Patent ID: 7571292
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for copying data, comprising: receiving a quick copy command from a user to copy data from a secondary storage at a secondary control unit to a tertiary storage at the secondary control unit, wherein the secondary storage maintains copies of one or more volumes of a primary storage at a primary control unit, wherein the quick copy command indicates one or more control volume pairs for which a freeze indicator is set to indicate that a freeze is to occur and one or more data volume pairs for which a freeze indicator is set to indicate that a freeze is not to occur, and wherein the freeze indicator being set to indicate that the freeze is to occur indicates that the one or more control volume pairs are not to be written to; and in response to receiving the quick copy command, performing a consistent instant virtual copy operation for each of the one or more control volume pairs for which the freeze indicator is set to indicate that the freeze is to occur to pause a system data mover on a consistency group boundary while each of the one or more data volume pairs are copied with an instant virtual copy operation and while the one or more data volume pairs are in a duplex state in which updates are being mirrored between the primary storage and the secondary storage.