For a full or tracks restore operation, DFSMSdss serializes the VTOC to prevent DADSM functions such as ALLOCATE, EXTEND, RENAME, and SCRATCH from changing the contents of the VTOC on the volume during the restore operation. Data sets are not serialized on these restore operations and thus, some data sets can be opened by other jobs during the restore operations. The result might be that partially updated data sets are restored. Full data integrity can always be guaranteed by performing restore operations by data set only when TOLERATE(ENQFAILURE) or SHARE is not specified.

During full or tracks restore operations, and stand-alone restore, it is possible to duplicate a volume serial number in the sysplex. If there is data in the coupling facility for the duplicated volume serial number, data integrity can be compromised. The recommended procedure before restoring a suspected volume is as follows:

1. Use the D SMS,CFVOL(volid) command to determine if there is any data in the coupling facility caches for the volume serial number to be restored.
2. Determine the disposition of any data that is in the caches.
3. Do not restore the suspected volume until the duplicated volume can be varied offline to the sysplex, thus ensuring that there is no data in any coupling facility cache for the duplicated volume.

During full or tracks restore operations, DFSMSdss resets the data-set-changed indicator for each data set being restored. Because the data set has not changed since the backup was performed, DFSMSdss resets the data-set-changed indicator.