Backup copy achieving improved efficiency by waiting until rewind/unload command for bulk data copy

A method of operating a data storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape media, comprising the operations of:

• from a host, the data storage system receiving multiple data objects and instructions to store the data objects on a first tape in the data storage system;
• pairing the data objects, storing each data object of a pair on a different tape, and transmitting a message to the host reporting successful completion of the storage operation;
• and
• waiting until the data storage system receives a rewind/unload command from the host and then creating a backup copy by copying each stored data object to the tape containing its paired object.

A method of operating a tape storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape, the tape storage system including a tape director coupled to two or more tape drives, the tape storage system being coupled to a host, the method comprising the operations of:

• the tape director receiving multiple data objects including at least first and second data objects, and also receiving host instructions to write the data objects to tape media in the data storage system;
• and
• in response to receiving the instructions, automatically storing redundant copies of the first and second data objects on tape media by performing operations comprising:
• the tape director performing an initial storage operation comprising operations of concurrently (1) operating the first tape drive to write the first data object to a primary set of one or more tapes and (2) operating the second tape drive to write the second data object to a backup set of one or more tapes;
• the tape director receiving a rewind/unload command from the host, and in response, the tape director performing operations comprising:
• directing the tape drives to copy the second data object from the backup set of tapes to the primary set of tapes, and also directing the tape drives to copy the first data object from the primary set of tapes to the backup set of tapes;
• and
• after copying the first and second data objects, directing the tape drives to rewind the tapes of the primary and backup sets and unload the tapes of the primary and backup sets from their respective tape drives.

A method of operating a tape storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape, the tape storage system including a tape director coupled to two or more tape drives, the tape storage system being coupled to a host, the method comprising the operations of:

• the tape director receiving multiple data objects including at least first and second data objects, and also receiving host instructions to write the data objects to tape media in the data storage system;
• and
• in response to receiving the instruction, automatically storing redundant copies of the first and second data objects on tape media by performing operations comprising:
• the tape director performing an initial storage operation comprising operations of concurrently (1) operating the first tape drive to write the first data object to a primary set of one or more tapes and (2) operating the second tape drive to write the second data object to a backup set of one or more tapes;
• the tape director receiving a rewind/unload command from the host, and in response, the tape director performing operations comprising:
• directing the tape drives to copy the second data object from the backup set of tapes to the primary set of tapes, and also directing the tape drives to copy the first data object from the primary set of tapes to the backup set of tapes;
• after copying the first and second data objects, directing the tape drives to rewind the tapes of the primary and backup sets and unload the tapes of the primary and backup sets from their respective tape drives;
• the tape storage system experiencing a storage error after the initial storage operation but before directing the tape drives to rewind and unload the tapes;
• and
• in response to the error, retrieving the first and second data objects from the tapes.

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method of operating a data storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape media, comprising the operations of:

• from a host, the data storage system receiving multiple data objects and corresponding instructions to store the data objects in the data storage system;
• storing the data objects on a first tape medium and transmitting one or more messages to the host signaling successful completion of the storage operations;
• and
• waiting until the storage system receives a rewind/unload command from the host, and then performing a bulk copy operation to copy the stored data objects from the first tape medium to a second tape medium.

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method of operating a data storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape media, comprising the operations of:

• from a host, the data storage system receiving multiple data objects and instructions to store the data objects on a first tape in the data storage system;
• pairing the data objects, storing each data object of a pair on a different tape, and transmitting a message to the host reporting successful completion of the storage operation;
• and
• waiting until the data storage system receives a rewind/unload command from the host;
• and then creating a backup copy by copying each stored data object to the tape containing its paired object.

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for operating a tape storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape, the tape storage system including a tape director coupled two or more tape drives, the tape storage system being coupled to a host, the method comprising the operations of:

• the tape director receiving multiple data objects including at least first and second data objects, and also receiving host instructions to write the data objects to tape media in the data storage system;
• and
• in response to receiving the instructions, automatically storing redundant copies of the first and second data objects on tape media by performing operations comprising:
• the tape director performing an initial storage operation comprising operations of concurrently (1) operating the first tape drive to write the first data object to a primary set of one or more tapes and (2) operating the second tape drive to write the second data object to a backup set of one or more tapes;
• the tape director receiving a rewind/unload command from the host, and in response, the tape director performing operations comprising:
• directing the tape drives to copy the second data object from the backup set of tapes to the primary set of tapes, and also directing the tape drives to copy the first data object from the primary set of tapes to the backup set of tapes;
• and
• after copying the first and second data objects, directing the tape drives to rewind the tapes of the primary and backup sets and unload the tapes of the primary and backup sets from their respective tape drives.

