International Business Machines Corporation

Christine Lynette Fosler

Frank David Gallo

Anthony Andrew Lambert

James Arthur Fisher

William Henry Travis

Raymond Anthony James

Vickie Lynn Brewer

Kristy Colleen Judd

F David Gallo

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 is disclosed for quickly switching to a second accessor when a first accessor fails. Either the first or the second accessor may be designated an active accessor and the other a standby accessor. The library includes first and second library managers, one designated an active library manager and the other a standby library manager, each of the library managers interconnected with one of the accessors for operating the interconnected accessor, and each interconnected with the other of the accessors for operating the interconnected other accessor. The active library manager may operate the first accessor as an active accessor and, upon the first accessor becoming unavailable, immediately switches to operate the second accessor as the active accessor and allows maintenance and servicing of the first accessor simultaneously with operation of the second accessor.

Switching between and simultaneous control of multiple accessors by one

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.

Selection of an active accessor in a multi-accessor automated data

In an automated virtual storage and retrieval library, a method for creating a new inventory of physical media volumes (cartridges) and of related logical volumes stored on the physical media, which method exports the existing logical volume records from a stored table to a file via a data base program, deletes the existing physical and logical volume records from the table, then imports the logical volume records from the file via the data base program into a new table, operates the library accessor to scan all the library cells to read the labels of all the physical media volumes (cartridges) in the cells, inserting physical volume records therefor into the stored table, and indicates to a host that the library is online. The copies of only the inserted physical volume records are uploaded to the host, providing a dramatic savings in processing time before the library is available for normal accessing.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Christine Lynette Fosler