Device and method for managing storage media

A media management system comprising:

• a plurality of media pools, each media pool being associated with a particular job to be performed by the media management system, and each media pool having a first set of storage media and a second set of storage media
• a computer having a media manager, wherein the media manager determines which media pool is to be used for the particular job and determines at least one storage medium in the media pool to which data associated with the particular job is to be stored, and wherein the media manager causes the cycling of the storage media between the first set and the second set in response at least in part to media usage rules;
• and
• a storage device in communication with the computer and adapted for transferring data associated with the job between the storage medium on which the data is stored and the computer in response to the particular job.

A media management system comprising:

• a media pool associated with a particular job to be performed by the media management system, the media pool having a first set of storage media and a second set of storage media;
• a computer having a media manager, wherein the media manager determines a storage medium in the media pool to which data associated with the particular job is to be stored, and wherein the media manager causes the cycling of the storage media between the first set and the second set in response at least in part to media usage rules;
• and
• a storage device in communication with the computer and adapted for transferring data associated with the job between at least one storage medium in the media pool and the computer in response to the particular job.

A media management system comprising:

• a media pool associated with a particular job to be performed by the media management system and having a first set of storage media and a second set of storage media;
• managing means for determining at least one storage medium in the media pool to which data associated with the particular job is to be stored and for causing the cycling of the storage media between the first set and the second set in response at least in part to media usage rules;
• and
• storage means in communication with the managing means for transferring data associated with the particular job to the at least one storage medium in the media pool after the at least one storage medium is cycled from the second set to the first set.

A method for managing storage media in media pools, each media pool having a first set of storage media and a second set of storage media, the method comprising:

• queuing one or more jobs;
• determining the media pool associated with a job in the queue;
• determining at least one storage medium in the determined media pool to store data associated with the job;
• cycling storage media between the first set and the second set such that when the at least one storage medium to which the data associated with the job is to be stored is in the second set, the at least one storage medium is cycled to the first set;
• and
• transferring data to the at least one storage medium cycled to the first set.