Method and system for replicating data

• US 8,463,746 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gundy, Lisa J., Peterson, Beth A., Sanchez, Alfred E., Shackelford, David M., Stanley, Warren K., Thompson, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz, Apu
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HUNG D
• Application Number:
  US13/075,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20120254114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• US Class Current: 707/639
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2069 Management of state, configuration or failover
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2074 Asynchronous techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/128 Details of file system snapshots on the file-level, e.g. snapshot creation, administration, deletion use of snapshots for error detection or correction G06F11/14, G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/84 Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data

Abstract

Methods, computing environments, and computer program products are provided for replicating data. Point-in-time copy parameters are generated at a primary host site. A side file entry having the point-in-time copy parameters and a track information field (TIF) associated with the point-in-time copy parameters is generated. The side file entry is transferred to a secondary host site. A point-in-time copy process is performed at the secondary host site based on the point-in-time copy parameters and the TIF.

Claims

1. A method for replicating data comprising:

generating point-in-time copy parameters at a primary host site;

generating a side file entry having the point-in-time copy parameters and a track information field (TIF) associated with the point-in-time copy parameters, the side file entry being placed in the same side file that contains recordsets representing writes to a track and includes a source side file entry and a target side file entry, wherein each of the source side file entry and the target side file entry include the TIF;

transferring the side file entry to a secondary host site;

parsing the side file entry at the secondary host site to build a point-in-time copy command based on the side file entry and the TIF; and

issuing the point-in-time copy command to a secondary storage controller of the secondary host site.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a point-in-time copy process at the secondary host site based on the point-in-time copy parameters and the TIF.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating a standard track side file entry.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating a count key data (CKD) record.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises generating the point-in-time copy parameters in a data track format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating an R1 count key data (CKD) record.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the source file side entry includes a count field following the TIF, followed by a data field including command parameters, and a pseudo count.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the target file side entry includes a pseudo count following the TIF.

9. A computing environment for replicating data comprising:

a primary host site adapted to;

generate point-in-time copy parameters; and

generate a side file entry having the point-in-time copy parameters and a track information field (TIF) associated with the point-in-time copy parameters, the side file entry being placed in the same side file that contains recordsets representing writes to a track and includes a source side file entry and a target side file entry, wherein each of the source side file entry and the target side file entry include the TIF; and

a secondary host site adapted to;

parse the side file entry at the secondary host site to build a point-in-time copy command based on the side file entry and the TIF; and

issue the point-in-time copy command to a secondary storage controller of the secondary host site.

10. The computing environment of claim 9, wherein the secondary host site is further adapted to:

perform a point-in-time copy process based on the point-in-time copy parameters and the TIF.

11. The computing environment claim 9, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating a standard track side file entry.

12. The computing environment of claim 11, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating a count key data (CKD) record.

13. The computing environment of claim 9, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises generating the point-in-time copy parameters in a data track format.

14. The computing environment of claim 9, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating an R1 count key data (CKD) record.

15. A computer program product for replicating data, the computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium including computer-readable program code portions stored thereon, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for generating point-in-time copy parameters at a primary host site;

a second executable portion for generating a side file entry having the point-in-time copy parameters and a track information field (TIF) associated with the point-in-time copy parameters, the side file entry being placed in the same side file that contains recordsets representing writes to a track and includes a source side file entry and a target side file entry, wherein each of the source side file entry and the target side file entry include the TIF;

a third executable portion for transferring the side file entry to a secondary host site;

a fourth executable portion for parsing the side file entry at the secondary host site to build a point-in-time copy command based on the side file entry and the TIF; and

a fifth executable portion for issuing the point-in-time copy command to a secondary storage controller of the secondary host site.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising a sixth executable portion for performing a point-in-time copy process at the secondary host site based on the point-in-time copy parameters and the TIF.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating a standard track side file entry.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating a count key data (CKD) record.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises generating the point-in-time copy parameters in a data track format.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the generating of the side file entry comprises emulating an R1 count key data (CKD) record.