TS7700 Flash Copy - Allow customers to Write to Flashed LVOLs - more like DS8K Flash Copy

DR Test RPQ
- North Carolina Farm Bureau (NCFB) recently implemented a 2-way Tapeless Grid, Local primary Site (Raleigh, NC) replicating to Remote DR Site (IBM BCRS in Sterling Forest, NY). Prior to implementing the Tape Grid, NCFB sent physical tapes to an offsite vault, which are recalled to the DR Site for restores to support DR Tests.

- In addition, they also replicate their DASD (DS8870) using Global Mirror, and utilize ‘H2' practice volumes.

- During a DR Test, they run ‘time 0' concurrently with their Production schedule for both Disk & Tape, and they write/modify the DR Tapes.

- The new Tape Grid presents a challenge for the ‘time 0' approach – they need to mount the DR Logical Volume(s) as R/W – and the Tape Grid does not currently support this.

- A temporary solution using FlashCopy for DR Test was provided and will be used for their upcoming DR Test, however this causes changes to the their Production systems and DR Test to accommodate the lack of R/W mounts to Production volumes.

- NCFB is requesting an RPQ to address this ‘time 0' and R/W mount requirement for DR Test.

- Ideally, NCFB would like the Tape Grid to operate like the DASD Global Mirror with ‘H2' practice volumes. For example, if the FlashCopy volumes could be isolated from Production and from replication, with R/W mount attributes, and then deleted/erased at the end of the DR Test, without impact to ongoing Production and replication – that would be ideal.

Source: Storage Rep David J Burdick/Charlotte