Upon completion of a subroutine execution, a corresponding memory buffer is deleted. When encountering an event (e.g., an error, a defect, a failure, a warning) during execution, all data in currently existing memory buffers are transferred to a secondary memory storage device (e.g., a disk).

Mechanism for maintaining detailed trace information relevant to the current operation being processed

A flashcopy of a source storage volume to a target storage volume is initiated. The content of the source storage volume is stored on the target storage volume in a space efficient manner. The space requirement of the stored content on the target storage volume is monitored. The flashcopy is terminated when the space requirement reaches a predetermined level. The stored content on the target storage volume is copied to a backup storage medium. A new flashcopy of the source storage volume is initiated.

A method and system for tracing components in computer applications is provided in which trace data from components can be logged in real time. A hierarchical control interfaceis used in which leaf nodes-represent componentsbeing traced. The hierarchical control interfaceincludes means for setting trace levels for componentsbeing traced. A non-hierarchical trace systemis used for carrying out the trace processing and includes meansfor storing trace level settings received from the hierarchical control interface. The trace systemalso includes meansfor receiving a call from a componentwith trace data; means for checking the trace level settingsfor the component; and means for storing or discarding the trace data accordingly.

Method and system for a non-hierarchical trace system using a hierarchical control interface

A method, system, and computer program product are provided for maintaining a storage device backup consistency group. The method comprises receiving a first I/O command for a first storage device, receiving a second I/O command for a second storage device, identifying a transaction comprising both the first I/O command and the second I/O command, accessing a storage device backup consistency group for the first storage device, determining whether a backup for the second storage device is a member of the storage device backup consistency group, and performing a predefined corrective action if a backup for the second storage device is not a member of the storage device backup consistency group. The predefined corrective action may comprise detecting or creating a backup for the second storage device and then adding the detected or created backup to the storage device backup consistency group, invalidating the second I/O command, and/or issuing a warning.

Maintaining storage device backup consistency

An apparatus for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment. A child test framework is provided to catch an exception thrown by the child test program. In addition, a marshalling component is provided in communication with the child test program and the child test framework. The marshalling component converts exception data for the exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework.

Remotely handling exceptions through STAF

Provided are a method, apparatus, and computer program product for testing a virtualized storage system. Data defining one or more configuration features of the virtualized storage system is received. Also received is a set of one or more predetermined rules defining interpretation of the disk exercising commands, the interpretation being dependent on one or more of the configuration features. A first disk exercising command is received. The first disk exercising command is interpreted in accordance with one of the predetermined rules to produce a second disk exercising command. The second disk exercising command is sent to the virtualized storage system.

Growing community of inventors

Eastleigh, United Kingdom

Cameron James Mcallister