Method, system, and program for data backup

A memory for storing data for access by an application program, comprising:

• a data structure stored in the memory, wherein the data structure includes data for use by the application program and comprising:
• a source dataset inventory including a source volume identifier and an associated dataset identifier;
• a backup dataset inventory including an originating source volume identifier and an associated backup dataset identifier;
• and
• a storage media inventory including an originating source volume identifier and a storage media identifier.

A system for data backup, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled to the processor;
• at least one program executed by the processor in the memory to cause the processor to perform:
• (i) creating a backup copy of source data;
• (ii) creating a backup dataset inventory when creating the backup copy, wherein the backup dataset inventory comprises a backup dataset identifier and an originating source volume identifier for each dataset of the source data;
• (iii) copying the backup copy to a storage medium;
• and
• (iv) creating a storage media inventory when copying the backup copy to the storage medium, wherein the storage media inventory comprises the originating source volume identifier and a storage media identifier for each dataset of the source data.

An article of manufacture embodied as a computer readable medium including a program for data backup, wherein the program causes operations to be performed, the operations comprising:

• creating a backup copy of source data;
• creating a backup dataset inventory when creating the backup copy, wherein the backup dataset inventory comprises a backup dataset identifier and an originating source volume identifier for each dataset of the source data;
• copying the backup copy to a storage medium;
• and
• creating a storage media inventory when copying the backup copy to the storage medium, wherein the storage media inventory comprises the originating source volume identifier and a storage media identifier for each dataset of the source data.