Storage Technology Corporation

Robert J Raicer

Stephen Henry Blendermann

Alan Ray Sutton

Clayton E Ruff

William G Kefauver

L Michael Anderson

Charles Allen Milligan

Michael Lawrence Leonhardt

George A Rudeseal

Jay S Belsan

Patrick James Tomsula

Charles Patrick Schafer

Jeffrey Steven Laughlin

Mogens H Pedersen

Barbara L Steele

A method for selectively controlling reutilization of space in a virtual tape system (VTS) having a buffer and a multiple volume tape cartridge includes transferring data volume files to the VTS. The buffer transfers the data making up these files as virtual tape volumes (VTVs) to different locations of the cartridge for storage. A file is selectively designated for the VTS to delete from storage after a date included with the file has elapsed by deleting the VTVs corresponding to the file from the cartridge to reuse space of the cartridge. The method includes detecting if a file transferred as VTVs to the cartridge has been designated for deletion. The VTS is prohibited from deleting the file after the date has elapsed if the file was not designated for deletion and is allowed to delete the file after the date has elapsed if the file was not designated for deletion.

Data storage management method for selectively controlling reutilization of space in a virtual tape system

The present invention provides a virtual automated cartridge system (ACS) and data storage device management method which incorporates a temporary data buffer arrangement between multiple user systems and conventional physical data storage devices. The temporary data buffer arrangement emulates a compatible physical data storage device when accessed by each of the user systems, but allows simultaneous allocation of different users to access to read and write data to the temporary data buffer. A control processor automatically transfers data stored in the temporary data buffer arrangement to one of the physical data storage devices when allocation to a user has ended.

Data storage management system and method

Virtual automated cartridge system

This file server system appears to the host computer to be a plurality of data storage devices which are directly addressable by the host computer using the native data management and access structures of the host computer. The file server however is an intelligent data storage subsystem that defines, manages and accesses synchronized sets of data and maintains these synchronized sets of data external from the host computer system's data management facilities in a manner that is completely transparent to the host computer. This is accomplished by the use of the snapshot application data group that extends the traditional sequential data set processing concept of generation data groups.

File server having snapshot application data groups

The automated library system stores and retrieves media cartridges for an associated plurality of media drives. Within this system, a virtual robot is implemented to create multiple virtual media libraries within the single automated cartridge library system. This capability enables the use of a plurality of types of media within the single automated cartridge library and a corresponding plurality of drive elements within the library. Thus, each drive element has associated therewith a number of object storage locations within the library which contain media of a form and content that matches the drive element. The automated cartridge library system manages the correspondence between object storage location, media type, designated drive element in an automated manner such that the single library appears to the user as multiple independent libraries. This enables the user to transition to another media on an incremental basis, since a single drive element can be added to the library and associated media added as needed without displacing the embedded base of installed robotic media handling equipment or requiring significant modification to this equipment. Furthermore, the automated library system provides a media management capability to define media subsets media elements which have consistent mechanical and electrical characteristics, can vary in data management attributes.

Virtual robot for a multimedia automated cartridge library system

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Niwot, CO, United States of America

Robert J Raicer