Network attached virtual data storage subsystem

A system, comprising:

• a network;
• a plurality of data processors coupled to the network;
• a plurality of physical storage devices coupled to the network, wherein the plurality of physical storage devices comprises a plurality of tape drives and a plurality of tape media, wherein the plurality of tape media are manipulated by at least one automated tape cartridge library system;
• and
• means, coupled to the network, for dynamically creating at least one virtual device from at least two of the plurality of physical storage devices in response to a storage request, wherein the at least one automated tape cartridge library system is operatively coupled to the means for dynamically creating at least one virtual device.

A system, comprising:

• a network;
• a plurality of data processors coupled to the network;
• a plurality of storage devices coupled to the network;
• and
• means, coupled to the network and responsive to a storage request, for dynamically creating at least one virtual device from at least two of the plurality of storage devices;
• and
• a control network coupled to the plurality of data processors and the means for dynamically creating at least one virtual device, wherein the network is a high speed data network and the control network operates at a low speed with respect to the high speed data network.

A system for storing data, comprising:

• a network;
• a plurality of data processors coupled to the network;
• a plurality of storage devices coupled to the network;
• and
• means, coupled to the network, for dynamically creating at least one virtual device from at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the means for dynamically creating at least one virtual device comprises:
• a network storage manager means for receiving a storage request from at least one of the plurality of data processors;
• and
• a plurality of control block means, each operatively coupled between a respective one of the plurality of data processors and the network, for redirecting said data received from its respective data processor to one or more of the plurality of storage devices as previously configured by the network storage means.

A system for storing data, comprising:

• a network;
• a plurality of data processors coupled to the network;
• a plurality of storage devices coupled to the network;
• and
• means, coupled to the network, for dynamically creating at least one virtual device from at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices, wherein
• the means for dynamically creating at least one virtual device comprises:
• a network storage manager means for receiving a storage request from at least one of the plurality of data processors;
• and
• a plurality of control block means, each operatively coupled between a respective one of the plurality of storage devices and the network, for redirecting said data received from the network to one or more of the plurality of storage devices as previously configured by the network storage means.

A system for storing data, comprising:

• a network;
• a plurality of data processors coupled to the network;
• a plurality of storage devices coupled to the network;
• and
• means, coupled to the network, for dynamically creating at least one virtual device from at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the means for dynamically creating at least one virtual device comprises:
• a network storage manager means for receiving a storage request from at least one of the plurality of data processors;
• and
• a control block means, integral with the network, for redirecting said data received by the network to one or more of the plurality of storage devices as previously configured by the network storage means.

A system, comprising:

• a network;
• a plurality of storage devices coupled to the network;
• and
• means for managing the plurality of storage devices as a pooled resource, wherein the means for managing comprises:
• network system management means for managing the plurality of storage devices;
• and
• a plurality of control block means for translating data received from at least one of a plurality of data processors to appropriate of the plurality of storage devices as previously configured by the network system management means.

A system, comprising:

• a network;
• a plurality of data processors coupled to the network;
• a plurality of storage devices coupled to the network;
• and
• means, coupled to the network, for dynamically managing at least one virtual device composed from at least two of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the means for dynamically managing comprises means for dynamically changing any of configuration and performance of the at least one virtual device as specified by a storage request.

In a system comprising a network, a plurality of data processors coupled to the network and a plurality of storage devices coupled to the network, a method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a storage request;
• in response thereto, dynamically creating a virtual device from at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices by configuring a plurality of control blocks coupled to the network to redirect data received by said plurality of control blocks to one or more of the plurality of storage devices;
• and
• redirecting data from at least one of the plurality of data processors to one or more of the plurality of storage devices by the configured control blocks.

In a system comprising a network and a plurality of physical storage devices connected to the network, a method of managing the plurality of physical storage devices as a pooled resource, comprising the steps of:

• configuring at least two of the plurality of physical storage devices as a virtual device having a first storage characteristic;
• receiving a storage request from a processor:
• dynamically reconfiguring at least two of the configured physical storage devices as another virtual device having a second storage characteristic different from the first storage characteristic, wherein the step of dynamically reconfiguring is responsive to the storage request;
• and
• translating data received from the processor to appropriate of the plurality of storage devices.