Data processing arrangement and method

#This invention relates to data processing and more particularly to a data processing arrangement and method for fuzzy backup and restore of objects therein.

#IBM's MQSeries® is a set of middleware products that allow user applications to intercommunicate using messages, without having to know the complexities of the underlying hardware and software platform. Applications communicate using the MQSeries application programming interface (API), issuing such calls as MQPUT to put a message onto a queue and MQGET to get a message from a queue. In this specification, the terms “get” and “put” are used generally interchangeably with the terms “read” and “write”, respectively. MQSeries is described in such publications as MQSeries Planning Guide, IBM GC33-1349-07 (January 1999), incorporated herein by reference.

#The IBM S/390® Parallel Sysplex® configuration is a cluster of interconnected processing nodes with attachments to shared storage devices, network controllers, and core cluster technology components, consisting of coupling facilities, coupling support facilities, and external time references (ETRs). A coupling facility (CF) enables high-performance read/write sharing of data by applications running on each node of the cluster through global locking and cache coherency management mechanisms. It also provides cluster-wide queuing mechanisms for workload distribution and message passing between nodes.

#A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the following drawings:

#FIG. 1 shows an MQSeries multiple-system complex (sysplex) incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 shows a block-schematic illustration of the coupling facility list structure used in the sysplex of FIG. 1; and

#The following terms, used throughout this description, are reproduced here for ready reference.

#A “backout” (or “abort”) is an operation that reverses all the changes made during the current unit of work. After the operation is complete, a new unit of work begins.

#A “commit” is an operation that applies all the changes made during the current unit of work. After the operation is complete, a new unit of work begins.