Copying a storage tape

A method comprising:

• generating a file list of an original source tape, wherein the file list identifies a plurality of files that are stored on the original source tape;
• determining a number of possible parallel copies for a data storage system having a plurality of tape drives;
• generating a plurality of tape file lists, wherein each of the tape file lists identify a plurality of copies of the plurality of files stored on one of a plurality of source tapes;
• generating a new plurality of copies of the plurality of files by copying, in parallel, a subset of the plurality of files, and a subset of the plurality of copies, based on the tape files lists, and using a first of the plurality of tape drives, and a second of the plurality of tape drives;
• confirming that generating the new plurality of copies is performed successfully;
• and
• invalidating the plurality of files on the original source tape.

A computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising instructions configured to cause one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

• generating a file list of an original source tape, wherein the file list identifies a plurality of files that are stored on the original source tape;
• determining a number of possible parallel copies for a data storage system having a plurality of tape drives;
• generating a plurality of tape file lists, wherein each of the tape file lists identify a plurality of copies of the plurality of files stored on one of a plurality of source tapes;
• and
• generating a new plurality of copies of the plurality of files by copying, in parallel, a subset of the plurality of files, and a subset of the plurality of copies, based on the tape files lists, and using a first of the plurality of tape drives, and a second of the plurality of tape drives;
• confirming that generating the new plurality of copies is performed successfully;
• invalidating the plurality of files on the original source tape;
• and
• updating a tape location database indicating a plurality of new destination tapes for the plurality of files based on generating the new plurality of copies.