IMS HP Image Copy overview

IBM® IMS High Performance Image Copy for z/OS® (also referred to as IMS HP Image Copy) uses advanced copy technology and provides high-speed database copy and recovery features for the rapid backup and recovery of database data sets.

Image copies are essential to the timely recovery of databases after a loss of data or programming mistakes. However, taking the database offline to take image copies can reduce user productivity, have negative effect and impact on your business. IMS HP Image Copy helps you speed database backup and recovery time by supporting quick shots of image copies and restarting methods. As a result, you can help users become more productive and avoid expensive losses from missed business opportunities.

In addition to the database backup capability, IMS HP Image Copy supports many features. During the daily or weekly backup operations with IMS HP Image Copy, you can check the integrity of database pointers or collect and store database statistics to monitor the health of your databases. IMS HP Image Copy is a tool that helps you maintain and manage your IMS databases safely.

IMS HP Image Copy provides the following functions:

Image Copy function: Creates as-is image copies of database data sets. The function supports several image copy formats and many processing options for creating image copies. You can select and use the format and the options that best match your IMS environment and backup needs.; For example, you can create batch image copies or concurrent image copies. Batch image copies are created while no other applications are actively updating the database; a batch image copy is a clean copy of the database. Concurrent image copies can be created even when IMS or IMS applications are updating the database; a concurrent image copy is a fuzzy copy of the database.; You can also activate Advanced Image Copy Services, which uses the FlashCopy® capability of DASD, to create exact copies of IMS database data sets on the DASD with less time.
Recovery function: Recovers a physically damaged data set by using an image copy data set.
Create Image Copy function: Reads an image copy data set, and creates one or more copies of it.

The product supports the following two methods for invoking the Image Copy function and the Recovery function:

Using a JCL stream for the FABJMAIN module, which is a module of IMS HP Image Copy. With this method, you can use all the functions and features of IMS HP Image Copy.
Using a JCL stream that is written for the Database Image Copy utility (DFSUDMP0) or the Database Recovery utility (DFSURDB0). In this information, these JCL streams are referred to as IMS compatible JCL. You can invoke the functions of IMS HP Image Copy, except for the Create Image Copy function, by using the JCL stream that is prepared for those IMS standard utilities with a simple modification to the JCL. However, some features of IMS HP Image Copy cannot be used with this method.