A data storage and retrieval system comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein for partitioning said data storage and retrieval system into one or more logical libraries, wherein said data storage and retrieval system comprises one or more data storage drives, one or more control ports, and one or more potential logical libraries, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:
- identifying each of said one or more control ports and each of said one or more data storage drives;
- creating a resources map indicating the locations of said one or more control ports and said one or more data storage drives;
- determining the maximum number said potential logical libraries that can be configured using said resources map;
- selecting the number (N) of logical libraries to configure;
- determining the maximum number of potential logical libraries Tm MAX available for the mth logical library using Equation I:
- Im MAX=Tm−Vm+1 Equation I
- wherein m equals 1 to (N), Tm equals the number of unallocated potential logical libraries, Vm equals the number of unconfigured logical libraries;
- and
- selecting the number of potential logical libraries Im to include in the configuration for the mth logical library, wherein Im MAX≧Im.