Virtual electronic data library supporting mixed drive types using virtual libraries within a single library

Abstract

A virtual electronic data library system has a plurality of storage elements. Each storage element is adapted to store a medium of a plurality of media. Preferably, a plurality of subsets of the media each have one format of a plurality of formats. A plurality of input/output elements are preferably adapted to receive and read the media stored in the storage elements. Each of the input/output elements is capable of operatively receiving media having at least one of the formats. A library controller has firmware wherein the subsets of the media are each assigned a logical unit number for use by the controller to partition the library. At least one transport is operable to remove the media from the storage elements and operatively deploy the media for use by one of the input/output elements. The transport deploys the media in an input/output element according to the logical unit numbers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.