IBM Transparent Data Migration Facility for z/OS

Enabling data migration for storage

IBM Transparent Data Migration Facility (TDMF) for z/OS® is a host-based tool that enables seamless local or global data migration across z/OS and z/VM® environments. It supports multivendor storage, allows full data access during migration and ensures application availability with dynamic, nondisruptive takeovers.

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Migrate without interruptions

Dynamic swap capability ensures continuous application availability throughout the migration process, keeping workloads online and accessible while data moves in real time.

Easily revert if issues arise

Built-in switchback feature allows easy fallback to original storage configurations, ensuring business continuity if problems occur with the target environment.

Automate to avoid manual errors

Automated migration processes reduce manual intervention, helping preserve storage performance and avoid human errors that can disrupt availability.

Simplify storage upgrades

Supports multivendor environments to streamline transitions, reduce complexity and accelerate adoption of new storage technologies, saving both time and money.

Features

Migration planning

The TDMF Migration Planning Assistant (available in 6.1) simplifies many aspects related to planning and executing large-scale migrations. The Planning Assistant includes advanced reporting capabilities to aid in problem diagnosis, simplify monitoring of in-progress migrations and produce migration summaries for individual and multiple migration sessions.

Migration Planning Assistant

Non-disruptive data mobility

TDMF provides seamless, end-to-end data mobility with near zero application downtime. It guarantees data integrity and availability during migration, even across large storage volumes, ensuring business continuity and eliminating the need for scheduled outages.

Nondisruptive data migration

Continuous application availability

By using dynamic swap, TDMF transparently redirects I/O from the source to the target storage during live migrations. It automates the process, minimizes risk and includes a switchback option that enables rapid recovery if new storage fails or underperforms.

Phases of migration

Support for multivendor storage systems

TDMF is completely model- and vendor-independent within the supported architecture. This vendor-neutral architecture allows TDMF to work with almost any mainframe-compatible storage, regardless of brand or firmware version. It simplifies storage refresh cycles, reduces lock-in and supports consistent migration across complex, heterogeneous infrastructures.

Understanding supported infrastructure

Full visibility and validation of migration

TDMF continuously tracks and validates data transfers to prevent corruption and ensure application integrity. Dynamic pacing optimizes performance, while detailed migration monitoring gives IT teams confidence in data accuracy throughout the process.

Improving performance with dynamic pacing

TDMF agent for z/VM environments

The z/VM agent enables data migration without shutting down z/VM systems that share DASD with z/OS. This approach ensures uninterrupted access to critical data during swaps, with migration still controlled from the TDMF z/OS master system for centralized oversight.

z/VM Agent for TDMF for z/OS