International Business Machines Corporation

Khanh V Ngo

Jose G Miranda Gavillan

Illarion Borisevich

Shannon Hsinhen Chang

Dominic Mueller-Wicke

Takeshi Ishimoto

Slavisa Sarafijanovic

Simon Lorenz

Harald Seipp

Angqin Bai

Leonard George Jesionowski

Shawn Michael Nave

Ernest Stewart Gale

David Lee Swanson

Stefan Lehmann

Kevin Dale Butt

Said Abdullah Ahmad

Timothy Keith Pierce

Yun Mou

Charles V Polkiewicz

Pamela Ruth Nylander-Hill

Kent P Bortz

Jose Guillermo Miranda Gavillan

In one general embodiment, a method for selecting parameters of an error recovery procedure includes detecting an error during performance of a data operation on a data storage medium by an apparatus. In response to detecting the error, parameters of an error recovery procedure are selected based at least in part on: (a) first information about previous interactions between the apparatus and multiple data storage media, and (b) second information about previous interactions between the data storage medium and other apparatuses.

Adjusting error recovery procedure (ERP) in data drive based on historical ERP information

A method includes receiving a plurality of files where each file represents an object. The method further combines selected files of the plurality of files into an aggregation file and stores the aggregation file on low-latency storage media, such as disk storage media. The method represents the aggregation file with a single inode that is stored on the low-latency storage media. The method migrates the aggregate file to high-latency storage media, such as tape storage media, while leaving the single inode representing the aggregation file on the low-latency storage media. By collecting files into larger aggregation files, the number of files archived is significantly reduced and the files archived are of larger size. The reduced number of files and increased size of the files improves archival and retrieval performance due to reduced metadata operation overhead. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Performance- and cost-efficient archiving of small objects

A tape may be mounted into a tape drive. Mounting the tape into the tape drive may include loading the tape from a storage slot. The tape drive may request a first record of the tape from a tape storage subsystem. The tape drive may determine whether the first record of the tape exists in the tape storage subsystem. The tape drive may load the first record of the tape in random access memory (RAM) of the tape drive. The first record may include one or more data entries. The tape drive may append a new data entry to the first record. The first record may be transitioned to a second record upon being appended with the new data entry. The tape may be unmounted from the tape drive.

Automatic volume statistical and performance information tracking

A method includes receiving a plurality of files where each file represents an object. The method further combines selected files of the plurality of files into an aggregation file and stores the aggregation file on low-latency storage media, such as disk storage media. The method represents the aggregation file with a single inode that is stored on the low-latency storage media. The method migrates the aggregate file to high-latency storage media, such as tape storage media. By collecting files into larger aggregation files, the number of files archived is significantly reduced and the files archived are of larger size. The reduced number of files and increased size of the files improves archival and retrieval performance due to reduced metadata operation overhead. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to perform a high-latency media (HLM) action on an object or a group of objects, identifying metadata associated with the object or group of objects, and conditionally allowing the HLM action to be performed on the object or group of objects, based on the HLM action and the metadata associated with the object.

Regulating migration and recall actions for high latency media (HLM) on objects or group of objects through metadata locking attributes

Embodiments for predetermining optimal demount position for demounting data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library by a processor. A selected demount position may be predetermined, while performing one of a plurality of robotic movements by an accessor, for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting data storage cartridges in the automated data storage library. The selected demount position is recalculated for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting the data storage cartridges while performing a subsequent demount operation, where the selected demount position is determined according to the recalculation prior to a demount command being issued. Accordingly, the idle time of the accessor during a demount operation may be reduced.

Predetermined placement for tape cartridges in an automated data storage library

In one embodiment, a method includes determining a size of a file associated with each job in a job queue of files to be migrated to one of a plurality of drives that includes at least one of each of the following: a faster drive and a relatively slower drive. The availability of a faster drive is determined. The file associated with the job in the job queue having a file size larger than a threshold is sent to the faster drive.

Dynamic drive selection for migration of files based on file size for a data storage system

Embodiments for predetermining optimal demount position for demounting data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library by a processor. A selected demount position may be predetermined, while performing one of a plurality of robotic movements by an accessor, for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting data storage cartridges in the automated data storage library such that each predetermined selected demount position is stored in a lookup table of predetermined selected demount positions for a subsequent demount operation. The idle time of the accessor during a demount operation may be reduced.

A method for preventing unauthorized access to and/or modification of a page of a device and/or system according to one embodiment includes presenting a question via a graphical user interface; receiving a response to the question; allowing access to and/or modification of the page when the response to the question includes the answer; and not allowing access to and/or modification of the page when the response to the question does not include the answer. An answer to the question includes a characteristic of the device and/or system.

Increasing security of a device and/or system via questioning about a characteristic of the device and/or system

In one embodiment, a method includes making a determination whether to modify a cleaning cycle, e.g., of a tape drive, based at least in part on at least one of: an age of one or more tapes, a type of one or more tapes, and an identity of a vendor of one or more tapes. A selection and/or modification of a timing of a cleaning operation is made based on the determination.

Humidity and temperature controlled tape drive cleaning

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at least one of temperature information and humidity information about an environment in which a tape drive resides, performing an analysis of the at least one of temperature information and humidity information, making a determination whether to modify a cleaning cycle based on the analysis of the at least one of temperature information and humidity information, and making a selection and/or modification of a timing of a cleaning operation of the tape drive based on the determination.

Cartridges of a computer-implemented cartridge library are moved without host system move commands to avoid bonding of cartridges to storage slots. Via a non-host interface providing external communication with respect to the cartridge library, an inventory list is obtained of cartridges of the cartridge library, bypassing host-based inventory limitations which limit each host's view to its own virtual library. Using the library inventory list, cartridges are identified that have been stored in one storage slot for a period of time that exceeds a threshold. The cartridge library is operated to move the identified cartridges, each moving to a different storage slot than the inventoried storage slot, and a library element address of each moved cartridge is updated without altering a host address for the cartridge.

Non-host interface for moving cartridges in a cartridge library to prevent bonding with library storage slots

A method, system and program in which a certificate identifier (ID) is associated with an encryption certificate. In certain embodiments, the certificate ID is stored in a cartridge memory (CM). Thus, keystore or key manager administrators can trace keystore locations, versions of keystores, etc. when a cart cannot locate a correct key. This certificate ID, as it is stored on the cartridge memory, is viewable by all.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Khanh V Ngo