Variable media tape-based storage system

A variable media tape based storage system comprising:

• at least one of a plurality of drives loaded with at least one mobile media element having a compatible read and write relationship with said at least one drive, wherein said storage system is adapted to accommodate one of said plurality of said drives that is not loaded with one of said mobile media elements;
• said storage system adapted to select said loaded drive in the place of a tape library command from a host to position at least a first target tape article for use with at least a first target tape drive and respond to said host that said library command is accomplished.

A data storage system for storing and retrieving data for a host computer programmed to operate as a tape library comprising:

• a plurality of non-tape drives each loaded with a compatible mobile storage element wherein said compatible mobile storage element is adapted to be unloaded from each of the non-tape drives;
• a switching element disposed at each of the plurality of non-tape drives, the switching element designating the associated non-tape drive in a first state as a tape library or a second state as an actual non-tape drive loaded with one of the mobile storage elements;
• a map system containing at least information regarding data stored on the plurality of non-tape dives that are loaded with a compatible mobile storage element and the map system containing knowledge of whether each of the plurality of non-tape drives is in the first state or the second state whereby in response to a request to store data on a target tape for use with a target drive, the storage system selects one of the drives that is switched to the first state.

A data storage system comprising:

• a first non-tape drive loaded with a first compatible mobile storage element and a second non-tape drive loaded with a second compatible mobile storage element, the first and second compatible mobile storage elements are adapted to be unloaded from each respective non-tape drive;
• a switching element that switches the first loaded non-tape drive to operate as a virtual tape library;
• a mapping means for mapping the first loaded non-tape drive as the virtual tape library for any future tape storage data exchanges between the data storage system and a host, and the second loaded non-tape drive as operating as the second loaded non-tape drive for any future non-tape storage data requirements for the data storage system.