Method and system for automated termination and resumption in a time zero backup copy process

Abstract

A method in a data processing system for automatically terminating or resuming backup copy sessions after an abnormal interrupt or reset notification occurrence during a backup copy process. A status indication is entered into activity tables associated with a plurality of storage subsystems and devices within a data processing system in response to initiation of a backup copy session. Status indications are then entered upon successful completion of a backup copy session within the data processing system. The indications within the activity tables are reviewed to determine the status of a backup copy session upon restarting a resource manager, abnormal termination of a backup copy program, or an operating system initial program load. If a backup copy session has been initiated but not completed, the backup copy session is then terminated. The indications within the activity tables are also reviewed to determine the status of a backup copy session if a reset notification is raised by a storage subsystem. The tracks extents which are active for a volume associated with a particular session identification are determined. A comparison is then made between the tracks extents which are active and the volume and extent information associated with a physical session identification. If a match exists between the tracks extents which are active and the volume and extent information associated with a physical session identification, the backup copy session resumes. If a match does not exist, the backup copy session is terminated.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program, wherein said backup copy program suspends execution of applications within said data processing system until each backup copy session is logically complete, and thereafter generates a physically complete backup copy of designated datasets stored in a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of applications within said data processing system, said method comprising the steps of: 
       associating an activity table with each of said plurality of storage subsystems;  
       entering a status indication into an activity table associated with a particular storage subsystem in response to an initiation of a backup copy session within said data processing system;  
       entering a status indication of successful completion of a backup copy session within said data processing system; and  
       periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session.  
     
     
       2. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  1 , wherein said step of periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session comprises periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session upon the abnormal termination of said backup copy program. 
     
     
       3. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  2 , further comprising the step of terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to a review of said activity table upon said abnormal termination of said backup copy program. 
     
     
       4. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  1 , wherein said backup copy program has a resource manager program associated therewith and wherein said step of periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session comprises periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session upon the abnormal termination of said resource manager program. 
     
     
       5. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  4 , further comprising the step of terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to a review of said activity table upon said abnormal termination of said resource manager program. 
     
     
       6. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  1 , wherein said data processing system has an operating system and wherein said step of periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session comprises periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session upon said operating system initial program load. 
     
     
       7. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  6 , further comprising the step of terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to said operating system initial program load. 
     
     
       8. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  1 , wherein each of said backup copy sessions has a unique session identification associated therewith, and wherein said session identification indicates which of said storage subsystems are utilized in a backup copy session. 
     
     
       9. A method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program, wherein said backup copy program suspends execution of applications within said data processing system until each backup copy session is logically complete, and thereafter generates a physically complete backup copy of designated datasets stored in a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of applications within said data processing system, said method comprising the steps of: 
       associating an activity table with each of said plurality of storage subsystems;  
       entering a status indication into an activity table associated with a particular storage subsystem in response to an initiation of a backup copy session within said data processing system;  
       entering a status indication of successful completion of a backup copy session within said data processing system; and  
       reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session in response to a reset notification raised by a particular storage subsystem for a device or set of devices.  
     
     
       10. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  9 , wherein each of said backup copy sessions has a unique session identification associated therewith, and wherein said method further comprises the step of determining which designated datasets within said plurality of storage subsystems are utilized in a backup copy session and comparing said designated datasets to said session identification associated with said backup copy session. 
     
     
       11. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  10 , wherein said session identification associated with a backup copy session indicates which of said storage subsystems are utilized in said backup copy session. 
     
     
       12. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  10 , further comprising the step of terminating a backup copy session when said designated datasets do not match the session identification associated with said backup copy session. 
     
     
       13. The method in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  10 , further comprising the step of resuming a backup copy session when said designated datasets do match the session identification associated with said backup copy program. 
     
     
       14. A data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program, wherein said backup copy program suspends execution of applications within said data processing system until each backup copy session is logically complete, and thereafter generates a physically complete backup copy of designated datasets stored in a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of applications within said data processing system, said data processing system comprising: 
       an activity table associated with each of said plurality of storage subsystems;  
       means for entering a status indication into an activity table associated with a particular storage subsystem in response to an initiation of a backup copy session within said data processing system;  
       means for entering a status indication of successful completion of a backup copy session within said data processing system; and  
       means for periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session.  
     
     
       15. The data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  14 , further comprising means for terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to a review of said activity table upon an abnormal termination of said backup copy program. 
     
     
       16. The data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  14 , wherein said backup copy program has a resource manager. 
     
