International Business Machines Corporation

Preston A Carpenter

David C Reed

Max D Smith

Esteban Rios

Theresa Mary Brown

Ben Esparza

Richard M Abbott

Dash D Miller

Gregory E McBride

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.

Managing point-in-time copies for extents of data

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

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.

Generating point-in-time copy commands for extents of data

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

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.

Incremental replication of a source data set

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.

Flash copy relationship management

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.

Providing a reserved data area to use to extend a data set

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.

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Vail, AZ, United States of America

Preston A Carpenter