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AssigneeQuantum Corporation
InventorsRod Wideman, Gregory Prestas, Don Doerner
Estimating the term…
Systems and associated methods provide a level of indirection between multiple host computers and multiple data storage resources, such as removable media data storage devices. At least one of the hosts is not provided with direct access to some of the removable media data storage devices. Instead, logical addresses are provided to the host computers, where the logical addresses can relate to physical addresses associated with the data storage resources. A data storage resource handle or logical proxy may be presented to a host, and a management layer determines whether the host receives access to physical data storage resources, or virtual resources that emulate the physical resources.
A method of assigning, to a host computer, data storage resources in a data storage library, the method comprising:
A system for use with at least one data storage library and multiple computers, wherein the data storage library includes multiple data storage drives, multiple data storage cartridge slots each configured to receive a removable data cartridge, at least one robot configured to move a data cartridge between a cartridge slot and a data storage drive, and at least one library controller coupled to the robot and the data storage drives, wherein the multiple data storage drives and the multiple data storage cartridge slots each have a first address, wherein the system comprises:
A method of utilizing multiple data storage drives among at least first and second computers or first and second separate logical users of the first computer, the method comprising:
A tangible computer-readable medium whose contents cause at least one data processing device to perform a method for utilizing multiple data storage drives among at least first and second computers or first and second separate logical users of the first computer, the method comprising:
A system for use with at least one media changer and multiple computers, wherein the media changer includes multiple data transfer elements, multiple storage elements, at least one media transport element configured to move data media between storage elements and data transport elements, and at least one controller coupled to the media transport element and the data transfer elements, wherein the system comprises:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems: by allocating resources to storage systems
Specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect: saving storage space on storage systems
Plurality of storage devices: libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox
Computing and data processing
Term ended 17 Dec 2023 (estimated)
Data storage needs continue to increase and thus the numbers and types of data storage devices are increasing correspondingly. Information technology personnel need methods to manage high-capacity data storage devices, which are sometimes configured as “libraries.” These data storage libraries often include a few tape or disk drives and multiple slots to accommodate tape or disk cartridges. A library controller communicates between the host and a robot to control the movement of cartridges between slots and drives.
In some cases, a single host computer exchanges data with a single library. However, it is more common for several computers to communicate with one or more data storage libraries, or to have a data storage library effectively partitioned for use by multiple hosts.
As a result, there is a need to manage these libraries so that each host computer or user is allocated an appropriate amount of storage capacity and drives. One client software product NETBACKUP™, provided by Veritas of Mountain View, Calif., allows multiple computers to share a library. Each user must run a client-side copy of the NETBACKUP™ software, and the software then provides library management capabilities to the users. As an alternative to a client-side software solution, an intermediate software product, such as the SCALAR DLC™ by Advanced Digital Information Corporation of Redmond, Wash., partitions a library into portions so that the library may be shared by users.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a library storage architecture employing aspects of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a library configured by a library management unit as a single logical library that provides capacity on demand.
FIG. 3 shows the library of FIG. 2 partitioned into four logical libraries.
The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.
In the drawings, the same reference numbers and acronyms identify elements or acts with the same or similar functionality for ease of understanding and convenience. To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the Figure number in which that element is first introduced (e.g., element 1104 is first introduced and discussed with respect to FIG. 11).
The invention will now be described with respect to various embodiments.