     
       17. The data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  16 , further comprising means for terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to a review of said activity table upon said abnormal termination of said resource manager program. 
     
     
       18. The data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  14 , wherein said data processing system has an opening system. 
     
     
       19. The data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  18 , further comprising the step of terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to said operating system initial program load. 
     
     
       20. A data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program, wherein said backup copy program suspends execution of applications within said data processing system until each backup copy session is logically complete, and thereafter generates a physically complete backup copy of designated datasets stored in a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of applications within said data processing system, said data processing system comprising: 
       an activity table associated with each of said plurality of storage subsystems;  
       means for entering a status indication into an activity table associated with a particular storage subsystem in response to an initiation of a backup copy session within said data processing system;  
       means for entering a status indication of successful completion of a backup copy session within said data processing system; and  
       means for reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session in response to a reset notification raised by a particular storage subsystem for a device or set of devices.  
     
     
       21. The data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  20 , wherein a session identification associated with a backup copy session indicates which of said storage subsystems are utilized in said backup copy session. 
     
     
       22. The data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  21 , further comprising means for terminating a backup copy session when said designated datasets do not match the session identification associated with said backup copy session. 
     
     
       23. The data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  21 , further comprising means for resuming a backup copy session when said designated datasets do match the session identification associated with said backup copy program. 
     
     
       24. A computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program, wherein said backup copy program suspends execution of applications within said data processing system until each backup copy session is logically complete, and thereafter generates a physically complete backup copy of designated datasets stored in a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of applications within said data processing system, said program comprising: 
       
         instruction means for entering a status indication into an activity table associated with a particular storage subsystem in response to an initiation of a backup copy session within said data processing system;  
       
       
         instruction means for entering a status indication of successful completion of a backup copy session within said data processing system; and  
       
       
         instruction means for periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session.  
       
     
     
       25. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  24 , wherein said instruction means for periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session comprises instruction means for periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session upon the abnormal termination of said backup copy program.  
     
     
       26. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  25 , further comprising instruction means for terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to a review of said activity table upon said abnormal termination of said backup copy program.  
     
     
       27. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  24 , wherein said backup copy program has a resource manager program associated therewith and wherein said instruction means for periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session comprises instruction means for periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session upon the abnormal termination of said resource manager program.  
     
     
       28. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  27 , further comprising instruction means for terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to a review of said activity tale upon said abnormal termination of said resource manager program.  
     
     
       29. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  24 , wherein said data processing system has an operating system and wherein said instruction means for periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session comprises instruction means for periodically reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session upon said operating system initial program load.  
     
     
       30. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  29 , further comprising instruction means for terminating a backup copy session which has been initiated but not completed in response to said operating system initial program load.  
     
     
       31. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  24 , wherein each of said backup copy sessions has a unique session identification associated therewith, and wherein said session identification indicates which of said storage subsystems are utilized in a backup copy session.  
     
     
       32. A computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program, wherein said backup copy program suspends execution of applications within said data processing system until each backup copy session is logically complete, and thereafter generates a physically complete backup copy of designated datasets stored in a plurality of storage subsystems during concurrent execution of applications within said data processing system, said product comprising: 
       
         instruction means for associating an activity table with each of said plurality of storage subsystems;  
       
       
         instruction means for entering a status indication into an activity table associated with a particular storage subsystem in response to an initiation of a backup copy session within said data processing system;  
       
       
         instruction means for entering a status indication of successful completion of a backup copy session within said data processing system; and  
       
       
         instruction means for reviewing indications within said activity table to determine the status of a backup copy session in response to a reset notification raised by a particular storage subsystem for a device or set of devices.  
       
     
     
       33. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  32 , wherein each of said backup copy sessions has a unique session identification associated therewith, and wherein said product further comprises: 
       
         instruction means for determining which designated datasets within said plurality of storage subsystems are utilized in a backup copy session; and  
       
       
         instructions means for comparing said designated datasets to said session identification associated with said backup copy session.  
       
     
     
       34. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  33 , wherein said session identification associated with a backup copy session indicates which of said storage subsystems are utilized in said backup copy session.  
     
     
       35. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  33 , further comprising instruction means for terminating a backup copy session when said designated datasets do not match the session identification associated with said backup copy session.  
     
     
       36. The computer program product for use in a data processing system for administering multiple backup copy sessions associated with a backup copy program according to claim  33 , further comprising instruction means for resuming a backup copy session when said designated datasets do match the session identification associated with said backup copy program.