Method and system for automated backup copy ordering in a time zero backup copy session

• US 5,241,670 A
• Filed: 04/20/1992
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kern, Robert F., Kern, Ronald M., Eastridge, Lawrence E., Mikkelsen, Claus W., Ratliff, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canney, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US07/871,787
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 395/575, 395/425, 395/250, 364/260.2, 364/268.1, 364/268.2, 364/282.1
• US Class Current: 714/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems

Abstract

A method in a data processing system for generating a backup copy of designated datasets during concurrent execution of an application. Upon receiving a request for a backup copy, execution of an application is suspended. A dataset logical-to-physical storage system address concordance for the designated datasets is formed, and execution of the application is resumed thereafter. A resource manager is established to manage all input and output functions between storage subsystems, storage subsystem memory associated with each of the storage subsystems, and a temporary host memory during formation of the backup copy. Formation of the backup copy is accomplished on a scheduled or opportunistic basis by copying the designated datasets from the storage subsystems and then updating the address concordance in response to the copying. Application updates are processed during formation of the backup copy by buffering the updates, copying the affected uncopied designated datasets to a storage subsystem memory, updating the address concordance in response to the copying, and processing the updates. Designated datasets can also be copied to the temporary host memory in the event the number of designated datasets in the storage subsystem memory exceeds a threshold number. Finally, the designated datasets are copied to an alternate storage memory from the storage subsystem, storage subsystem memory and temporary host memory utilizing the resource manager and the altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of the designated datasets from said copied portions of the designated datasets without user intervention.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for generating a backup copy of designated datasets stored within a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of an application, wherein said data processing system has a temporary host memory associated therewith and each of said storage subsystems has storage subsystem memory associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

responsive to a request for generating said backup copy, suspending execution of said application;

forming a dataset logical-to-physical storage subsystem address concordance for said designated datasets;

resuming execution of said application upon completion of said forming said address concordance;

establishing a resource manager for managing all input and output functions between said plurality of storage subsystems, said storage subsystem memories and said temporary host memory during generation of said backup copy;

copying portions of said designated datasets on a scheduled or opportunistic basis from said plurality of storage subsystems and updating said address concordance in response to said copying;

processing any application initiated updates to affected uncopied portions of said designated datasets by buffering said updates, copying said affected uncopied portions of said designated datasets to said storage subsystem memory, updating said address concordance in response to said copying, and writing said updates to said affected portions of said designated datasets within said plurality of storage subsystems; and

utilizing said resource manager and said altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of said designated datasets from said copied portions of said designated datasets without user intervention.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of copying said designated datasets to said temporary host memory from said storage subsystem memory upon the occurrence of an attention, wherein said attention occurs when a number of uncopied portions of said designated datasets stored in said storage subsystem memory achieves a defined threshold number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of utilizing said resource manager and said altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of said designated datasets from said copied portions of said designated datasets without user intervention comprises copying said designated datasets to an alternate storage memory from said storage subsystem, storage subsystem memory and said temporary host memory utilizing said resource manager and said altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of said designated datasets from said copied portions of said designated datasets without user intervention.

4. A method in a data processing system for coordinating a backup copy of designated datasets stored within a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of an application, wherein said data processing system has a temporary host memory associated therewith and wherein each of said storage subsystems has storage subsystem memory associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a resource manager for managing all input and output functions between said plurality of storage subsystems, said storage subsystem memories and said temporary host memory during generation of said backup copy;

creating a session identification and a system read command utilizing said resource manager in response to a request for said backup copy;

modifying said system read command if any of said designated datasets are initially stored in said temporary host memory;

forming a dataset logical-to-physical storage subsystem address concordance for said designated datasets at said plurality of storage subsystems in response to said request for said backup copy;

copying portions of said designated datasets on a scheduled or opportunistic basis from said plurality of storage subsystems and updating said address concordance in response to said copying; and

processing any application initiated updates to affected uncopied portions of said designated datasets by buffering said updates, copying said affected uncopied portions of said designated datasets to said storage subsystem memory, updating said address concordance in response to said copying, and writing said updates to said affected portions of said designated datasets within said plurality of storage subsystems; and

