Concurrent configuration of drives of a data storage library

A data storage library, comprising:

• a plurality of data storage drives;
• and
• at least one processor for configuring said data storage drives, said at least one processor comprising a task monitor, said at least one processor:
• transmits library configuration data separately to each said data storage drive to be configured, each said data storage drive for acknowledging receipt thereof with a status response;
• upon said transmitting of said library configuration data to a data storage drive,
• assigns, in said task monitor, a configuration first process state for said data storage drive to a process list of said task monitor;
• and
• said task monitor starts a first time-out period for completion of receipt of said status response from said data storage drive of said process list;
• said task monitor responds to receipt of said status response from a data storage drive to be configured within said first time-out period,
• updating said configuration first process state for said status responding data storage drive to “completed”, removing said configuration first process state for said status responding data storage drive from said process list;
• responds to said “completed” state, transmitting a request for drive unique information to said status responding data storage drive;
• upon said transmitting of said request for drive unique information to said status responding data storage drive,
• assigns, in said task monitor, a configuration second process state for said status responding data storage drive to said process list;
• and
• said task monitor starts a second time-out period for receipt of said drive unique information for said status responding data storage drive of said process list;
• said task monitor responds to receipt of said drive unique information from a status responding data storage drive within said second time-out period,
• updating said configuration second process state for said information responding data storage drive to “completed”, removing said configuration second process state for said information responding data storage drive from said process list;
• and
• responds to said “completed” state, storing said received drive unique information received from said information responding data storage drive.

In a data storage library having at least one processor and a plurality of data storage drives, a method for configuring said data storage drives, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, from said at least one processor, library configuration data separately to each said data storage drive to be configured, each said data storage drive for acknowledging receipt thereof with a status response;
• upon said transmitting of said library configuration data to a data storage drive,
• initiating a configuration first process state for said data storage drive;
• and
• starting a first time-out period for receipt of said status response from said data storage drive;
• responding to receipt of said status response from a data storage drive to be configured within said first time-out period,
• updating said configuration first process state for said status responding data storage drive;
• transmitting a request for drive unique information to said status responding data storage drive;
• advancing said configuration process to a second state for said status responding data storage drive;
• and
• starting a second time-out period for receipt of said drive unique information for said status responding data storage drive;
• responding to receipt of said drive unique information from a status responding data storage drive within said second time-out period,
• updating said configuration second process state for said information responding data storage drive;
• and
• storing said received drive unique information received from said information responding data storage drive.

In a data storage library having at least one processor and a plurality of data storage drives, a method for configuring said data storage drives, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, from said at least one processor, library configuration data separately to each said data storage drive to be configured, each said data storage drive for acknowledging receipt thereof with a status response;
• upon said transmitting of said library configuration data to a data storage drive,
• assigning, in a task monitor, a configuration first process state for said data storage drive to a process list of said task monitor;
• and
• said task monitor starting a first time-out period for completion of receipt of said status response from said data storage drive of said process list;
• said task monitor responding to receipt of said status response from a data storage drive to be configured within said first time-out period,
• updating said configuration first process state for said status responding data storage drive to “completed”, removing said configuration first process state for said status responding data storage drive from said process list;
• responding to said “completed” state, transmitting a request for drive unique information to said status responding data storage drive;
• upon said transmitting of said request for drive unique information to said status responding data storage drive,
• assigning, in said task monitor, a configuration second process state for said status responding data storage drive to said process list;
• and
• said task monitor starting a second time-out period for receipt of said drive unique information for said status responding data storage drive of said process list;
• said task monitor responding to receipt of said drive unique information from a status responding data storage drive within said second time-out period,
• updating said configuration second process state for said information responding data storage drive to “completed”, removing said configuration second process state for said information responding data storage drive from said process list;
• and
• responding to said “completed” state, storing said received drive unique information received from said information responding data storage drive.

A computer program product of a computer readable medium usable with a programmable computer, said computer program product having computer readable program code embodied therein for configuring a plurality of data storage drives of a data storage library, comprising:

• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to transmit library configuration data separately to each said data storage drive to be configured, each said data storage drive for acknowledging receipt thereof with a status response;
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to, upon transmitting said library configuration data to a data storage drive,
• initiate a configuration first process state for said data storage drive;
• and
• start a first time-out period for receipt of said status response from said data storage drive;
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to respond to receipt of said status response from a data storage drive to be configured within said first time-out period,
• by updating said configuration first process state for said status responding data storage drive;
• by transmitting a request for drive unique information to said status responding data storage drive;
• by advancing said configuration process to a second state for said status responding data storage drive;
• and
• by starting a second time-out period for receipt of said drive unique information for said status responding data storage drive;
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to respond to receipt of said drive unique information from a status responding data storage drive within said second time-out period,
• by updating said configuration second process state for said information responding data storage drive;
• and
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to store said received drive unique information received from said information responding data storage drive.

A computer program product of a computer readable medium usable with a programmable computer, said computer program product having computer readable program code embodied therein for configuring a plurality of data storage drives of a data storage library, comprising:

• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to transmit library configuration data separately to each said data storage drive to be configured, each said data storage drive for acknowledging receipt thereof with a status response;
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to, upon transmitting said library configuration data to a data storage drive,
• assign, in a task monitor of said computer processor, a configuration first process state for said data storage drive to a process list of said task monitor, said task monitor starting a first time-out period for completion of receipt of said status response from said data storage drive of said process list;
• and
• said task monitor responding to receipt of said status response from a data storage drive to be configured within said first time-out period, updating said configuration first process state for said status responding data storage drive to “completed”, removing said configuration first process state for said status responding data storage drive from said process list;
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to respond to said “completed” state, by transmitting a request for drive unique information to said status responding data storage drive;
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to, upon transmitting said request for drive unique information to said status responding data storage drive,
• assign, in said task monitor, a configuration second process state for said status responding data storage drive to said process list, said task monitor starting a second time-out period for receipt of said drive unique information for said status responding data storage drive of said process list;
• said task monitor responding to receipt of said drive unique information from a status responding data storage drive within said second time-out period, updating said configuration second process state for said information responding data storage drive to “completed”, removing said configuration second process state for said information responding data storage drive from said process list;
• and
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor of said data storage library to respond to said “completed” state, by storing said received drive unique information received from said information responding data storage drive.