Using FlashCopy Version 2 for DB2 UDB for OS/390 & z/OS Object-Level Migration

by Daniel L. Luksetich
August 1, 2004

Using the unload/load method for the same data would take many days and would have to be carefully scheduled and coordinated with other jobs in the system. Recent copies of just one of the largest of the test tables took five days.

A copy process using DSN1COPY of our six tables is projected at 172.5 hours elapsed and 10.6 hours CPU, based upon a sample of jobs run, and provided there’s no competition with other jobs.

This demonstrates the potential elapsed and CPU time-savings you can realize by using FlashCopy V2 rather than the traditional methods.

 

Summary

FlashCopy V2 lets you perform data set level copies quickly and easily using advanced DASD subsystems from all major vendors. This technology works well with DB2 data sets and can be used as a replacement to traditional methods of migrating data with extremely fast copy times and significantly less CPU resource consumption. Use of this technology could significantly change the way we move data!

 

References and Acknowledgments

SC26-9931-03; DB2 Universal Database for OS/390 and z/OS Administration Guide

SC26-9945-04; DB2 Universal Database for OS/390 and z/OS Utility Guide and Reference

SC26-9934-03; DB2 Universal Database for OS/390 and z/OS Command Reference

SC26-7394-01; DFSMS Access Method Services for Catalogs

SC35-0424-02; z/OS DFSMSdss Storage Administration Reference

SG24-5680-03; Implementing ESS Copy Services with IBM eServer zSeries

Special thanks to Craig Cramer and Rich Fazio from TransUnion LLC for their inspiration and support of the research into this advanced copy technique!