GFS/ZCL makes it possible, on demand or in real time, to upload and download datasets (on disk or tape), from an IBM z/OS environment to the main cloud data storage services available in the market, whether public, private, or hybrid (AWS S3, Azure Blob, Google Cloud Storage, IBM Cloud Object Storage, etc.).

Installation of GFS/ZCL is only required in a z/OS environment. It was developed to optimize the use of resources and to have the lowest overhead in the production processes.

HOW IT WORKS

On Demand

The upload and download processes are is performed by running a batch utility with the following characteristics:

• Upload datasets of any z/OS format to the cloud, including RECFM=U or VBS;
• Download of datasets to z/OS preserving the original attributes;
• All metadata of the original dataset is recorded in the destination cloud and in the product database (VSAM);
• Function to remove the local copy of datasets that have a copy in the cloud;
• Source and destination can be DASD or TAPE;
• Data compression using zEDC (optional, but highly recommended);
• Data encryption with AES-256 algorithm using ICSF and CPACF (optional).

Real Time

Each block of data from a dataset (disk/tape) recorded on z/OS is simultaneously sent to the cloud (upload), without the need to run additional post-processing steps and with minimal impact on CPU consumption and elapsed time of jobs of production.

Datasets permanently migrated to the cloud (without a local copy) can be downloaded in a similar way to the MIGRATE/RECALL functions of DFSMShsm. At allocation time, the product starts the process of downloading the dataset in the background, and at the end it releases the processing of the job or user that requested the file.

BENEFITS

• Migration of data on demand: sending a copy of selected datasets to the cloud, relieving the load in the tape library or local disk storage;
• Definitive data migration: in cases of transferring the load from the mainframe environment to the cloud, important and voluminous data can be permanently migrated. The data will be available for reading on any platform, as long as the data format is known;
• Disaster recovery: GFS/ZCL can be used to send a contingency copy of files to the cloud, eliminating the need for the customer to maintain an expensive physical contingency site.
• Transparent real-time interception of files recorded on z/OS, in DASD or TAPE, and automatic forwarding of copies to the cloud;
• Simplified and intuitive criteria table for selecting what will be sent to the cloud;
• Background data processing using queuing technology in memory above the bar (64 bits) and auxiliary memory (DASD) when necessary;
• Automatic removal of copies in the cloud according to criteria of the tape library manager, synchronization with system catalogs or integration with internal systems.