Using Concurrent Copy for Backup and Recovery

Concurrent copy takes what appears to be an instantaneous copy of data. The copy can be a backup copy (such as to tape) or for replicating a database from one set of DASD volumes to another. Concurrent copy also benefits the nondatabase environment by permitting a backup or copy occur with only a very short serialization.

Using concurrent copy for backup has the following advantages:

It has little or no disruption.
It is logically consistent.
It is not necessary to take down the application using the data.
It runs without regard to how the data is being used by the application.
It works for any kind of DSS dump or copy operation.
It eliminates the unavailability of DFSMShsm while control data sets are being backed up.

DFSMShsm can use concurrent copy to copy its own control data sets and journal.

Running concurrent copy (like any copy or backup) during off-peak hours results in better system throughput.

Related reading: For information about using concurrent copy, see z/OS DFSMSdss Storage Administrationy.