Method for improving the recovery time from a lost database in a VTS automation system

• US 20040044700A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kishi, Gregory Tad, Fisher, James Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A virtual storage server and library manager are configured to avoid a lengthy check-in process for selected physical volumes. In one embodiment, the selected physical volumes are volumes that were in a checked-in state previous to a disaster. Other volumes are checked-in normally. The present invention leverages information within the virtual storage server to efficiently recovery from disasters that destroy state information within the library manager. The improved recovery method, apparatus, and system, reduce the downtime associated with disasters within removable media virtual storage systems.

Claims

1. A method for efficient disaster recovery in a virtual storage system comprising removable media storage units, the system comprising:

ascertaining that a disaster has occurred;

conducting a separate, more streamlined check-in process for selected physical volumes during a disaster recovery sequence; and

conducting a standard check-in process for other volumes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected physical volumes are physical volumes that were in an operational state in the virtual storage system just previous to the disaster and wherein the other volumes are volumes that were not in an operational state in the virtual storage system just previous to the disaster.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational state is a checked-in state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting a separate, more streamlined check-in process further comprises suspending notification of inserted volumes during the disaster recovery sequence.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting a separate, more streamlined check-in process further comprises cataloging those physical volumes that are present during the disaster recovery sequence.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting a separate, more streamlined check-in process further comprises notifying a library manager that a physical volume has been checked in.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting a separate, more streamlined check-in process further comprises resuming notification of inserted volumes during the disaster recovery sequence.

8. A system for archiving data and conducting disaster recovery in an efficient manner, the system comprising:

a virtual storage server configured to map logical volumes to physical volumes and cache logical volume data;

a library manager configured to mount the physical volumes within removable media storage units; and

a virtual storage server configured to conduct a separate, more streamlined check-in process for selected physical volumes during a disaster recovery and a standard check-in process for other volumes.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the selected physical volumes are physical volumes that were in an operational state in the virtual storage system just previous to the disaster and the other volumes are volumes that were not in an operational state in the virtual storage system just previous to the disaster.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operational state is a checked-in state.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the library manager is further configured to suspend notification of inserted volumes during the disaster recovery sequence.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the library manager is further configured to inform the virtual storage serve of those physical volumes that are present during the disaster recovery sequence.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual storage server is further configured to notify the library manager that a selected physical volume has been checked in.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the library manager is further configured to resume notification of inserted volumes during the disaster recovery sequence.

15. A virtual storage server for use within a virtual storage system comprising removable media storage units, the virtual storage server comprising:

a mapping module configured to map logical volumes to physical volumes;

a cache configured to cache logical volume data; and

a disaster recovery module configured to conduct a separate, more streamlined check-in process for selected physical volumes during a disaster recovery sequence and a standard check-in process for other volumes.

16. The virtual storage server of claim 15, wherein the disaster recovery module is further configured to conduct the streamlined check-in process for physical volumes which were in an operational state in the virtual storage system just previous to the disaster and the other volumes are volumes that were not in an operational state in the virtual storage system just previous to the disaster.

17. The virtual storage server of claim 15, wherein the disaster recovery module is further configured to notify a library manager that a selected physical volume has been checked in.

18. A library manager for use within a virtual storage system, the library manager comprising:

an accessor interface configured to control the mounting of physical volumes within removable media storage units; and

a tracking module configured to track the physical volumes; and

the tracking module further configured to suspend notification of inserted volumes during a disaster recovery sequence.

19. The library manager of claim 18, wherein the tracking module is further configured to inform a virtual storage server of those physical volumes that are present during the disaster recovery sequence.

20. The library manager of claim 19, wherein the tracking module is further configured to resume notification of inserted volumes during the disaster recovery sequence.

21. A system for archiving data and conducting disaster recovery in an efficient manner, the system comprising:

a virtual storage server configured to map logical volumes to physical volumes and cache logical volume data;

a library manager configured to mount the physical volumes within removable media storage units, suspend notification of inserted volumes during a disaster recovery sequence, and inform the virtual storage server of those physical volumes that are present during the disaster recovery sequence; and

the virtual storage server further configured to conduct a separate, more streamlined check-in process for selected physical volumes and a standard check-in process for other volumes, the selected physical volumes comprising physical volumes that were in a checked-in state just previous to the disaster, the virtual storage server further configured to notify the library manager that a selected physical volume has been checked in.

22. A system for archiving data and conducting disaster recovery in an efficient manner, the system comprising:

means for mapping logical volumes to physical volumes;

means for caching logical volume data;

means for mounting the physical volumes within removable media storage units,;

means for suspending notification of inserted volumes during a disaster recovery

sequence and a standard check-in process for other volumes; and

means for conducting a separate, more streamlined check-in process for physical volumes that were in a checked-in state just previous to a disaster.

23. A computer readable medium comprising computer code configured to carry out a method for archiving data and conducting disaster recovery in an efficient manner, the method comprising:

mapping logical volumes to physical volumes;

caching logical volume data;

mounting the physical volumes within removable media storage units,;

suspending notification of inserted volumes during a disaster recovery sequence; and

conducting a separate, more streamlined check-in process for physical volumes that were in a checked-in state just previous to a disaster and a standard check-in process for other volumes.