International Business Machines Corporation

Esteban Rios

David C Reed

Max D Smith

Kyle Barret Dudgeon

Preston A Carpenter

Dash D Miller

Philip R Chauvet

Gregory E McBride

Thomas C Reed

Dustin A Helak

Andrew E Deiss

Franklin Emmert McCune

Harold Steven Huber

David Bruce LeGendre

Ashaki Ayanna Ricketts

Kenneth J Owin

Donna Weaver

Raymond R Gomez

Matthew Barragan

A method for more effectively utilizing computing resources in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method detects, at a primary system, activity occurring on the primary system. This activity is recorded in systems logs located at the primary system. The method automatically mirrors the system logs from the primary system to a secondary system that is in a mirroring relationship with the primary system. The system logs are analyzed at the secondary system. In the event abnormal activity is detected in the system logs at the secondary system, the method automatically sends, from the secondary system to the primary system, one or more commands that are designed to address the abnormal activity. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Remote health monitoring in data replication environments

A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a first data set to be backed up, where the first data set is stored on a first storage volume; removing empty data tracks from the first data set to create an intermediary data set; storing the intermediary data set at a plurality of secondary storage volumes different from the first storage volume; and creating a backup data set for the first data set, utilizing the intermediary data set.

Creating a backup data set

A method for more effectively utilizing computing resources in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method detects, at a primary system, activity occurring on the primary system. This activity is recorded in systems logs located at the primary system. The method automatically mirrors the system logs from the primary system to a secondary system that is in a mirroring relationship with the primary system. The system logs are analyzed at the secondary system. In the event abnormal activity is detected in the system logs at the secondary system, the method identifies, on the secondary system, a data set that is associated with the abnormal activity. A snapshot is taken of this data set and saved on the secondary system for later analysis. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Remote data capture in data replication environments

A method for backing up data is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes identifying a volume of data to back up, and determining a number of backup tasks that can operate in parallel to back up data in the volume. The number of backup tasks may be based on an amount of memory available, a fragmentation level of a target storage area, a number of tape mounts that are available, or the like. The method then divides the volume into a number of sections corresponding to the number of backup tasks. Each section is associated with a particular backup task. The method then initiates the backup tasks to back up their corresponding sections in parallel. In certain embodiments, each backup task generates a data set storing backup data from its corresponding section. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Multi-section full volume backups

A method for allocating storage space in a volume to a new data set is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, for a volume, a record of available storage elements. The method further receives an allocation request to allocate available storage elements in the volume to accommodate a new data set. The method allocates available storage elements in the volume to the new data set to fulfill the allocation request. In doing so, the method favors storage elements that have been available for a longer amount of time over storage elements that have been available for a shorter amount of time. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Data set allocation technique to preserve deleted data sets

A method for allocating new data sets while taking into account point-in-time copy relationships is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes determining free space that is available in a volume. The method further determines which portions of the free space are not subject to residual point-in-time-copy relationships. In certain embodiments, these portions are represented in a modified free space mapping that identifies storage elements (e.g., tracks. groups of tracks, etc.) in the volume that make up the free space but are not subject to residual point-in-time-copy relationships. Once the portions are known, the method determines whether the portions are sufficient to accommodate the allocation of a new data set. If the portions are sufficient, the method allocates the new data set therein. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Data set allocations taking into account point-in-time-copy relationships

A method for preemptively migrating data in a tiered storage system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes identifying a regularly scheduled event that is associated with an increase in I/O activity. The method further identifies a virtual storage resource (e.g., file, data set, logical volume) associated with the increase in I/O activity. A timeline is then analyzed to determine timing for the regularly scheduled event. The method automatically promotes the virtual storage resource from lower-performing storage media to higher-performing storage media immediately prior to a start of the regularly scheduled event. The method automatically demotes the virtual storage resource to the lower-performing storage media after completion of the regularly scheduled event. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Preemptive event-based data migration

