Management class attributes let you choose how DFSMShsm and DFSMSdss process data sets that are in use during the backup. Point-in-time capabilities, using either concurrent copy on the 3990-6, or virtual concurrent copy on the RAMAC Virtual Array, let you use the following backup capabilities:

• Use DFSMSdss to create a point of consistency backup of CICS/VSAM, IMS™, or DB2® databases without needing to quiesce them during the entire backup process.
• Use DFSMSdss to create backups of data sets without requiring serialization during the entire backup process.

  DFSMSdss serializes the data during the concurrent copy initialization period (the time between the start of DFSMSdss and the issuing of the ADR734I message).

• Create and maintain multiple backup versions of DFSMShsm control data sets, while increasing the availability of DFSMShsm functions, such as recall.
• Use the backup-while-open capability for CICS® VSAM data sets, with DFSMSdss in batch mode or with automated DFSMShsm, to provide backups with data integrity even when the data sets are being updated. Data integrity is assured for VSAM KSDSs even when CICS access results in control interval or control area splits or data set extends.