Method and system for non-specific address data retrieval in a data storage subsystem which includes multiple datasets stored at specific addresses

摘要

A method and system for efficiently accessing desired datasets among multiple datasets which are stored at specific data addresses within multiple storage subsystems which are coupled to a host system via a storage subsystem controller and a data channel. A data request is transmitted from the host system to the storage subsystems via the data channel. The data request specifies non-address attributes for desired datasets, such as boundary addresses for large data extents including many datasets or a request for all datasets modified since the occurrence of a specified event. The data request is then processed at the storage subsystem controller to determine a data address for each dataset within the storage subsystem which possess the desired attributes. Thereafter, the desired datasets are transmitted via the data channel to the host system in association with a specific address for each dataset. A selected status message is transmitted from the storage subsystem controller when no more datasets are located which possess the desired attributes. In this manner, the retrieval of data from a storage subsystem is greatly enhanced.