Allocation of data storage drives of an automated data storage library

• US 6,636,778 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Day, Kenneth Fairclough III, Jesionowski, Leonard George, Basham, Robert Beverley, Dahman, Kirby Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/948,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 700/213, 700/214, 700/225, 711/112, 711/6, 369/30.06, 369/30.28, 369/178.01, 360/98.01
• US Class Current: 700/214
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage 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

Abstract

Data storage drives of an automated data storage library are allocated to received requests. A drive resource provider, upon receiving a request for a drive when all of the drives of the pool are allocated, holds any mount of a portable data storage cartridge relative to the request, releasing the hold when a drive is allocated. Spare drives are provided, outside of the pool. A spare drive may be allocated in response to the request, and a message is posted indicating use of the spare data storage drive. The posted message may comprise a notification that action may be taken to permanently transfer a spare data storage drive to the pool.

Claims

1. An allocation system for allocating data storage drives of an automated data storage library in response to at least one request for a data storage drive, said library storing a plurality of portable data storage cartridges in storage shelves and transporting said portable data storage cartridges between said storage shelves and said data storage drives for mounting and demounting said portable data storage cartridges at said data storage drives, comprising:

a drive resource provider, assigning a plurality of said library data storage drives to a pool, and allocating and deallocating said data storage drives from said pool;

to a plurality of virtual storage drives said drive resource provider, upon receiving said request for a data storage drive when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, to the virtual storage drives indicating to said library to hold any mount of a portable data storage cartridge relative to said request.

2. The allocation system of claim 1, additionally comprising a drive image provider coupled to said drive resource provider, which, upon receiving said request for a data storage drive when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, indicates that said requested data storage drive is currently unavailable to complete any subsequent command requiring a mounted portable data storage cartridge.

3. The allocation system of claim 1, wherein said drive resource provider additionally, subsequent to said indication, awaits a deallocation of a data storage drive and demount of any portable data storage cartridge at said deallocated data storage drive, allocates said deallocated data storage drive to said request, and indicates to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

4. The allocation system of claim 1, wherein said drive resource provider additionally assigns at least one of said plurality of library data storage drives as spare data storage drives, outside of said pool, and, subsequent to said indication, allocates one of said at least one spare data storage drives to said request, and indicating to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

5. The allocation system of claim 4, wherein said drive resource provider, subsequent to said indication, waits a predetermined time period, and awaits a deallocation of a data storage drive and demount of any portable data storage cartridge at said deallocated data storage drive;

and, if during said predetermined time period said deallocation occurs, allocates said deallocated data storage drive to said request;

else, subsequent to expiration of said time period, allocates said spare data storage drive to said request; and

, upon said allocation of a data storage drive to said request, indicates to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

6. The allocation system of claim 4, where said library comprises a plurality of virtual libraries responsive to said at least one request for a data storage drive, said system allocating data storage drives of said automated data storage library to said plurality of virtual libraries, at least one of said plurality of virtual libraries a higher priority than other of said virtual libraries;

and wherein said drive resource provider additionally determines said priority of said virtual library of said request for a data storage drive, and, only if said virtual library is of said higher priority, allocates said spare data storage drive to said request, and indicates to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

7. The allocation system of claim 4, wherein said drive resource provider additionally increments a count each instance said request is received when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, compares said incremented count to a predetermined limit, and, upon said incremented count being less than said predetermined limit, allocating said spare data storage drive.

8. The allocation system of claim 4, wherein said drive resource provider additionally, subsequent to said allocation of said spare data storage drive, posts a message indicating use of said spare data storage drive.

9. The allocation system of claim 8, wherein said drive resource provider posted message comprises a notification to a system operator that action may be taken to transfer at least one said spare data storage drive to said pool.

10. The allocation system of claim 9, wherein said drive resource provider additionally responds to a request to transfer at least one spare data storage drive to said pool, adds at least one said spare data storage drive to said pool, deleting said data storage drive as a spare data storage drive.

11. The allocation system of claim 10, wherein said drive resource provider posted message additionally comprises a notification that failure to transfer said data storage drive to said pool will result in future unavailability of spare data storage drives, and wherein said drive resource provider, upon absence of a request to transfer at least one spare data storage drive to said pool, deletes said assignment of at least one of said plurality of library data storage drives as spare data storage drives, such that said assigned spare data storage drives become unassigned.

12. The allocation system of claim 1, wherein said drive resource provider additionally indicates that a fake completion response is to be provided in response to said mount.

13. An allocation method for allocating data storage drives of an automated data storage library in response to at least one request for a data storage drive, said library storing a plurality of portable data storage cartridges in storage shelves and transporting said portable data storage cartridges between said storage shelves and said data storage drives for mounting and demounting said portable data storage cartridges at said data storage drives, comprising the steps of:

assigning a plurality of said library data storage drives to a pool, and allocating and deallocating said data storage drives from said pool to a plurality of virtual storage drives;

upon receiving said request for a data storage drive when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, to the virtual storage drives indicating to said library to hold any mount of a portable data storage cartridge relative to said request.

