International Business Machines Corporation

Anthony Andrew Lambert

James Arthur Fisher

Frank David Gallo

Christine Lynette Fosler

Christine Lynette Telford

Timothy Clyde Sample

Dennis Paul Martinez

Tom Owen Pringle

Kristy Colleen Judd

Jonathan Wayne Peake

William Henry Travis

Raymond Anthony James

Fernando Quintana

Vickie Lynn Brewer

Michael Pillip McIntosh

A device, method, and system for switching library managers of a data library while maintaining data library storage devices online. A library manager accepts and executes data transaction commands for access to data residing on the storage devices of the data library. A transition manager module receives a directive to transition library management functions from a first library manager to a second library manager. The transition manager module stops the first library manager from accepting new data transaction commands while maintaining the storage devices online. The first library manager may execute previously accepted data transaction commands. The transition manager module suspends the library management functions of the first library manager and activates the library management functions of the second library manager. The storage devices of the data library may complete data transaction commands throughout the library manager transition.

Apparatus, system, and method for switching data library managers

Method for switching data library managers

A storage subsystem, method of testing storage media in the storage subsystem and program product therefor. The storage media, e.g., magnetic tape in a physical volume, is inserted into an input area in the storage subsystem, but not loaded into the subsystem library. The media input area on the physical volume is scanned and a test command is queued. The test storage media is moved to a drive for testing. After testing, the storage media is returned to the input area.

Method for testing media in a library without inserting media into the library database

A method of handling eject requests of logical volumes received by a data storage subsystem from a host system. The method, implemented in computer readable program code, first places identified logical volumes in scratch categories. An eject request is received from a host system, to eject a logical volume from the data storage subsystem. The method responds to the eject request to determine whether the requested logical volume is in a scratch category; if the requested logical volume is determined as to be in a scratch category, a virtual media server is notified that the requested logical volume is deletable, and the virtual media server determines from its database whether the status of the requested logical volume allows deletion thereof. If the virtual media server status determining step allows deletion of the requested logical volume, the requested logical volume is deleted from both the virtual media server database and the library manager database. Then, the requesting host system is notified of the deletion of the requested logical volume.

Handling eject requests of logical volumes in a data storage subsystem

A method and apparatus is disclosed for maintaining states of an operator interface, such as an operator panel and convenience input/output station, of a dual library manager/dual controller system in the event of a failure to one controller during an operation. The invention allows control of the operator panel and convenience input/output station status lights and the states themselves by more than one controller without reinitializing at a default condition by detecting a failure during an operation, switching control to a second accessor controller and establishing a correct state for the operator interface via the second accessor controller. A correct state for a station is established by first establishing a fake empty status for the station and then locking the station, if necessary.

Method and apparatus for maintaining states of an operator panel and

A method and apparatus is disclosed for managing inventory updates in a data library. The method and apparatus allows mount/demount activity to occur during an inventory update and allows a corresponding increase in the number of data storage media that are available for mount/demount during the inventory update. The invention initiates an inventory update for the data storage media library, scans data storage media in the data storage media library behind opened doors, identifies verified data storage media, receives a request for moving data storage media between the slots and the data storage drives, determines if the request is for verified data storage media and performs the request when the request is determined to be for verified data storage media. The request is requeued when the request is for unverified data storage media. Whether a frame containing data storage media has had a door to the frame opened is determined and the data storage media in a frame having had the door opened is designated as being unverified. Data storage media in a frame not having had the door opened is designated as being verified.

Method and apparatus for facilitating progressive increase in allowable

In a data storage subsystem a virtual removable media server (VRMS) handles host audit requests, whether directed to a physical volume or a virtual volume physically stored in cache or in a removable physical media item. The subsystem includes a storage interface between the host and data storage facilities including a cache and a physical media library. To the host, the storage interface emulates a virtual library including a plurality of virtual media items, each containing a logical volume of data. The library may also maintain physical media items each storing one logical volume, as in a traditional library. To verify presence of a specified logical volume of the virtual library, the host sends an audit request. Responsively, the subsystem cross-references the specified logical volume in a first list to identify physical locations of underlying data. This physical location may be an address in the cache and/or a physical volume corresponding to a physical media item in the library. If the underlying data is stored exclusively in cache, the subsystem automatically answers affirmatively to the audit request. If the underlying data is stored in the physical media, the subsystem searches the library for the physical media item containing the physical volume that includes the specified logical volume, and answers the audit request affirmatively if the physical media item is found. If the physical media item is not found, the subsystem answers the audit request negatively.

Method and apparatus for handling audit requests of logical volumes in a

An automated data storage library for storing and accessing a plurality of data storage media stored in a plurality of storage slots. A plurality of accessors access the data storage media between the storage slots and data recording device(s), an operator interface allows an operator to designate one of the accessors as active, and a library manager is interconnected with the accessors and with the operator interface to set operation modes of the accessors. The library manager sets the operation mode of one of the accessors to the active mode (A) in an initial decision, first (1), based on the relative conditions of the accessors, the conditions having three levels (a) fully available, (b) degraded, and (c) not available, and, if all the accessors are in the same level of condition, second (2), an arbitrarily selected one of the accessors, and (B) in an override decision, based on the active accessor if designated at the operator interface, or, if not designated, on the one of the accessors last in the active mode.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Anthony Andrew Lambert