Just like DFSMSdss, DFSMShsm just got a powerful upgrade! With the latest enhancements, we are harnessing z/OS Cloud Data Access (CDA) to take our transparent cloud tiering (TCT) solution to the next level. But that’s not all—we have also introduced a game-changing, storage vendor-agnostic direct-to-cloud solution. Now, clients without IBM disk storage can seamlessly back up their data straight to the cloud. The enhancements provide more flexibility, more choices, and more ways to simplify your storage strategy.

CDA is the latest and greatest z/OS DFSMSdfp access method, built to revolutionize how you connect with cloud object storage from IBM Z. Designed for seamless integration, CDA provides a unified environment with a common set of APIs to effortlessly communicate with top cloud providers—including S3-compatible IBM Cloud Object Storage, Amazon S3, Azure Blob Storage, and Google Cloud Storage. With CDA, DFSMShsm clients gain the power to target any cloud object storage with ease, unlocking new levels of flexibility and efficiency in data management. In addition, combining the features of CDA with TCT has allowed us to enhance the existing solution for all TCT supported cloud storage types.

New Enhancement: TCT Powered by CDA

The users of TCT today no longer need to configure the DS8000-HMC as an endpoint in the SMS Network connection construct. They can define the endpoint on the CDA provider file that allows for multiple endpoint configurations which eliminates a potential single point of failure. HSM harnesses the CDA APIs for transferring metadata objects, while still using TCT for the data extents. By offloading metadata handling to CDA, DFSMShsm has made the cloud tiering infrastructure more resilient, modular, and easier to manage.               

Fig1. Using  CDA TCT solution 

New Enhancement: HSM Direct to Cloud

We understand our customer’s need for a disk storage vendor-agnostic solution for cloud object storage, and we delivered!

DFSMShsm users can now leverage the easy-to-use CDA provider files to configure their cloud storage through HSM Direct to Cloud. This configuration allows DFSMShsm to perform migrations and full volume dumps directly to cloud through CDA!

HSM Direct to Cloud gives customers greater control, agility, and independence when integrating z/OS with modern cloud storage.                 

Fig2. Using  HSM Direct to Cloud solution

HSM Direct to Cloud + Compression: Smarter, Lighter Cloud Transfers

The HSM Direct to Cloud solution doesn't just provide direct-to-cloud capabilities. It also brings performance and efficiency gains through native compression support using zEDC. Leveraging the latest enhancements in CDA, customers can now compress data in-flight during MIGRATE and Full Volume DUMP operations.

This compression reduces bandwidth consumption and speeds up data transfers; this is especially valuable for large-scale cloud migrations.

Supported Functions Include

• Primary functions:
  MIGRATE, RECALL, Full Volume DUMP, RECOVER, FRDUMP, FRRECOVER
• Other functions:
  LIST, AUDIT MEDIACONTROLS, Secondary Space Management (SSM), HDELETE, and DDELETE

For complete guidance on enabling and configuring these new capabilities, refer to the documentation linked below:
https://public.dhe.ibm.com/eserver/zseries/zos/DFSMS/HSM/OA66198/

Operational Flexibility

We aren’t only simplifying cloud integration for DFSMShsm, but also providing clients with significant flexibility and control in managing their cloud storage strategies.

Easy Endpoint and Storage Tier Reconfiguration

Clients can now easily adjust their cloud storage configuration by simply updating the CDA provider file. This allows them to:

·      Use cross-region endpoints in IBM Cloud Object Storage, allowing for the inherent redundancy of the cloud storage provider's network to be effectively leveraged.

·      Modify the LocationConstraint, effectively changing the storage region and associated storage class tier (e.g., Smart, Vault, Cold).

This flexibility empowers storage administrators to fine-tune performance, cost, and compliance characteristics without requiring extensive reconfiguration of DFSMShsm infrastructure.

Overall, the new HSM Direct to Cloud solution offers a software-only, storage vendor-agnostic direct-to-cloud solution where users can target any cloud storage provider supported by CDA giving enterprises greater an easier way to manage their cloud solutions with more control, flexibility, and resilience.

This new functionality is delivered in APAR OA66198 and is available on z/OS 3.1 and above.

Learn more about the related solutions:

Check out the In the clouds with DFSMSdss blog!

Learn more about CDA in the Game Changing blog series and get started with the CDA content solution page!

Stay Tuned:

Always be on the lookout for more blog posts, educational events, and conferences!

We would love to hear your thoughts on these enhancements, leave a comment on this blog post, start a discussion on the DFSMS Community Page, or join the Mainframe Data Management LinkedIn group to discuss in the comments there!

Authors:
Muralidhara V

Robert Gensler

Ernesto Figueroa

Editors:

Alexis Kapica

Barbara McDonald