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July 11, 2003 FDR, FDRPAS and FDRSOS version 5.4 L30 is now

generally available!



SUMMARY OF MODIFICATIONS FOR FDR V5.4 LEVEL 30

IBM FLASHCOPY V2 SUPPORT (DATA SET FLASH)

FDRINSTANT for FlashCopy has been enhanced to support V2 of the IBM FlashCopy function, which includes flashing data sets and removes some restrictions compared to V1.
To use FlashCopy V2, you must install the Flashcopy V2 microcode on your IBM 2105 ESS (Shark) and you must install the co-requisite IBM FlashCopy V2 PTFs on your operating system.

FDRINSTANT for FlashCopy now enhances FDRCOPY so that when you are copying or moving a data set between two volumes in an ESS with the V2 support installed, it will automatically use FlashCopy to copy the data. FDRCOPY will complete in just seconds. The data is actually copied in the background by the ESS microcode but the copied data sets can be accessed as soon the FDRCOPY step ends.

In a test where 2 sequential datasets of 800 cylinders each were FlashCopied from one ESS volume to another, the FDRCOPY step took only 3 seconds. By contrast, copying the same datasets within the ESS without FlashCopy took 165 seconds.

For a full-volume FlashCopy for FDR or ABR backups, Flashcopy V2 now allows you to flash between any two volumes in the same ESS (V1 requires that the volumes be in the same LSS, Logical Subsystem). Because of changes in the IBM API for FlashCopy V2, FDRINSTANT V5.4 level 30 is required even for full-volume FlashCopy if you install V2.

EMC SYMMETRIX DMX SUPPORT
The EMC Symmetrix DMX disk subsystem is supported by FDR V5.4 level 24 and above. This only applies to customers licensed for FDRINSTANT for EMC Timefinder, FDRSOS, or FDRPAS. Other customers may use any supported level of FDR with EMC DMX subsystems.

EMC SNAP SUPPORT
Since its inception, FDRINSTANT for EMC Timefinder has enhanced FDRCOPY to use EMCCOPY, an internal copy function, whenever you are copying or moving a data set between two volumes in the same EMC Symmetrix system. EMCCOPY was faster than a regular READ/WRITE, but it takes some time.

In FDR V5.4/30, FDRCOPY has been enhanced to use the EMCSNAP function when copying between two volumes in the same Symmetrix. The EMCSNAP function is "instant" in that it appears to complete in just seconds. The data is actually copied in the background by the Symmetrix microcode but the copied data sets can be accessed as soon the FDRCOPY step ends.

However, EMCSNAP support is shipped disabled because of interactions with Timefinder BCVs. FDRINSTANT customers should review the member called EMCSNAP in the ICL library.

EMCSNAP gets elapsed times similar those quoted for IBM FlashCopy above.

FDRINSTANT works alongside FDR and ABR, and in conjunction with DASD Subsystem facilities such as EMC TimeFinder, StorageTek/IBM SnapShot Copy, HDS ShadowImage and IBM FlashCopy V1 and V2, which can all create offline duplicates of DASD volumes, seamlessly without disruption for 24 x 7 availabilty.

FDRINSTANT provides the ability to take "instant" point-in-time backups from the offline duplicate. This can be done while applications (CICS, TSO, Batch, etc.) continue to use the real data on the original volumes.

FDRINSTANT easily interfaces with DB2. Utilizing DB2 LOG SUSPEND allows you to backup DB2 without closing the system. FDR and ABR supports RESTORE of the entire DB2 system and individual tablespaces.

IBM z990 SUPPORT

FDR products will support all models of the new IBM z990 processor.

No special versions of FDR are required, except that certain FDR versions may be required for the operating system level you are running. For details, visit our web site at http://www.innovationdp.fdr.com/osreq.cfm

The z990 supports more than 15 LPARs, although that support will not be available until October 2003. FDRPAS customers using LPAR numbers over 15 (X'0F') must use FDRPAS V5.4 level 24 or higher.

STORAGETEK 9840B FICON SUPPORT

FDR products have been tested with a StorageTek 9840B drive on a FICON channel. All supported versions of FDR will work with these drives.

A test was run with a FICON 9840B tape drive, dumping a 4GB Open System volume in a FICON-attached EMC subsystem with FDRSOS. The same test was run on an ESCON-attached 9840B drive. The results are:

ELAPSED DATA RATE IMPROVEMENT
9840B ESCON 5.4M
13.4 MB/sec
9840B FICON 4.2M 17.2 MB/sec 22%


SUPPORT FOR TAPE MANAGEMENT EDM (EXTERNAL DATA MANAGER)

As of V5.4/20, tapes created by ABR Archive can be managed directly by ABR as a EDM (External Data Manager). As an EDM, ABR tells the tape management system when a tape is ready to be released to scratch; the tape management system will not scratch it until it is notified.

This is ONLY for ABR Archive tapes.

Currently ABR supports EDM for tape management systems CA-1, CA-DYNAM/TLMS and DFSMSrmm (RMM).

For CA-1 and CA-DYNAM/TLMS, one advantage of EDM is a reduction in the number of CA-1 DSNBs and TLMS auxiliary records required. Because ABR stacks many backup files on each tape, it may require a large number of DSNBs or aux records; EDM eliminates that requirement for ABR Archive tapes.