System and method for processing data management files in a virtual storage environment

A computer system for merging a plurality of manifest files that are the resultant output from different export operations, each having at least one multi-volume media indicia and associated virtual volume indicia, to restore a virtual storage environment for a user from the plurality of manifest files, the method comprising:

• means for retrieving each of the associated virtual volume indicia from the plurality of manifest files and selectively copying certain of the retrieved virtual volume indicia, determined by comparing a virtual volume indicia for a given virtual volume retrieved from a first of the plurality of manifest files with a corresponding virtual volume indicia for the given virtual volume retrieved from a second of the plurality of manifest files to determine which is most current, to an output file;
• and
• means for retrieving each of the associated multi-volume media indicia from the plurality of manifest files and selectively copying certain of the retrieved multi-volume media indicia, determined by comparing a multi-volume media indicia for a given multi-volume cartridge retrieved from a first of the plurality of manifest files with a corresponding multi-volume media indicia for the given multi-volume cartridge retrieved from a second of the plurality of manifest files to determine which is most current, to the output file thereby restoring the virtual storage environment for the user from the plurality of manifest files.

A computer program product on a computer readable storage medium executed by a computer system for merging a plurality of manifest files that are the resultant output from different export operations, each having at least one multi-volume media indicia and associated virtual volume indicia, to restore a virtual storage environment for a user from the plurality of manifest files, the computer program product comprising:

• instruction means for retrieving each of the associated virtual volume indicia from the plurality of manifest files and selectively copying certain of the retrieved virtual volume indicia, determined by comparing a virtual volume indicia for a given virtual volume retrieved from a first of the plurality of manifest files with a corresponding virtual volume indicia for the given virtual volume retrieved from a second of the plurality of manifest files to determine which is most current, to an output file;
• and
• instruction means for retrieving each of the associated multi-volume media indicia from the plurality of manifest files and selectively copying certain of the retrieved multi-volume media indicia, determined by comparing a multi-volume media indicia for a given multi-volume cartridge retrieved from a first of the plurality of manifest files with a corresponding multi-volume media indicia for the given multi-volume cartridge retrieved from a second of the plurality of manifest files to determine which is most current, to the output file to thereby restore the virtual storage environment for the user from the plurality of manifest files.