System and method for synchronizing a data copy using an accumulation remote copy trio consistency group

A system for snapshot synchronization of copies of data files from respective source storage volumes, configured in a simplex state, to established peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) volume pairs each associated with a respective source storage volume in order to migrate the data file copies from target storage volumes of the established PPRC volume pairs to secondary storage volumes of the established PPRC volume pairs, the system comprising:

• a first remote copy trio;
• and
• a second remote copy trio, the first and second trios each comprising a source storage volume in a simplex state, a target storage volume associated with the source storage volume, and a secondary storage volume associated with the target storage volume, wherein associated target and secondary volumes together comprise an established PPRC volume pair,
• each source volume for storing an initial data file, executing a plurality of write commands from a host on the initial data file to generate an updated data file, and generating a record of the write commands,
• each target volume for receiving a snapshot copy of the initial data file and a snapshot copy of the write command record from the associated source volume, and transmitting the copy of the initial data file and data indicated by the write command record to the associated secondary volume, and
• each secondary volume for storing the copy of the initial data file and the data indicated by the write command record received from the associated target volume, wherein the copy of the initial data file and the data indicated by the write command record stored on the secondary volume are available for use by the secondary volume in generating a copy of the updated data file, and wherein the target volumes transmit to the associated secondary volumes in parallel relative to each other so that consistency across the source volumes is achieved when all target volumes have completed transmitting to the associated secondary volumes.

A method for snapshot synchronization of copies of data files from respective source storage volumes, configured in a simplex state, to established peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) volume pairs each associated with a respective source storage volume in order to migrate the data file copies from target storage volumes of the established PPRC volume pairs to secondary storage volumes of the established PPRC volume pairs, the method comprising:

• providing a first remote copy trio;
• and
• providing a second remote copy trio, the first and second trios each comprising a source storage volume in a simplex state, a target storage volume associated with the source storage volume, and a secondary storage volume associated with the target storage volume, wherein associated target and secondary volumes together comprise an established PPRC volume pair,
• each source volume for storing an initial data file, executing a plurality of write commands from a host on the initial data file to generate an updated data file, and generating a record of the write commands,
• each target volume for receiving a snapshot copy of the initial data file and a snapshot copy of the write command record from the associated source volume, and transmitting the copy of the initial data file and data indicated by the write command record to the associated secondary volume, and
• each secondary volume for storing the copy of the initial data file and the data indicated by the write command record received from the associated target volume, wherein the copy of the initial data file and the data indicated by the write command record stored on the secondary volume are available for use by the secondary volume in generating a copy of the updated data file, and wherein the target volumes transmit to the associated secondary volumes in series relative to each other so that consistency is maintained at all times across the source volumes.

A method for snapshot synchronization of copies of data files from respective source storage volumes, configured in a simplex state, to established peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) volume pairs each associated with a respective source storage volume in order to migrate the data file copies from target storage volumes of the established PPRC volume pairs to secondary storage volumes of the established PPRC volume pairs, the method comprising:

• providing a first remote copy trio;
• and
• providing a second remote copy trio, the first and second trios each comprising a source storage volume in a simplex state, a target storage volume associated with the source storage volume, and a secondary storage volume associated with the target storage volume, wherein associated target and secondary volumes together comprise an established PPRC volume pair,
• each source volume for storing an initial data file, executing a plurality of write commands from a host on the initial data file to generate an updated data file, and generating a record of the write commands,
• each target volume for receiving a snapshot copy of the initial data file and a snapshot copy of the write command record from the associated source volume, and transmitting the copy of the initial data file and data indicated by the write command record to the associated secondary volume, and
• each secondary volume for storing a copy of the initial data file and the data indicated by the write command record received from the associated target volume, wherein the copy of the initial data file and the data indicated by the write command record stored on the secondary volume are available for use by the secondary volume in generating a copy of the updated data file, and wherein the target volumes transmit to the associated secondary volumes in parallel relative to each other so that consistency across the source volumes is achieved when all target volumes have completed transmitting to the associated secondary volumes.

A system for snapshot synchronization of a copy of data file from a source storage volume in a simplex state to an established peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) volume pair in order to migrate the data file copy from a target storage volume of the established PPRC volume pair to a secondary storage volume of the established PPRC volume pair, the system comprising:

• a source storage volume in a simplex state for storing an initial data file, executing a write command from a host on the initial data file to generate an updated data file, and generating a record of the write command;
• a target storage volume for receiving a snapshot copy of the initial data file and a snapshot copy of the write command record from the source volume;
• and
• a secondary storage volume for storing a copy of the initial data file;
• the target volume further for transmitting the copy of the initial data file to the secondary volume, and transmitting data indicated by the write command record to the secondary volume so that consistency is maintained at all times for the source volume, and the secondary volume further for receiving and storing the data indicated by the write command record, wherein the copy of the initial data file and the data indicated by write command record stored on the secondary volume are available for use by the secondary storage volume in generating a copy of the updated data file.

A method for snapshot synchronization of a copy of data file from a source storage volume in a simplex state to an established peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) volume pair in order to migrate the data file copy from a target storage volume of the established PPRC volume pair to a secondary storage volume of the established PPRC volume pair, the method comprising:

• providing a source storage volume in a simplex state for storing an initial data file, executing a write command from a host on the initial data file to generate an updated data file, and generating a record of the write command;
• providing a target storage volume for receiving a snapshot copy of the initial data file and a snapshot copy of the write command record from the source volume;
• and
• providing a secondary storage volume for storing a copy of the initial data file;
• the target volume further for transmitting the copy of the initial data file to the secondary volume, and transmitting data indicated by the write command record to the secondary volume so that consistency is maintained at all times for the source volume, and the secondary volume further for receiving and storing the data indicated by the write command record, wherein the copy of the initial data file and the data indicated by write command record stored on the secondary volume are available for use by the secondary storage volume in generating a copy of the updated data file.