Patent US 5,634,072

A method and system for managing one or more coupling facilities in a data processing system. An active policy is used to control resources located in the coupling facilities. The active policy can be changed such that control of the resources can be altered. Compatible changes are made immediately and incompatible changes are made at a subsequent time. Recorded in the active policy and in the coupling facilities is information regarding the resources. When the information in the active policy is not in synchronization with the information in the coupling facilities, a reconciliation technique is performed. The resources in the coupling facilities can be modified but prior to the modification, the intended modifications are stored in the active policy.