Remote control of backup media in a secondary storage subsystem through access to a primary storage subsystem
First Claim
1. A method of operating a data storage system including a primary data storage subsystem and a secondary data storage subsystem linked to the primary data storage subsystem for transfer of backup data between the primary data storage subsystem and the secondary data storage subsystem, the primary data storage subsystem including a cached disk storage subsystem, the secondary data storage subsystem including a cached disk storage subsystem and a tape library unit for storage of the backup data, said method comprising:
- a) the secondary data storage subsystem maintaining a directory of versions of backup data stored in the tape library unit;
b) the primary data storage subsystem receiving from a host processor a backup media remote control request;
c) the primary data storage subsystem sending to the secondary data storage subsystem a backup media remote control command corresponding to the backup media remote control request; and
d) the secondary data storage subsystem receiving the backup media remote control command, and the tape library unit executing the backup media remote control command.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A primary data storage subsystem has primary data storage and a storage controller for controlling access of host processors to the primary data storage. The primary data storage subsystem is linked to a secondary data storage subsystem for transfer of backup data between the primary data storage subsystem and the secondary data storage subsystem. The secondary data storage subsystem has a tape library unit for storing the backup data. A host processor usually accesses the primary storage. A host can also send backup and restore commands to the storage controller, to cause specified data from the primary storage to be written as a backup version in the tape library unit, and to cause a specified backup version to be read from the tape library unit to be accessible to the host from the primary data storage unit. In this fashion, the host need not be concerned with the basic operations of the tape library unit. A host, however, can send backup media remote control requests to the storage controller, and the storage controller responds by sending corresponding backup media remote control commands to the tape library unit, to permit the host to control remotely the basic operations of the tape library unit. Therefore, the host can obtain status of read/write stations in the tape library unit, and control the mounting, unmounting, and transport of the tapes mounted at the read/write stations.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of operating a data storage system including a primary data storage subsystem and a secondary data storage subsystem linked to the primary data storage subsystem for transfer of backup data between the primary data storage subsystem and the secondary data storage subsystem, the primary data storage subsystem including a cached disk storage subsystem, the secondary data storage subsystem including a cached disk storage subsystem and a tape library unit for storage of the backup data, said method comprising:
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a) the secondary data storage subsystem maintaining a directory of versions of backup data stored in the tape library unit;
b) the primary data storage subsystem receiving from a host processor a backup media remote control request;
c) the primary data storage subsystem sending to the secondary data storage subsystem a backup media remote control command corresponding to the backup media remote control request; and
d) the secondary data storage subsystem receiving the backup media remote control command, and the tape library unit executing the backup media remote control command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a data storage system including a primary data storage subsystem and a secondary data storage subsystem linked to the primary data storage subsystem for transfer of backup data between the primary data storage subsystem and the secondary data storage subsystem, the primary data storage subsystem including a cached disk storage subsystem, the secondary data storage subsystem including a cached disk storage subsystem and a tape library unit for storage of the backup data, said method comprising:
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a) the secondary data storage subsystem maintaining a directory of versions of backup data stored in the tape library unit;
b) the primary data storage subsystem receiving from a first host processor a backup media remote control request;
the primary data storage subsystem sending to the secondary data storage subsystem a backup media remote control command corresponding to the backup media remote control request;
the secondary data storage subsystem receiving the backup media remote control command, and the tape library unit executing the backup media remote control command and returning an acknowledgment to the primary data storage subsystem, and the primary data storage subsystem returning the acknowledgment to the first host processor; and
c) the primary data storage subsystem receiving from a second host processor a backup request for backup of specified data in the primary data storage, and in response the primary data storage subsystem transmitting at least one command to the secondary data storage subsystem for storing a backup version of the specified data in tape storage in the tape library unit without requiring the second host processor to issue backup media remote control requests. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A data storage system comprising, in combination:
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a primary data storage subsystem including primary data storage and a storage controller coupled to the primary data storage for controlling access to the primary data storage, the storage controller having at least one data port for coupling to at least one host processor for receiving data access commands from the host processor for access to the primary data storage;
the primary data storage including a primary cached disk storage subsystem, anda secondary data storage subsystem linked to the storage controller of the primary data storage subsystem for transfer of backup data between the primary data storage subsystem and the secondary data storage subsystem, the secondary data storage subsystem including a tape library unit for storage of the backup data, and a secondary cached disk storage subsystem and at least one processor coupled to the tape library unit for buffering backup data transmitted between the primary data storage subsystem and the tape library unit and maintaining a directory of versions of backup data stored in the tape library unit;
wherein the storage controller of the primary data storage subsystem is programmed for receiving from the host processor a backup media remote control request, and sending to the secondary data storage subsystem a backup media remote control command corresponding to the backup media remote control request for execution of the backup media remote control command by the tape library unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A data storage system comprising, in combination:
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a primary data storage subsystem including primary data storage, a primary directory to information stored in the primary data storage, and a storage controller coupled to the primary data storage and the primary directory for controlling access to the primary data storage, the storage controller having at least one data port for coupling to a plurality of host processors for receiving data access commands from the host processors for access to the primary data storage; and
a secondary data storage subsystem linked to the storage controller of the primary data storage subsystem for transfer of backup data between the primary data storage subsystem and the secondary data storage subsystem, the secondary data storage subsystem including a tape library unit for storage of the backup data, a secondary directory to tapes in the tape library unit and backup versions stored on the tapes in the tape library unit, and a processor linking the secondary directory and the tape library unit for control of access to the tapes in the tape library unit;
wherein the storage controller of the primary data storage subsystem is programmed for receiving from the host processors backup media remote control requests, and sending to the secondary data storage subsystem backup media remote control commands corresponding to the backup media remote control requests for execution of the backup media remote control commands by the tape library unit, and for returning acknowledgments of the backup media remote control commands from the secondary data storage subsystem to the host processors, and wherein the storage controller of the primary data storage subsystem is programmed for receiving from the host processors backup requests for backup of specified data in the primary data storage, and in response for transmitting commands to the secondary data storage subsystem for storing backup versions of the specified data in tape storage in the tape library unit without requiring the host processors to issue backup media remote control requests for storing the backup versions of the specified data in the tape storage of the tape library unit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A machine readable program storage device containing a program executable by a storage controller of a data storage subsystem having primary data storage, the storage controller having at least one data port for receiving storage access requests from at least one host processor, the storage controller being linked to a tape library unit for transfer of backup data between the storage controller and the tape library unit;
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wherein the program is executable by the storage controller for receiving from the host processors storage access requests and in response controlling access of the host processors to the primary data storage;
wherein the program is executable by the storage controller for receiving from the host processors backup media remote control requests, and sending to the tape library unit backup media remote control commands corresponding to the backup media remote control requests for execution of the backup media remote control commands by the tape library unit, and for returning acknowledgments of the backup media remote control commands from the tape library unit to the host processors; and
wherein the program is executable by the storage controller for receiving from the host processors backup requests for backup of specified data in the primary data storage, and in response for transmitting commands to the tape library unit for storing backup versions of the specified data in tape storage in the tape library unit without requiring the host processors to issue backup media remote control requests for storing the backup versions of the specified data in tape storage of the tape library unit. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification