Fast replication provides a valuable method for obtaining a point-in-time backup that is managed by DFSMShsm with minimal application outage. Fast replication uses FlashCopy® on the Enterprise Storage Server® (ESS) or SnapShot on the RAMAC Virtual Array (RVA) to copy the volumes. The use of this function allows for the following benefits:

• You can use an SMS copy pool construct that allows you to define a set of storage groups that are processed collectively for fast replication.
• DFSMShsm manages full volume fast replication backup versions.
• Recovery from a backup version is performed at the volume or copy pool level.
• You can use ISMF panels to implement this function.