LOG SNAPSHOT CONTROL ON AN AUTOMATED DATA STORAGE LIBRARY

• US 20180081572A1
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Goodman, Brian G., Miranda-Gavillan, Jose G., Qiu, Kenny N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,839,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0727 in a storage system, e.g. in a DASD or network based storage system drivers for digital recording or reproducing units G06F3/06; circuits for error detection or correction within digital recording or reproducing units G11B20/18; for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0787 Storage of error reports, e.g. persistent data storage, storage using memory protection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/16 Protection against loss of memory contents contains no material, see G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/68 Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6885 the cassettes being conveyed within a cassette storage location, e.g. within a storage bin or conveying by belt
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/689 Control of the cassette changing arrangement

Abstract

A system, according to one embodiment, includes: an automated data storage library which includes a designated physical mechanism accessible at the automated data storage library, and a memory. The automated data storage library is configured to capture a snapshot of one or more logs in response to the designated physical mechanism being triggered. The automated data storage library is also configured to store the snapshot in the memory. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Claims

1. A system for decreasing delay in capturing log snapshots and reducing computational throughput, comprising:

an automated data storage library, comprising;

a designated physical mechanism accessible at the automated data storage library, wherein the designated physical mechanism is integrated in a housing of the automated data storage library;

a processor;

a memory;

an accessor for transporting removable media within the automated data storage library; and

logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor, the logic being configured to;

capture a snapshot of one or more logs of the automated data storage library in response to the designated physical mechanism being triggered; and

store the snapshot in the memory.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the designated physical mechanism comprises a push button, and wherein the designated physical mechanism is triggered in response to a human operator depressing the push button.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein wherein the snapshot includes trace information and/or diagnostic information.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the snapshot includes information selected from the group consisting of trace information, diagnostic information, statistical information, configuration information, backup information, and database information.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, the logic being configured to:

pause operation of the accessor in addition to capturing the snapshot in response to the designated physical mechanism being triggered,

wherein the designated physical mechanism is accessible at an exterior of the automated data storage library.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the automated data storage library is configured to transmit the snapshot to a remote location.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, with a proviso that the designated physical mechanism is triggerable without performing a preliminary step.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the automated data storage library is a magnetic tape library, wherein the removable media includes data storage cartridges, wherein the data storage cartridges are stored in multi-cartridge deep slot cells and/or single cartridge storage slots in the magnetic tape library.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, the logic being configured to:

overwrite a selected previously-stored snapshot in the memory of the automated data storage library with the snapshot.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, the logic being configured to:

determine whether a total amount of previously-stored snapshots stored in the memory of the automated data storage library exceeds a threshold; and

overwrite a selected previously-stored snapshot in the memory of the automated data storage library with the snapshot in response to a determination that the total amount of snapshots stored in the memory of the automated data storage library exceeds the threshold.

11. A system for decreasing delay in capturing log snapshots and reducing computational throughput, comprising:

an automated data storage library, comprising;

removable media configured to be physically transported within the automated data storage library;

a designated logical mechanism accessible on a display device of the automated data storage library, wherein the automated data storage library is configured to capture a snapshot of one or more logs in response to the designated logical mechanism being triggered; and

a memory, wherein the automated data storage library is configured to store the snapshot in the memory,

wherein the display device is integrated in a housing of the automated data storage library.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the designated logical mechanism is a logical button displayed on the display device.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the designated logical mechanism has dual functionality upon being triggered, wherein the automated data storage library is configured to pause operation of the automated data storage library in addition to capturing the snapshot in response to the designated logical mechanism being triggered.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the snapshot includes information selected from the group consisting of trace information, and diagnostic information.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the display device is accessible at an exterior of the automated data storage library.

16. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the automated data storage library is configured to transmit the snapshot to a remote location using an electrical connection in addition to storing the snapshot in the memory in response to determining that an amount of information stored in the memory is in a predetermined range.

17. The system as recited in claim 11, with a proviso that the designated logical mechanism is triggerable without performing any other preliminary steps.

18. The system as recited in claim 11, comprising:

an accessor configured to physically transport the removable media within the automated data storage library; and

at least one tape drive,

wherein the automated data storage library is a magnetic tape library,

wherein the removable media includes magnetic tape cartridges.

19. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein storing the snapshot in the memory includes:

determining whether a total amount of snapshots stored in the automated data storage library exceeds a threshold; and

overwriting a selected stored snapshot in the automated data storage library with the captured snapshot in response to determining that the total amount of snapshots stored in the automated data storage library exceeds the threshold.

20. A system, comprising:

an automated data storage library, comprising;

an accessor for transporting removable media within the automated data storage library;

a designated physical mechanism accessible at the automated data storage library, wherein the automated data storage library is configured to capture a snapshot of one or more logs in response to the designated physical mechanism being triggered via human interaction with the designated physical mechanism; and

a memory, wherein the automated data storage library is configured to store the snapshot in the memory,

wherein the designated physical mechanism is a switch or a mechanism that physically moves upon application of a force thereto by the human,

wherein the designated physical mechanism is integrated in a housing of the automated data storage library,

with a proviso that the designated physical mechanism is triggerable by the human without performing any other preliminary steps.