Disaster recovery method for a removable media library

• US 6,360,232 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Twitter Inc (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brewer, Vickie Lynn, Kishi, Gregory Tad, Fisher, James Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, TE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/324,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/204, 714/4, 714/6, 714/5, 714/11-19, 369/34, 711/100-112, 360/48-51
• US Class Current: 714/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/68 Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/225 wherein the disks are transferred from a fixed magazine to a fixed playing unit using a moving carriage
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A removable media storage library comprises a plurality of removable media divided into a plurality of sets, each set associated with its own server. A central manager controls access to all of the removable media. Each of the servers and library manager contain database map information. If this information is lost, a selected disaster recovery operation may be implemented. This flexibility in selecting the type of disaster recovery operation allows for an efficient and fast disaster recovery operation.

Claims

1. A method for performing disaster recovery in a removable storage media library, wherein the library comprises a plurality of removable media, a storage bin for storing the media, the bin being divided into separate frames, a plurality of servers, at least one media reader, an access device for moving the media the media between the bin and the readers, the access device having a scanner, a central library manager which controls the access device, the central library manager having a library manager database, the servers each having a server database, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting one of the servers as a recovery server;

(b) selecting between a partial inventory disaster recovery operation (PIDR) and an automatic disaster recovery operation (ADR);

(c) if the PIDR operation is selected, then designating at least one frame in the library as a disaster recovery frame;

(d) scanning all removable media in the selected frame;

(e) adding the scanned media to the set of media associated with the recovery server in the central library database;

(f) designating the set of media associated with the recovery server as disaster recovery media; and

(g) if the ADR operation is selected, then designating the set of media associated with the recovery server as disaster recovery media.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) mounting each of the disaster recovery media in a media reader, reading and storing a time stamp of each such media;

(b) determining the media having the most recent time stamp;

(c) mounting the most recent time stamp media and reading a server database from said media; and

(d) storing the server database in the recovery server.

3. An article of manufacture for use in a removable storage media library;

wherein the library comprises a plurality of removable media, a storage bin for storing the media, the bin being divided into separate frames, at least one server, at least one media reader, an access device for moving the media between the bin and the readers, the access device having a scanner, a central library manager which controls the access device, the central library manager having a library manager database, the servers each having a server database, said article of manufacture comprising a computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of executable computer instructions which causes the library to execute the steps of;

(a) selecting one of the servers as a recovery server;

(b) selecting between a partial inventory disaster recovery operation (PIDR) and an automatic disaster recovery operation (ADR);

(c) if the PIDR operation is selected, then designating at least one frame in the library as a disaster recovery frame;

(d) scanning all removable media in the selected frame;

(e) adding the scanned media to the set of media associated with the recovery server in the central library database;

(f) designating the set of media associated with the recovery server as disaster recovery media; and

(g) if the ADR operation is selected, then designating the set of media associated with the recovery server as disaster recovery media.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein the instructions further comprise the steps of:

(a) mounting each of the disaster recovery media in a media reader, reading and storing a time stamp of each such media;

(b) determining the media having the most recent time stamp;

(c) mounting the most recent time stamp media and reading a server database from said media; and

(d) storing the server database in the recovery server.