14. The allocation method of claim 13, additionally comprising the step of, upon receiving said request for a data storage drive when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, indicating that said requested data storage drive is currently unavailable to complete any subsequent command requiring a mounted portable data storage cartridge.

15. The allocation method of claim 13, additionally comprising the steps of:

subsequent to said indication, awaiting a deallocation of a data storage drive and demount of any portable data storage cartridge at said deallocated data storage drive, allocating said deallocated data storage drive to said request; and

indicating to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

16. The allocation method of claim 13, additionally comprising the steps of:

assigning at least one of said plurality of library data storage drives as spare data storage drives, outside of said pool; and

subsequent to said indication, allocating one of said at least one spare data storage drives to said request, and indicating to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

17. The allocation method of claim 16, additionally comprising the steps of:

subsequent to said indication, for a predetermined time period, awaiting a deallocation of a data storage drive and demount of any portable data storage cartridge at said deallocated data storage drive; and

if during said predetermined time period said deallocation occurs, allocating said deallocated data storage drive to said request;

else, subsequent to expiration of said time period, allocating said spare data storage drive to said request; and

, upon said allocation of a data storage drive to said request, indicating to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

18. The allocation method of claim 16, wherein said library comprises a plurality of virtual libraries responsive to said at least one request for a data storage drive, said method allocating data storage drives of said automated data storage library to said plurality of virtual libraries, at least one of said plurality of virtual libraries having a higher priority than other of said virtual libraries, said method additionally determining said priority of said virtual library of said request for a data storage drive, and, only if said virtual library is of said higher priority, allocating said spare data storage drive to said request, and indicating to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

19. The allocation method of claim 16, additionally comprising the steps of:

incrementing a count each instance said request is received when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated;

comparing said incremented count to a predetermined limit, and, upon said incremented count being less than said predetermined limit, allocating said spare data storage drive.

20. The allocation method of claim 16, additionally, subsequent to said allocation of said spare data storage drive, posting a message indicating use of said spare data storage drive.

21. The allocation method of claim 18, wherein said posted message comprises a notification to a system operator that action may be taken to transfer at least one said spare data storage drive to said pool.

22. The allocation method of claim 21, additionally comprising the steps of:

responding to a request to transfer at least one spare data storage drive to said pool, adds at least one said spare data storage drive to said pool, deleting said data storage drive as a spare data storage drive.

23. The allocation method of claim 22, wherein said posted message additionally comprises a notification that failure to transfer said data storage drive to said pool will result in future unavailability of spare data storage drives, and wherein said method additionally comprises, upon absence of a request to transfer at least one spare data storage drive to said pool, deleting said assignment of at least one of said plurality of library data storage drives as spare data storage drives, such that said assigned spare data storage drives become unassigned.

24. The allocation method of claim 13, wherein said indicating step additionally comprises indicating that a fake response is to be provided in response to said mount.

25. A computer program product of a computer readable medium usable with a programmable computer, said computer program product having computer readable program code embodied therein for allocating data storage drives of an automated data storage library in response to at least one request for a data storage drive, said library storing a plurality of portable data storage cartridges in storage shelves and transporting said portable data storage cartridges between said storage shelves and said data storage drives for mounting and demounting said portable data storage cartridges at said data storage drives, said at least one host application coupled to said data storage drives and to said automated data storage library, comprising:

computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to assign a plurality of said library data storage drives to a pool, and to allocate and deallocate said data storage drives from said pool;

to a plurality of virtual storage drives

computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to, upon receiving said request for a data storage drive when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, to the virtual storage drives indicate to said library to hold any mount of a portable data storage cartridge relative to said request.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to, upon receiving said request for a data storage drive when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, indicate that said requested data storage drive is currently unavailable to complete any subsequent command requiring a mounted portable data storage cartridge.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to:

subsequent to said indication, await a deallocation of a data storage drive and demount of any portable data storage cartridge at said deallocated data storage drive, and allocate said deallocated data storage drive to said request; and

indicate to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to:

assign at least one of said plurality of library data storage drives as spare data storage drives, outside of said pool; and

subsequent to said indication, allocate one of said at least one spare data storage drives to said request, and indicate to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to:

subsequent to said indication, for a predetermined time period, await a deallocation of a data storage drive and demount of any portable data storage cartridge at said deallocated data storage drive; and

if during said predetermined time period said deallocation occurs, allocate said deallocated data storage drive to said request;

else, subsequent to expiration of said time period, allocate said spare data storage drive to said request; and

, upon said allocation of a data storage drive to said request, indicate to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

30. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein said library comprises a plurality of virtual libraries responsive to said at least one request for a data storage drive, for allocating data storage drives of said automated data storage library to said plurality of virtual libraries, at least one of said plurality of virtual libraries having a higher priority than other of said virtual libraries, wherein said computer program product additionally comprises computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to determine said priority of said virtual library of said request for a data storage drive, and, only if said virtual library is of said higher priority, allocate said spare data storage drive to said request, and indicate to said library to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

31. The computer program product of claim 28, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to:

increment a count each instance said request is received when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated;

compare said incremented count to a predetermined limit, and, upon said incremented count being less than said predetermined limit, allocate said spare data storage drive and reset said incremented count.