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for operating a tape storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape, the tape storage system including a tape director coupled to two or more tape drives, the tape storage system being coupled to a host, the method comprising the operations of:

• the tape director receiving multiple data objects including at least first and second data objects, and also receiving host instructions to write the data objects to tape media in the data storage system;
• and
• in response to receiving the instructions, automatically storing redundant copies of the first and second data objects on tape media by performing operations comprising:
• the tape director performing an initial storage operation comprising operations of concurrently (1) operating the first tape drive to write the first data object to a primary set of one or more tapes and (2) operating the second tape drive to write the second data object to a backup set of one or more tapes;
• the tape director receiving a rewind/unload command from the host, and in response, the tape director performing operations comprising:
• directing the tape drives to copy the second data object from the backup set of tapes to the primary set of tapes, and also directing the tape drives to copy the first data object from the primary set of tapes to the backup set of tapes;
• after copying the first and second data objects, directing the tape drives to rewind the tapes of the primary and backup sets and unload the tapes of the primary and backup sets from their respective tape drives;
• the tape storage system experiencing a storage error after the initial storage operation but before directing the tape drives to rewind and unload the tapes;
• and
• in response to the error, retrieving the first and second data objects from the tapes.

A tape storage system, comprising:

• one or more tape drives;
• a tape director coupled to the tape drives and programmed to create redundant copies of data on tape media, comprising the operations of:
• from a host, the tape director receiving multiple data objects and corresponding instructions to store the data objects in the tape storage system;
• storing the data objects on a first tape medium and transmitting one or more messages to the host signaling successful completion of the storage operations;
• and
• waiting until the tape director receives a rewind/unload command from the host, and then performing a bulk copy operations to copy the stored data objects from the first tape medium to a second tape medium.

A data storage system, comprising:

• at least two tape drives;
• a tape director coupled to the tape drives and programmed to create redundant copies of data on tape media, comprising the operations of:
• from a host, the tape director receiving multiple data objects and instructions to store the data objects on a first tape in the data storage system;
• pairing the data objects, storing each data object of a pair on a different tape, and then transmitting a message to the host reporting successful completion of the storage operation;
• and
• waiting until the tape director receives a rewind/unload command from the host and then creating a backup copy by copying each stored data object to the tape containing its paired data object.

A data storage system, comprising:

• at least two tape drives;
• a tape director coupled to the tape drives and programmed to perform operations to create redundant copies of data on tape, the operations comprising:
• the tape director receiving multiple data objects including at least first and second data objects, and also receiving host instructions to write the data objects to tape media in the data storage system;
• and
• in response to receiving the instruction, automatically storing redundant copies of the first and second data objects on tape media by performing operations comprising:
• the tape director performing an initial storage operation comprising operations of concurrently (1) operating the first tape drive to write the first data object to a primary set of one or more tapes and (2) operating the second tape drive to write the second data object to a backup set of one or more tapes;
• the tape director receiving a rewind/unload command from the host, and in response, the tape director performing operations comprising:
• directing the tape drives to copy the second data object from the backup set of tapes to the primary set of tapes, and also directing the tape drives to copy the first data object from the primary set of tapes to the backup set of tapes;
• and
• after copying the first and second data objects, directing the tape drives to rewind the tapes of the primary and backup sets and unload the tapes of the primary and backup sets from their respective tape drives.

A method of operating a tape storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape media, comprising the operations of:

• from a host, the tape storage system receiving multiple data objects and corresponding instructions to store the data objects in the tape storage system;
• storing the data objects on a first removable tape medium and transmitting one or more messages to the host signaling successful completion of the storage operations;
• and
• performing the following operations responsive to a command from the host requesting at least one of following actions:
• tape rewind, tape unload:
• performing a bulk copy operation to copy the stored data objects from the first tape medium to a second tape medium;
• and
• delaying the requested action until the stored data objects have been copied from the first tape medium.

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method of operating a data storage system to create redundant copies of data on tape media, comprising the operations of:

• from a host, the tape storage system receiving multiple data objects and corresponding instructions to store the data objects in the tape storage system;
• storing the data objects on a first removable tape medium and transmitting one or more messages to the host signaling successful completion of the storage operations;
• and
• performing the following operations responsive to a command from the host requesting at least one of following actions:
• tape rewind, tape unload:
• performing a bulk copy operation to copy the stored data objects from the first tape medium to a second tape medium;
• and
• delaying the requested action until the stored data objects have been copied from the first tape medium.

A tape storage system, comprising:

• one or more tape drives;
• a tape director coupled to the tape drives and programmed to create redundant copies of data on tape media, comprising the operations of:
• from a host, receiving multiple data objects and corresponding instructions to store the data objects in the tape storage system;
• storing the data objects on a first removable tape medium and transmitting one or more messages to the host signaling successful completion of the storage operations;
• and
• performing the following operations responsive to a command from the host requesting at least one of following actions:
• tape rewind, tape unload:
• performing a bulk copy operation to copy the stored data objects from the first tape medium to a second tape medium;
• and
• delaying the requested action until the stored data objects have been copied from the first tape medium.

A tape storage system, comprising:

• one or more tape drives;
• tape director means for creating create redundant copies of data on tape media by:
• from a host, receiving multiple data objects and corresponding instructions to store the data objects in the tape storage system;
• storing the data objects on a first removable tape medium and transmitting one or more messages to the host signaling successful completion of the storage operations;
• and
• performing the following operations responsive to a command from the host requesting at least one of following actions:
• tape rewind, tape unload:
• performing a bulk copy operation to copy the stored data objects from the first tape medium to a second tape medium;
• and
• delaying the requested action until the stored data objects have been copied from the first tape medium.