Apparatus, system, and method for managing addresses and data storage media within a data storage library

A system for managing physical addresses of data storage media, the system comprising:

• a data storage library configured to store the data storage media;
• one or more external hosts configured to provide commands to store or access the data storage media;
• a data table configured to record a mapping of a host address to a library address within the data storage library;
• and
• a controller configured to assign addresses to existing and non-existing storage locations within the data storage library, wherein a change to the existence of one or more storage locations does not affect the mapping of the host address to the library address.

A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations to manage physical addresses of data storage media, the operations comprising:

• providing instructions to store or access the data storage media;
• providing instructions to assign an address to existing and non-existing storage locations within a data storage library, wherein a change to the existence of one or more storage locations does not affect a mapping of the addresses;
• and
• recording the address of the data storage media.

A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable code configured to carry out a method for managing addresses of data storage media within a data storage library, the method comprising;

• storing data storage media within the data storage library;
• mapping a host address to a library address within the data storage library;
• and
• assigning an address to existing and non-existing storage locations within the data storage library, wherein a change to the existence of one or more storage locations does not affect the mapping of the host address to the library address.

A method for managing physical addresses of data storage media within a data storage library, the method comprising:

• storing data storage media within the data storage library;
• assigning an address to existing and non-existing storage locations within the data storage library;
• mapping a host address to a library address within the data storage library;
• and
• assigning an address to existing and non-existing storage locations within the data storage library, wherein a change to the existence of one or more storage locations does not affect the mapping of the host address to the library address.

An apparatus to for managing physical addresses of data storage media within a data storage library, the apparatus comprising:

• means for storing data storage media within the data storage library;
• means for assigning an address to existing and non-existing storage locations within the data storage library;
• means for mapping a host address to a library address within the data storage library;
• and
• means for assigning an address to existing and non-existing storage locations within the data storage library, wherein a change to the existence of one or more storage locations does not affect the mapping of the host address to the library address.