Automated data storage library component exchange using media accessor

An automated data storage library for storing and accessing a plurality of data recording media stored in a plurality of storage bins, said data recording media having access engagement surfaces, comprising:

• at least one read/write recording device for receiving said data recording media and reading and/or writing data thereon;
• a plurality of removable mounts for individually mounting electronic components, said removable mounts having access engagement surfaces matching said data recording media access engagement surfaces;
• a plurality of component slots in said library for individually supporting ones of said removable mounts and said mounted electronic components;
• mating low insertion force connectors respectively on said removable mounts and at least ones of said component slots for removably connecting said electronic components to said library;
• at least one library accessor for accessing said data recording media and said removable mounts, engaging said data recording media and said removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof, and transporting said data recording media and said removable mounts;
• and
• at least one library controller for operating said at least one library accessor to access and transport said data recording media between said storage bins and said at least one read/write recording device, and operating at least one library accessor to engage selected ones of said plurality of removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof to transport selected ones of said electronic components between selected ones of said plurality of component slots, and connect ones of said electronic components to said library with said mating low insertion force connectors.

An automated data storage library for storing and accessing a plurality of data recording media stored in a plurality of storage bins, said data recording media having access engagement surfaces, comprising:

• at least one read/write recording device for receiving said data recording media and reading and/or writing data thereon;
• a RAID configuration for interconnecting a plurality of data storage drives;
• a plurality of removable mounts for individually mounting, and providing data connections for, ones of data storage drives, said removable mounts having access engagement surfaces matching said data recording media access engagement surfaces;
• a plurality of drive slots in said library for individually supporting ones of said removable mounts and said mounted data storage drives, ones of said drive slots having mating data connections for said data storage drive data connections connected to said RAID configuration, and at least one of said mounted data storage drives is a spare;
• at least one library accessor for accessing said data recording media and said removable mounts, engaging said data recording media and said removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof, and transporting said data recording media and said removable mounts;
• and
• at least one library controller for operating said at least one library accessor to access and transport said data recording media between said storage bins and said at least one read/write recording device, and operating said at least one library accessor to engage said mounted spare data storage drive removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof to transport and connect said mounted spare data storage drive to one of said RAID configuration drive slots to substitute said spare data storage drive for a data storage drive of said RAID configuration.

An automated data storage library for storing and accessing a plurality of data recording media stored in a plurality of storage bins, said data recording media having access engagement surfaces, comprising:

• at least one read/write recording device for receiving said data recording media and reading and/or writing data thereon;
• a plurality of drive removable mounts for individually mounting ones of mirrored data storage drives, said drive removable mounts having access engagement surfaces matching said data recording media access engagement surfaces;
• a plurality of drive slots in said library for individually supporting ones of said drive removable mounts and said mounted data storage drives;
• removable mounts supporting communication jumpers, said removable mounts having access engagement surfaces matching said data recording media access engagement surfaces;
• a plurality of jumper slots in said library for individually supporting ones of said removable mounts and said mounted communication jumpers;
• at least two library accessors for accessing said data recording media and said removable mounts, engaging said data recording media and said removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof, and transporting said data recording media and said removable mounts;
• and
• at least two library controllers, each having a plurality of mirrored data storage drives for providing library operation tables, said mirrored data storage drives mounted on said drive removable mounts, said drive slots connected to ones of said library controllers, said plurality of jumper slots having connections respectively interconnecting one of said library controllers to one of said library accessors, said library controllers capable of operating one or two of said at least two library accessors to access and transport said data recording media between said storage bins and said at least one read/write recording device, and at least one of said library controllers capable of operating at least one of said library accessors to engage selected ones of said plurality of mirrored data storage drive removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof to transport selected ones of said mirrored data storage drives between selected ones of said plurality of drive slots, and operating said library accessors to engage selected ones of said plurality of communication jumper removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof to transport selected ones of said communication jumpers between selected ones of said plurality of jumper slots.

An automated data storage library for storing and accessing a plurality of data recording media stored in a plurality of storage bins, said data recording media having access engagement surfaces, and for accessing a plurality of removable mounts for individually mounting ones of electronic components, said removable mounts having access engagement surfaces matching said data recording media access engagement surfaces, and having electrical connectors for said electronic components, comprising:

• at least one read/write recording device for receiving said data recording media and reading and/or writing data thereon;
• a plurality of component slots in said library for individually supporting ones of said removable mounts and said mounted electronic components;
• low insertion force connectors at ones of said component slots for mating with and removably connecting said removable mount electrical connectors, to removably connect said mounted electronic components to said library;
• at least one library accessor for accessing said data recording media, engaging said data recording media at said access engagement surfaces thereof, and transporting said data recording media, and for engaging said plurality of removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof, and transporting said removable mounts;
• and
• at least one library controller for operating said at least one library accessor to access and transport said data recording media between said storage bins and said at least one read/write recording device, and for operating said at least one library accessor to engage and to transport selected ones of said removable mounts and said mounted electronic components between selected ones of said plurality of component slots, and connect ones of said electronic components to said library with said mating low insertion force connectors.

An automated data storage library for storing and accessing a plurality of data recording media stored in a plurality of storage bins, said data recording media having access engagement surfaces, and for accessing a plurality of removable mounts for individually mounting ones of electronic components, said removable mounts having access engagement surfaces matching said data recording media access engagement surfaces, having electrical connectors for said electronic components, and having a plurality of read/write recording devices, ones of said read/write recording devices mounted on ones of said removable mounts, comprising:

• a plurality of component slots in said library for individually supporting ones of said removable mounts and said mounted electronic components;
• low insertion force connectors at ones of said component slots, including at least one slot for supporting one of said mounted read/write recording devices for receiving thereat said data recording media and reading and/or writing data thereon, said low insertion force connectors for mating with and removably connecting said removable mount electrical connectors, to removably connect said mounted electronic components to said library;
• at least one library accessor for accessing said data recording media, engaging said data recording media at said access engagement surfaces thereof, and transporting said data recording media, and for engaging said plurality of removable mounts at said access engagement surfaces thereof, and transporting said removable mounts;
• and
• at least one library controller for operating said at least one library accessor to access and transport said data recording media between said storage bins and said at least one read/write recording device supported in said component slot, and for operating said at least one library accessor to engage and to transport selected ones of said removable mounts and said mounted electronic components between selected ones of said plurality of component slots, and connect ones of said electronic components to said library with said mating low insertion force connectors.