System and method for mainframe computers backup and restore

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a request for backing up data from a mainframe that processes data sets in Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) format, to at least one storage device associated with a backup server that processes American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) encoded byte stream based files, the backup server implemented on an open system;

issuing a call to a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD) data and space management tool, the call associated with an exit function;

receiving a callback from the DASD data and space management tool to the exit function, the callback associated with a data set record;

packing the data set record, said packing comprises adding an ASCII header to obtain packed information; and

transmitting the packed information over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network connection to the backup server for backing up the data, thereby enabling a multiplicity of mainframes including the mainframe to simultaneously communicate with the backup server for backing up data;

wherein no additional data is written to a persistent memory of the mainframe, and

wherein no limitation exists on a number of mainframes connected to the mainframe.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mainframe uses variable length block format and the open system uses fixed length disk architecture.

3. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a request for restoring data from at least one storage device associated with a backup server that processes ASCII encoded byte stream based files, the backup server implemented on an open system, to a mainframe that processes data sets in EBCDIC format;

issuing a call to a DASD data and space management tool, the call associated with an exit function;

receiving a callback from the DASD data and space management tool to the exit function, the callback associated with a data set;

transmitting a retrieval request to the backup server over TCP/IP network connection;

receiving information from the backup server in response to the retrieval request over the TCP/IP network connection, wherein the information is retrieved from the at least one storage device associated with the backup server;

unpacking the information to retrieve a record, said unpacking comprises removing an ASCII header;

populating the data set with the record; and

transmitting the data set over a TCP/IP network connection to the DASD data and space management tool, in response to the exit function, for the DASD data and space management tool to store the data, thereby enabling a multiplicity of mainframes including the mainframe to simultaneously communicate with the backup server for restoring data,

wherein no additional data is written to a persistent memory of the mainframe, and

wherein no limitation exits on a number of mainframes connected to the mainframe.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the mainframe uses variable length block format and the open system uses fixed length disk architecture.

5. A system for backup and restore mainframe data on a backup server, comprising:

a processor;

a communication component for communicating with a backup server implemented on an open system;

a backup agent adapted for:

receiving a backup request for backing up data from a mainframe that processes data sets in EBCDIC format, to at least one storage device associated with the backup server that processes ASCII encoded byte stream based files, the backup server implemented on an open system,

issuing a first call to a DASD data and space management tool, the call associated with an exit function;

receiving a first callback from the DASD data and space management tool to the exit function, the first callback associated with a data set record;

packing the data set record to obtain packed information said packing comprises adding an ASCII header; and

transmitting the packed information over a TCP/IP network connection to the backup server, for backing up the data thereby enabling a multiplicity of mainframes including the mainframe to simultaneously communicate with the backup server for backing up data; and

a restore agent adapted for:

receiving a second request for restoring data from the at least one storage device associated with the backup server to the mainframe;

issuing a second call to the DASD data and space management tool, the call associated with a second exit function;

receiving a second callback from the DASD data and space management tool to the second exit function, the second callback associated with a data set;

transmitting a retrieval request to the backup server over the TCP/IP network connection;

receiving information from the backup server in response to the retrieval request over the TCP/IP network connection, wherein the information is retrieved from the at least one storage device by the backup server;

unpacking the information to retrieve a record, said unpacking comprises removing an ASCII header;

populating the data set with the record; and

transmitting the data set over the TCP/IP network connection to the DASD data and space management too, in response to the exit function, for the DASD data and space management too to store the data thereby enabling a multiplicity of mainframes including the mainframe to simultaneously communicate with the backup server for restoring data,

wherein no additional data is written to a persistent memory of the mainframe, and

wherein no limitation exists on a number of mainframes connected to the mainframe.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mainframe uses variable length block format and the open system uses fixed length disk architecture.

7. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions, which program instructions when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

performing a backup operation, comprising:

receiving a request for backing up data from a mainframe that processes data sets in EBCDIC format, to at least one storage device associated with a backup server that processes ASCII encoded byte stream based files the backup server implemented on an open system;

issuing a call to a DASD data and space management tool, the call associated with an exit function;

receiving a callback from the DASD data and space management tool to the exit function, the callback associated with a data set record;

packing the data set record, said packing comprises adding an ASCII header to obtain packed information; and

transmitting the packed information over a TCP/IP network connection to the backup server for backing up the data thereby enabling a multiplicity of mainframes including the mainframe to simultaneously communicate with the backup server for backing up data; and

performing a restore operation, comprising:

receiving a request for restoring data from a backup server that processes ASCII encoded byte stream based files implemented on an open system, to a mainframe that processes data sets in EBCDIC format;

issuing a call to the DASD data and space management tool, the call associated with an exit function;

receiving a callback from the DASD data and space management tool to the exit function, the callback associated with a data set;

transmitting a retrieval request to the backup server over the TCP/IP network connection;

receiving information from the backup server in response to the retrieval request over the TCP/IP network connection, wherein the information is retrieved from a storage device by the backup server;

unpacking the information to retrieve a record, said unpacking comprises removing the ASCII header;

populating the data set with the record; and

transmitting the data set over the TCP/IP network connection to the DASD data and space management tool, in response to the exit function, for the DASD data and space management tool to store the data, thereby enabling a multiplicity of mainframes including the mainframe to simultaneously communicate with the backup server for restoring data,

wherein no additional data is written to a persistent memory of the mainframe wherein no limitation exists on a number of mainframes connected to the mainframe.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mainframe uses variable length block format and the open system uses fixed length disk architecture.