During aggregate recovery, the backed up data sets are recreated at the recovery site. Data sets backed up as migrated data sets can be returned to the same level as when backed up, or they can all be recovered to ML1 DASD or to ML2 tape. SMS-managed generation data sets being recovered to level 0 DASD can be recovered with a status of deferred, active, rolled off, or source, where source means restoring the data set to the status it had when backed up. All data sets backed up from user volumes are returned to user volumes.

A generation data group (GDG) base can be defined at the recovery site without having to back up any of the generation data sets (GDSs). The GDG base name is defined, if one does not already exist, during ARECOVER processing, and before any GDSs are recovered.

During aggregate recovery processing, the aggregate backup volumes can be automatically defined to RACF® if the appropriate DFSMShsm commands are specified and if RACF is active at the recovery site.