A method according to one embodiment includes determining to temporarily extend an initial volume to be defragmented, identifying a plurality of additional volumes pooled with the initial volume within a storage group, identifying an area on each of the plurality of additional volumes pooled with the initial volume within the storage group to use for temporarily extending the initial volume, allocating the identified area on each of the plurality of additional volumes as a temporary extension of the initial volume, including, for each of the plurality of additional volumes, creating an entry in a VTOC of the additional volume that indicates that a non-VSAM data set resides at a location of the identified area on the additional volume, setting a plurality of pointers within a VTOC of the initial volume, where the plurality of pointers includes a pointer to the identified area on additional volumes, and defragmenting the initial volume.

Temporary spill area for volume defragmentation

A method for partially reorganizing a volume is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes logically dividing a volume into multiple regions. The method further enables a computing system to perform a data reorganization operation on a particular region of the multiple regions, while enabling I/O to continue to the other regions. In the event a request for a data set allocation is received for the particular region while the data reorganization operation is taking place, the method automatically performs the data set allocation within other regions of the volume. When the data reorganization operation is complete, the method automatically moves the data set allocation from the region in which it was performed to the region associated with the original request.

Partial volume reorganization to increase data availability

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selecting first data sets in a first storage group to swap with second data sets in a second storage group. First data sets are stored in a first storage group and second data sets are stored in a second storage group. A determination is made for a value for each of at least one of the first data sets based on at least one priority of at least one job processing I/O activity at the first data set. At least one of the first data sets for which the value was determined is selected to migrate to the second storage group based on the value.

Selecting first data sets in a first storage group to swap with second data sets in a second storage group

A method for dynamically freeing storage space in a tiered storage system includes reading attribute values associated with data sets residing on a first storage tier. The method compares characteristics of the data sets to the attribute values to determine which initial data sets qualify to be moved from the first storage tier to a second storage tier. The method further determines whether movement of the initial data sets creates a desired amount of free space on the first storage tier. In the event the movement does not create the desired amount of free space, the method modifies the attribute values, determines which additional data sets qualify to be moved from the first storage tier to the second storage tier, and recalculates the amount of free space that would be generated. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Dynamicly freeing storage space in tiered storage systems

Apparatuses, methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for generating diagnostic data. A trigger module detects a diagnostic trigger for a first address space. A lookup module checks a data structure for one or more second address spaces associated with the first address space. A dump module generates one or more dump files comprising diagnostic data for the first address space and the one or more second address spaces.

Generating diagnostic data

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for allocating additional requested storage space for a data set in a first managed space in a second managed space. A request for additional storage space is received for a requested data set stored in a first managed space in the storage. A revised amount of storage space for the requested data set comprises at least an amount of space currently allocated to the requested data set in the first managed space and the requested additional storage space. If the revised amount of storage space exceeds a value, then allocation is made of the revised amount of storage space in allocated storage space in a second managed space of the storage. The data set is stored in the allocated storage space in the second managed space.

Allocating additional requested storage space for a data set in a first managed space in a second managed space

A method for optimizing the allocation of extents to data sets is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing multiple storage classes. These storage classes may include a first storage class configured to allocate larger extents to data sets, a second storage class configured to allocate smaller extents to data sets, and a mixed-mode storage class configured to allocate a combination of the smaller and larger extents to data sets. The method further enables data sets to be assigned to one of the multiple storage classes. Upon assigning a data set to the mixed-mode storage class, the method causes an initial portion of the data set to be allocated the larger extents, and an ending portion of the data set to be allocated the smaller extents. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Physical allocation unit optimization

A method for volume defragmentation utilizing a temporary spill area is disclosed. The method includes analyzing a volume, and, based on the analysis, determining to temporarily extend the volume. The method further includes identifying at least one area on another volume to use for temporarily extending the volume, and allocating the at least one area on the other volume as a temporary extension of the volume.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Esteban Rios