Storing information regarding operation of an automated data storage library to memory and to a reserved cartridge

• US 20070106840A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hellman, Diana, Goodman, Brian, Estelle, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,386,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/111
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/689 Control of the cassette changing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/228 Control systems for magazines G11B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22

Abstract

A controller of an automated data storage library is configured to store information regarding operation of the library in a memory; to reserve at least one data storage cartridge; and to operate a data storage drive and the memory to transfer at least a portion of the information stored in the memory to the reserved data storage cartridge. The library controller is configured to maintain an externally available inventory of data storage cartridges of the library, e.g. for a host system, and excludes the reserved data storage cartridge from the inventory.

Claims

1. An automated data storage library comprising:

a plurality of storage shelves configured to store data storage cartridges;

at least one robot accessor configured to transport said data storage cartridges;

at least one data storage drive configured to read and write data with respect to data storage cartridges;

at least one memory; and

at least one library controller configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to transport said data storage cartridges;

configured to store information regarding operation of said automated data storage library in said at least one memory; and

configured to reserve at least one data storage cartridge, and to operate said at least one data storage drive and said at least one memory to transfer at least a portion of said information stored in said at least one memory to said reserved at least one data storage cartridge.

2. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein said library controller additionally is configured to maintain an externally available inventory of data storage cartridges of said library, and excludes said reserved at least one data storage cartridge from said externally available inventory.

3. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein said library controller additionally is configured to indicate externally that said operated data storage drive is not being used.

4. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein said library controller is configured to, at predetermined intervals, operate said at least one data storage drive and said at leas one memory to transfer at least a portion of said information stored in said at least one memory to said reserved at least one data storage cartridge.

5. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein said library controller is configured to respond to at least one predetermined event, to operate said at least one data storage drive and said at least one memory to transfer at least a portion of said information stored in said at least one memory to said reserved at least one data storage cartridge.

6. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein said library controller additionally is configured to, at start up, operate said at least one data storage drive and said at least one memory to transfer at least a portion of information stored in said reserved at least one data storage cartridge to said at least one memory to initialize said memory for storing information regarding operation of said automated data storage library.

7. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein said memory comprises a non-volatile memory, such that said memory may retain said information regarding operation of said automated data storage library, for a subsequent start up of said library.

8. A data storage system comprising:

at least one host system; and

an automated data storage library comprising;

a plurality of storage shelves configured to store data storage cartridges,

at least one robot accessor configured to transport said data storage cartridges;

at least one data storage drive configured to read and write data with respect to data storage cartridges;

at least one interface configured to allow communication between said automated data storage library and said at least one host system;

at least one memory; and

at least one library controller configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to transport said data storage cartridges;

configured to store information regarding operation of said automated data storage library in said at least one memory;

configured to reserve at least one data storage cartridge, and to operate said at least one data storage drive and said at least one memory to transfer at least a portion of said information stored in said at least one memory to said reserved at least one data storage cartridge; and

configured to maintain an inventory of data storage cartridges of said library, said inventory available to said at least one host system via said interface, and to exclude said reserved at least one data storage cartridge from said inventory.

9. The data storage system of claim 8, wherein said library controller additionally is configured to indicate to said at least one host system that said operated data storage drive is not being used.

10. A method of providing a service of providing information regarding an automated data storage library, said automated data storage library comprising a plurality of storage shelves configured to store data storage cartridges;

at least one robot accessor configured to transport said data storage cartridges;

at least one data storage drive configured to read and write data with respect to data storage cartridges;

at least one memory; and

at least one library controller configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to transport said data storage cartridges;

said method comprising the steps of;

storing information regarding operation of said automated data storage library in said at least one memory;

reserving at least one data storage cartridge; and

operating said at least one data storage drive and said at least one memory to transfer at least a portion of said information stored in said at least one memory to said reserved at least one data storage cartridge.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of reserving said at least one data storage cartridge additionally comprises excluding said reserved at least one data storage cartridge from an externally available inventory of data storage cartridges of said library.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of operating said at least one data storage drive additionally comprises indicating externally that said operated data storage drive is not being used.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said steps of operating said at least one robot accessor and operating said at least one data storage drive are conducted at predetermined intervals.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said steps of operating said at least one robot accessor and operating said at least one data storage drive are conducted in response to at least one predetermined event.

15. The method of claim 10, additionally comprising the step of:

at start up, operating said at least one data storage drive and said at least one memory to transfer at least a portion of information stored in said reserved at least one data storage cartridge to said at least one memory to initialize said memory for storing information regarding operation of said automated data storage library.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said memory comprises a non-volatile memory, such that said memory may retain said information regarding operation of said automated data storage library, for a subsequent start up of said library.

17. A method of providing a service of providing information regarding a data storage system, said data storage system comprising at least one host system;

and an automated data storage library comprising;

a plurality of storage shelves configured to store data storage cartridges;

at least one robot accessor configured to transport said data storage cartridges;

at least one data storage drive configured to read and write data with respect to data storage cartridges;

at least one interface configured to allow communication between said automated data storage library and said at least one host system;

at least one memory; and

at least one library controller configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to transport said data storage cartridges;

said method comprising the steps of;

storing information regarding operation of said automated data storage library in said at least one memory;

reserving at least one data storage cartridge;

operating said at least one data storage drive and said at least one memory to transfer at least a portion of said information stored in said at least one memory to said reserved at least one data storage cartridge;

maintaining an inventory of data storage cartridges of said library, said inventory available to said at least one host system via said interface; and

excluding said reserved at least one data storage cartridge from said inventory.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of operating said at least one data storage drive additionally comprises indicating to said at least one host system that said operated data storage drive is unavailable.