Flash copy is fast, but not magic. You can't implement data consistency in the hardware. Your applications must be stopped and held at a point of consistency for the duration of the backup process be it tape or flash. If nothing else, all the software has to know to flush their buffers and hold while the flash is in progress. Loosely translated: all applications are down.
There are a number of fine Redbooks on the topic. Here's one I like: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/RedbookAbstracts/SG246547.html The last time I looked, the 2105 does support consistency groups, but only for 'open systems', not for z/os volumes. But things change from time to time. Oh, and beware of multi volume or striped datasets. Remember, only the Lone Ranger has Silver Bullets. HTH and good luck. -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Arnett Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 12:23 PM To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU Subject: Flashcopy question Folks, I was reviewing our company backups that are using ESS Flashcopy when it occured to me that our backups are still out of sync using this feature. In order for my backups to be in sync, it is necessary to set up all of the FC pairs within an ESS and then issue a single commit to start the Flashcopies. This is possible using the HMC panels on the Shark, but how can it be done from within MVS? All of the commands, whether DFDSS driven or TSO driven seem operate on single pairs and the Flashcopy begins towards the end of the execution of that single command. While each Flashcopy pair will be in sync with each other at the point the commit takes place, all of the FC pairs will be out of sync with each other. For any given multivolume VSAM dataset, it would render this PIT backup useless. Is there a way, in MVS, to set up the commands such that a single commit can be done, which would be equivalent to setting them up on the ESS HMC? TIA, Steve A. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
