Managing data transfer between different types of tape media with encryption
AssigneeUnisys Corporation
InventorsJenny F. Manthey, William W. Disney, Douglas W. Stewart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for managing data transfer from at least one input tape to an output tape begins by opening the output tape. For each input tape, the input tape is opened and directory information about the opened input tape is gathered. Data is read from the opened input tape, the data is encrypted, the encrypted data is written to the output tape, and the input tape is closed. The directory information for each input tape is written to a directory file on the output tape and the output tape is closed.
Claims40
A method for managing data transfer from a plurality of input tapes to an output tape, the method comprising the steps of:
- opening the output tape;
- for each input tape:
- opening the input tape;
- reading directory information from the input tape;
- reading data from the input tape;
- determining whether the data read from the input tape is to be encrypted;
- encrypting the data from the input tape if the data is to be encrypted;
- writing the data to the output tape;
- and
- closing the input tape;
- writing the directory information for each input tape to a single directory file on the output tape;
- and
- closing the output tape.
A system for managing data transfer from a plurality of input tapes to an output tape, comprising:
- a plurality of first tape drives each of said plurality of first tape drives containing one of said plurality of input tapes;
- a second tape drive containing the output tape;
- an encryption engine for encrypting data;
- and
- a tape manager including:
- reading means for reading data and directory information from each of the plurality of input tapes on said plurality of first tape drives;
- calling means for determining whether to call said encryption engine to encrypt the data from the plurality of input tapes;
- and
- writing means for writing the data and the directory information from each of the plurality of input tapes to the output tape on said second tape drive,
- wherein the writing includes writing the directory information for each of the plurality of input tapes to a single directory file on the output tape.
A method for managing data transfer of a plurality of selected virtual tape volumes (VTV) from a plurality of input tapes to an output tape, wherein each input tape comprises a selected VTV, the method comprising the steps of:
- for each of the plurality of input tapes:
- (a) opening the input tape;
- (b) reading a directory file on the input tape;
- (c) locating the selected VTV on the input tape using the directory file;
- (d) opening the output tape;
- (e) reading data from the selected VTV;
- (f) determining whether the read data has been encrypted;
- (g) decrypting the read data if the data has been encrypted;
- and
- (h) writing the data to the output tape;
- (i) writing directory information from the directory file for each input tape to a single directory file on the output tape;
- and
- (j) closing the output tape.
A system for managing data transfer of a plurality of selected virtual tape volumes (VTV) from a plurality of input tapes to an output tape, wherein each input tape comprises a selected VTV, comprising:
- a plurality of first tape drives each of said plurality of first tape drives containing one of said plurality of input tapes;
- a second tape drive containing the output tape;
- a decryption engine for decrypting data;
- and
- a tape manager including:
- reading means for reading directory information and the selected VTV from each of the plurality of input tapes on said plurality of first tape drives, the directory information being used to locate the selected VTV;
- calling means for determining whether to call said decryption engine to decrypt the selected VTV from the plurality of input tapes;
- and
- writing means for writing the selected VTV and the directory information from each of the plurality of input tapes to the output tape on said second tape drive, wherein the writing includes writing the directory information for each of the plurality of input tapes to a single directory file on the output tape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.