utilizing said resource manager and said altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of said designated datasets from said copied portions of said designated datasets without user intervention.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of copying said designated datasets to said temporary host memory from said storage subsystem memory upon the occurrence of an attention, wherein said attention occurs when a number of uncopied portions of said designated datasets stored in said storage subsystem memory achieves a defined threshold number.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of utilizing said resource manager and said altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of said designated datasets from said copied portions of said designated datasets without user intervention comprises copying said designated datasets to an alternate storage memory from said storage subsystem, storage subsystem memory and said temporary host memory utilizing said resource manager and said altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of said designated datasets from said copied portions of said designated datasets without user intervention.

7. A data processing system for generating a backup copy of designated datasets stored within a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of an application, wherein said data processing system has a temporary host memory associated therewith and each of said storage subsystems has storage subsystem memory associated therewith, said data processing system comprising:

means for suspending execution of said application in response to a request for said backup copy;

means for forming a dataset logical-to-physical storage subsystem address concordance for said designated datasets;

means for resuming execution of said application upon completion of said forming said address concordance;

means for establishing a resource manager for managing all input and output functions between said plurality of storage subsystems, said storage subsystem memories and said temporary host memory during generation of said backup copy;

means for copying portions of said designated datasets on a scheduled or opportunistic basis from said plurality of storage subsystems and updating said address concordance in response to said copying;

means for processing any application initiated updates to affected uncopied portions of said designated datasets by buffering said updates, copying said affected uncopied portions of said designated datasets to said storage subsystem memory, updating said address concordance in response to said copying, and writing said updates to said affected portions of said designated datasets within said plurality of storage subsystems; and

means for utilizing said resource manager and said altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of said designated datasets from said copied portions of said designated datasets without user intervention.

8. The data processing system of claim 7, wherein said dataset logical-to-physical storage subsystem address concordance comprises a bitmap.

9. The data processing system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of storage subsystems comprise random access memory.

10. The data processing system of claim 7, wherein said storage subsystem memory comprises cache memory within said storage subsystem.

11. The data processing system of claim 7, further comprising means for copying said designated datasets to said temporary host memory from said storage subsystem memory upon the occurrence of an attention, wherein said attention occurs when a number of uncopied portions of said designated datasets stored in said storage subsystem memory achieves a defined threshold number.

12. A data processing system for coordinating a backup copy of designated datasets stored within a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of an application, wherein said data processing system has a temporary host memory associated therewith and wherein each of said storage subsystems has storage subsystem memory associated therewith, said data processing system comprising:

means for establishing a resource manager for managing all input and output functions between said plurality of storage subsystems, said storage subsystem memories and said temporary host memory during generation of said backup copy;

means for creating a session identification and a system read command utilizing said resource manager in response to a request for said backup copy;

means for modifying said system read command if any of said designated datasets are initially stored in said temporary host memory;

means for forming a dataset logical-to-physical storage subsystem address concordance for said designated datasets at said plurality of storage subsystems in response to said request for said backup copy;

means for copying portions of said designated datasets on a scheduled or opportunistic basis from said plurality of storage subsystems and updating said address concordance in response to said copying; and

means for processing any application initiated updates to affected uncopied portions of said designated datasets by buffering said updates, copying said affected uncopied portions of said designated datasets to said storage subsystem memory, updating said address concordance in response to said copying, and writing said updates to said affected portions of said designated datasets within said plurality of storage subsystems; and

means for utilizing said resource manager and said altered address concordance to create a specified order backup copy of said designated datasets from said copied portions of said designated datasets without user intervention.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein said dataset logical-to-physical storage subsystem address concordance comprises a bitmap.

14. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of storage subsystems comprise random access memory.

15. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein said storage subsystem memory comprises cache memory within said storage subsystem.

16. The data processing system of claim 12, further comprising means for copying said designated datasets to said temporary host memory from said storage subsystem memory upon the occurrence of an attention, wherein said attention occurs when a number of uncopied portions of said designated datasets stored in said storage subsystem memory achieves a defined threshold number.