Storing and retrieving data on tape backup system located at remote storage system site

A storage control system for retrieving a remote copy of data from a tape medium, the system comprising:

• a primary storage system having at least one local storage disk and a primary storage controller that controls the allocation of data located on the local storage disk;
• a remote storage system having at least one remote storage disk, and a secondary storage controller that controls the allocation of data on the remote storage disk, the secondary controller coupled to the primary storage controller to receive control signals from the primary storage controller;
• a tape backup system having tape medium located at a remote site and coupled to the secondary controller, the tape backup system adapted to receive control signals from the secondary controller, and adapted to copy data from the tape medium to the remote storage disk in response to restore control signals from the secondary controller;
• the secondary controller adapted to transmit the information stored on the remote storage disk by the tape backup system to the primary storage controller, thereby creating a local copy of the information on the remote tape backup.

A storage control system for accessing a remote tape medium from a local host application system, the storage control system comprising:

• a primary storage system coupled to the local host application system having at least one local storage disk and a primary storage controller that controls the allocation of data located on the local storage disk and adapted to receive tape access control signals from the local host application system;
• a remote storage system having at least one remote storage disk and a secondary storage controller that controls the allocation of data on the remote storage disk, the secondary controller coupled to the primary storage controller to receive tape access control signals from the primary storage controller, the remote storage system further comprising a remote host computer system coupled to the secondary controller, the remote host computer system adapted to receive data transmissions from the secondary controller and tape access control signals from the secondary controller;
• and
• a tape backup system located at a remote site and coupled to the remote host computer system, the tape backup system adapted to receive tape access control signals and data transmissions from the remote host computer system, the tape backup system communicates with the remote host computer system to manage information on the tape backup system in response to tape access control signals conducted from the host application system.

A method of storing data to a tape backup system from a primary storage system, wherein the tape backup system is remotely located from the primary system, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling the tape backup system to a remote secondary storage system having at least one remote storage disk and a secondary storage controller;
• coupling the secondary storage controller to the primary storage system via a communications link;
• transmitting data from the primary storage system to the secondary storage system;
• and
• transmitting data from the secondary storage system to the tape backup system.

A method of retrieving data from a remote tape backup system having a tape storage medium to a primary storage system, the primary storage system having at least one local storage disk, a primary storage controller for controlling the allocation of data on the local storage disk and a host computer system, the primary storage controller coupled to a remote storage system, the remote storage system having at least one remote storage disk and a secondary storage controller that controls the allocation of data on the remote storage disk, said method comprising the following steps:

• coupling the tape backup system to the secondary controller;
• conducting a first restore control signal from the primary storage controller to the secondary storage controller;
• conducting a second restore control signal from the secondary storage controller to the tape backup system in response to the first restore control signal,
• copying data located on the tape medium to the remote storage disk as controlled by the secondary storage controller in response to the second restore signal thereby creating a remote point-in-time copy on the remote storage disk;
• transferring the data associated with the remote point-in-time copy from the secondary storage controller to the primary storage controller thereby creating a local point-in-time copy;
• and
• configuring the primary system to access the transmitted data.