32. The computer program product of claim 28, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to, subsequent to said allocation of said spare data storage drive, post a message indicating use of said spare data storage drive.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein said posted message comprises a notification to a system operator that action may be taken to transfer at least one said spare data storage drive to said pool.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to:

respond to a request to transfer at least one spare data storage drive to said pool, adding at least one said spare data storage drive to said pool, deleting said data storage drive as a spare data storage drive.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to incorporate in said posted message a notification that failure to transfer said data storage drive to said pool will result in future unavailability of spare data storage drives, and wherein said computer program product additionally comprises computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to, upon absence of a request to transfer at least one spare data storage drive to said pool, delete said assignment of at least one of said plurality of library data storage drives as spare data storage drives, such that said assigned spare data storage drives become unassigned.

36. The computer program product of claim 25, additionally comprising computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to, upon indicating said hold, to additionally indicate that a fake response is to be provided in response to said mount.

37. An automated data storage library, coupled to at least one host application, comprising:

a plurality of data storage drives;

a plurality of storage shelves for storing a plurality of portable data storage cartridges;

an accessor robot for transporting said portable data storage cartridges between said storage shelves and said data storage drives;

a robot control for operating said accessor robot; and

a drive resource provider coupled to said robot control, assigning a plurality of said library data storage drives to a pool, and allocating and deallocating said data storage drives from said pool;

to a plurality of virtual storage drives said drive resource provider, upon receiving a request for a data storage drive when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, to the virtual storage drives indicating to said robot control to hold any mount of a portable data storage cartridge relative to said request.

38. The automated data storage library of claim 37, additionally comprising a drive image provider coupled to said drive resource provider, which, upon receiving said request for a data storage drive when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, indicating that said requested data storage drive is currently unavailable to complete any subsequent command requiring a mounted portable data storage cartridge.

39. The automated data storage library of claim 37, wherein said drive resource provider additionally, subsequent to said indication, awaits a deallocation of a data storage drive and demount of any portable data storage cartridge at said deallocated data storage drive, allocates said deallocated data storage drive to said request, and indicates to said robot control to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

40. The automated data storage library of claim 37, wherein said drive resource provider additionally assigns at least one of said plurality of library data storage drives as spare data storage drives, outside of said pool, and, subsequent to said indication, allocates one of said at least one spare data storage drives to said request, and indicating to said robot control to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

41. The automated data storage library of claim 40, wherein said drive resource provider, subsequent to said indication, waits a predetermined time period, and awaits a deallocation of a data storage drive and demount of any portable data storage cartridge at said deallocated data storage drive;

and, if during said predetermined time period said deallocation occurs, allocates said deallocated data storage drive to said request;

else, subsequent to expiration of said time period, allocates said spare data storage drive to said request; and

, upon said allocation of a data storage drive to said request, indicates to said robot control to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

42. The automated data storage library of claim 40, additionally comprising a plurality of virtual libraries responsive to said at least one request for a data storage drive, said library allocating data storage drives of said automated data storage library to said plurality of virtual libraries, at least one of said plurality of virtual libraries having a higher priority than other of said virtual libraries;

and wherein said drive resource provider additionally determines said priority of said virtual library of said request for a data storage drive, and, only if said virtual library is of said higher priority, allocates said spare data storage drive to said request, and indicates to said robot control to release said hold of said mount relative to said request.

43. The automated data storage library of claim 40, wherein said drive resource provider additionally increments a count each instance said request is received when all of said data storage drives of said pool are allocated, compares said incremented count to a predetermined limit, and, upon said incremented count being less than said predetermined limit, allocating said spare data storage drive.

44. The automated data storage library of claim 40, wherein said drive resource provider additionally, subsequent to said allocation of said spare data storage drive, posts a message indicating use of said spare data storage drive.

45. The automated data storage library of claim 44, wherein said drive resource provider posted message comprises a notification to a system operator that action may be taken to transfer at least one said spare data storage drive to said pool.

46. The automated data storage library of claim 45, wherein said drive resource provider additionally responds to a request to transfer at least one spare data storage drive to said pool, adds at least one said spare data storage drive to said pool, deleting said data storage drive as a spare data storage drive.

47. The automated data storage library of claim 46, wherein said drive resource provider posted message additionally comprises a notification that failure to transfer said data storage drive to said pool will result in future unavailability of spare data storage drives, and wherein said drive resource provider, upon absence of a request to transfer at least one spare data storage drive to said pool, deletes said assignment of at least one of said plurality of library data storage drives as spare data storage drives, such that said assigned spare data storage drives become unassigned.

48. The automated data storage library of claim 37, wherein said drive resource provider additionally indicates that a fake completion response is to be provided in response to said mount.