System and method for partitioning a storage area network associated data library employing element addresses

A method for partitioning a data library adapted to be attached to a storage area network, said method comprising:

• assigning a different logical unit designation to each of a plurality of library partitions;
• numbering at least one media transport, a plurality of data transfer elements and a plurality of storage element slots with a set of unique internal element numbers, each said slots adapted to store media, each of said data transfer elements adapted to receive said media and transfer data to and from said media and said at least one transport adapted to move media between said slots and said data transfer elements;
• establishing said partitions in said data library, each of said partitions comprising at least one of said slots, at least one of said data transfer elements and at least one of said at least one transports;
• renumbering said transport, slots and data transfer elements in each of said partitions with externally presented element numbers starting from a same externally presented element number for each partition;
• mapping said externally presented element numbers for each of said partitions to said internal element numbers;
• and
• controlling movement of said media to and from said slots assigned to a same partition.

A partitioned storage area network with an attached data library, said network comprising:

• a data storage array that is divided into a plurality of partitions;
• and
• a library management interface that accepts user input partitioning said library and assigns a logical unit number to library partitions, said library comprising:
• a plurality of data transfer elements, each of said data transfer elements assigned to one of said partitions and assigned an internally unique element address;
• a plurality of data storage element slots, each of said slots assigned to one of said partitions and assigned an internally unique element address;
• at least one media transport element, said at least one media transport element shared by said partitions to move media between said slots and said data transfer elements, said transport assigned an internally unique element address;
• and
• a library controller that assigns external element addresses to said transport, data transfer elements, and slots for each of said partitions and maps said internal addresses to said external addresses for each of said partitions, said controller restricting movement of media between said slots, data transfer elements assigned to a same one of said partitions.