The multiple relationship FlashCopy function allows a source volume to have multiple targets simultaneously.
When a FlashCopy operation copies data from a source volume to a target volume, that source volume can be involved in more than one FlashCopy relationship at the same time (known as a multiple relationship FlashCopy). If a track on a volume is not a target track of an existing FlashCopy relationship, it can become the target in a new FlashCopy relationship. Up to twelve different target FlashCopy relationships can exist for a single source volume.
If you require multiple copies of the same data, this function allows you to copy a single source volume multiple (up to twelve) times to different target volumes as soon as a FlashCopy volume is established. For example, suppose you use FlashCopy to copy volume A to volume B. As soon as that FlashCopy relationship is established, you can copy volume A to volume C. Once that relationship is established, you can copy volume A to volume D, and so on. Multiple sessions within a single volume are also possible.