Add an archive tier to improve DFSMShsm efficiency and take advantage of cloud storage

IBM Advanced Archive for DFSMShsm creates a new archive tier for backing up inactive mainframe data currently managed by DFSMShsm. The additional, lower-impact management tier consumes less CPU resources to improve DFSMShsm efficiency and adds cloud storage to virtual and physical tape media options.

IBM Advanced Archive for DFSMShsm helps you increase the performance and efficiency of HSM environments that have large amounts of inactive data that must be retained for long periods. It preserves DFSMS (Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem) policies to properly back up data and manage retention. When applications or users recall data stored in a cloud, it is returned to DFSMShsm control and made available. IBM Advanced Archive for DFSMShsm supports IBM Cloud Object Storage, IBM SoftLayer® and Amazon S3 cloud environments.

Features

• **Customizable sample JCL: **The Advanced Archive for DFSMShsm JCL sample library includes fully customizable sample JCL for these tasks: - Archiving inactive data - Restoring data from the archive to the ML2 tapes - Creating reports - Backing up, restoring and cleaning up the Archive Database
• **ISPF interface: **The Advanced Archive for DFSMShsm ISPF (Interactive System Productivity Facility) interface offers the following functions: - Provides easy access to the product settings that are used for moving data out of the archive and for defining cloud storage environments - Lists the data sets that have been archived and (optionally) allows you to queue files for restore processing - Lists the tape volumes that contain the archived data sets - Provides a quick access method for generating the JCL to restore archived files that have been queued for restore processing - Lists the archived files that are in the restore queue - Provides the SMS Archive Policy Editor for updating the AXQMCPOL parameter library member that is used for implementing the ML3-like storage tier
• Console command interface - The archive, restore, recycle and cleanup processes support the use of console commands to display the status of the process or to halt an in-progress process. - The AXQTINIT started task supports console commands to alter its processing mode, display status information, refresh parameter settings and shut down the started task.

Benefits

• **Lowers costs: **Reduce size and processing cost for HSM Control Data Sets and use the economics and flexibility of cloud storage.
• **Improves CPU efficiency: **Move metadata from inactive data to lower-impact processes that improve batch window and application-elapsed time.
• **Delivers cloud flexibility: **Use private, public or hybrid cloud environments. Move data previously stored on ML2 tape under DFSMShsm control to a cloud environment.
• **Recalls data direct to HSM: **Enable applications and users to recall archived data. Archived data is returned to DFSMShsm control.