Volume Image Copy Archiving with Exclusive Locks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data archiving methods in ILM systems, such as IBM DB2, primarily operate at the file level, consuming host system processor resources and lacking efficient data set level operations, which can lead to inefficiencies in determining archival policy satisfaction and updating metadata for data sets.
Innovation Solution
The method involves creating a volume image in secondary storage through image level copying, capturing metadata to determine archival policy criteria satisfaction, and using exclusive locks to update directory records, ensuring data set consistency and efficient archiving operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If file level archiving operations are performed using host system processor resources, then data sets can be archived according to policy criteria, but processor resource consumption increases and archiving efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the archiving operation from host system processing to storage system processing. The storage system's controller performs the archiving operations independently on the data sets, dividing the workload from the host processor. This segmentation allows the host to focus on other tasks while the storage system handles archiving, improving overall productivity without increasing host processor resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system performs archiving operations autonomously without requiring host system intervention. The controller automatically applies policy criteria to data sets, determines which need archiving, and executes the archiving process using storage system resources. This self-service capability eliminates the need for host processor resources to be consumed by archiving operations while maintaining high archiving efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If metadata updates are performed for each data set during archiving, then archiving status can be tracked accurately, but operation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by capturing metadata and determining archival policy satisfaction before executing the actual archiving operation. The controller identifies which data sets meet archiving criteria in advance, preparing the necessary information before the archiving process begins. This preliminary action reduces the complexity and time of subsequent metadata updates by pre-organizing the information that needs to be recorded.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying of metadata information to track archiving status. Instead of performing complex updates to original metadata structures, the system creates and updates archive status information that mirrors the archiving state. This copying approach simplifies the tracking process and reduces the time required to maintain accurate archiving status records.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for archiving data sets in a volume in a primary storage in a volume image copy of the volume in a secondary storage. A volume image in the secondary storage is created comprising a copy of the volume in the primary storage. For each of a plurality of data sets in the volume, data set level archive operations are performed comprising, determining from metadata for the data set whether an archival policy criteria is satisfied, requesting an exclusive lock to the data set, and in response to obtaining the exclusive lock and determining that the archival policy is satisfied, updating a directory for the data set to indicate that the data set is archived in the volume image.