Multi-drive data storage system with analysis and selected demounting of idle data storage media

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for managing removable storage media in a data storage system including multiple media drives, the operations comprising:

• initializing the data storage system, including:
• establishing a maximum permitted number of concurrently mounted idle storage media;
• establishing a maximum permitted length of time for leaving storage media mounted while idle;
• analyzing storage media mounted to the media drives, including:
• determining how many idle storage media are mounted to the drives;
• determining idle times of mounted idle storage media;
• identifying for demounting any idle storage media, mounted to the drives, with the greatest idle times whose demounting would be needed to reduce a count of mounted idle storage media to the maximum permitted number and eliminate any mounted idle storage media with idle times exceeding the maximum permitted length of time;
• and
• any storage media are identified, demounting the identified storage media.

A logic circuit of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to manage removable storage media in a data storage system including multiple media drives, the operations comprising:

• initializing the data storage system, including:
• establishing a maximum permitted number of concurrently mounted idle storage media;
• establishing a maximum permitted time for leaving storage media mounted while idle;
• analyzing storage media mounted to the media drives, including:
• determining how many storage media are mounted to the drives;
• determining idle times of mounted idle storage media;
• identifying for demounting any idle storage media, mounted to the drives, with the greatest idle times whose demounting would be needed to reduce a count of mounted storage media to the maximum permitted number and eliminate any mounted storage media with idle times exceeding the maximum permitted length of time;
• and
• if any storage media are identified, demounting the identified storage media.

A data storage subsystem, comprising:

• multiple removable media read/write drives;
• media mount/demount equipment;
• and
• a storage manager coupled to the drives and the mount/demount equipment, programmed to manage removable storage media by performing operations comprising:
• initializing the data storage system, including:
• establishing a maximum permitted number of concurrently mounted idle storage media;
• establishing a maximum permitted length of time for leaving storage media mounted while idle;
• analyzing storage media mounted to the media drives, including:
• determining how many idle storage media are mounted to the drives;
• determining idle times of mounted idle storage media;
• identifying for demounting any idle storage media, mounted to the drives, with the greatest idle times whose demounting would be needed to reduce a count of mounted idle storage media to the maximum permitted number and eliminate any mounted idle storage media with idle times exceeding the maximum permitted length of time;
• and
• if any storage media are identified directing the mount/demount equipment to demount the identified storage media.

A data storage subsystem, comprising:

• multiple drive means for conducting read/write operations to multiple data storage media;
• mount/demount means for mounting and demounting data storage media to/from the drive means;
• and
• managing means coupled to the drive means and the mount/demount means for managing removable data storage media by:
• initializing the data storage system, including:
• establishing a maximum permitted number of concurrently mounted idle storage media;
• establishing a maximum permitted length of time for leaving storage media mounted while idle;
• analyzing storage media mounted to the drive means, including:
• determining how many idle storage media are mounted to the drives;
• determining idle times of mounted idle storage media;
• identifying for demounting any idle storage media, mounted to the drives, with the greatest idle times whose demounting would be needed to reduce a count of mounted idle storage media to the maximum permitted number and eliminate any mounted idle storage media with idle times exceeding the maximum permitted length of time;
• and
• if any storage media are identified, directing the mount/demount means to demount the identified storage media.