Automated data storage library magnetic tape diagnostic

• US 7,116,506 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mojica, Arturo Avila
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, KIN C
• Application Number:
  US11/208,307
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 360/71
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/06 by sensing auxiliary features on record carriers or containers, e.g. to stop machine near the end of a tape
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/087 by sensing recorded signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6835 the cassettes being transferred to a fixed recorder or player using a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1816 Testing
• 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 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

Diagnostic information is provided in an automated data storage library which stores magnetic tape data storage cartridges. Uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridges are identified; a diagnostic scan is conducted by a drive of the library of the servo tracks on magnetic tape of an identified cartridge using write criteria for a diagnostic test; the results of the diagnostic test are logged by the drive; and the logged results of the diagnostic test are collected at the library controller.

Claims

1. An automated data storage library comprising:

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

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

at least one cartridge label sensor;

at least one library controller configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to transport said magnetic tape data storage cartridges, and to operate said at least one cartridge label sensor to read a label of a magnetic tape data storage cartridge; and

a plurality of magnetic tape data storage drives configured to detect and track follow servo tracks on magnetic tape; and

configured to read and write data with respect to magnetic tape data storage cartridges;

wherein said at least one magnetic tape data storage drive is additionally configured to A) identify an uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridge;

B) conduct a diagnostic test of said servo tracks on magnetic tape of said identified magnetic tape data storage cartridge using write criteria for said diagnostic test;

C) log diagnostic information resulting from said diagnostic test employing information read from said label to identify said diagnostic information as that of said magnetic tape data storage cartridge; and

D) provide said logged diagnostic information to said at least one library controller.

2. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic tape data storage drive is additionally configured to maintain a comprehensive history of diagnostic information resulting from diagnostic tests using write criteria, for a plurality of said identified uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridges.

3. The automated data storage library of claim 2, wherein said at least one library controller is additionally configured to collect said comprehensive histories as maintained by said plurality of magnetic tape data storage drives.

4. The automated data storage library of claim 3, wherein said at least one library controller is additionally configured to gather information from said collected histories and to provide said gathered information for analysis.

5. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein a processor is configured to provide an inventory of magnetic tape data storage cartridges, identifying active cartridges and a scratch pool, and to identify cartridges that are input into said library;

and is further configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to provide said input cartridges to said at least one magnetic tape data storage drive to initiate said diagnostic test of an uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridge before said magnetic tape data storage cartridge is added to said inventory scratch pool.

6. A system configured to provide diagnostic information regarding magnetic tape in an automated data storage library, said automated data storage library comprising a plurality of storage shelves configured to store magnetic tape data storage cartridges;

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

at least one cartridge label sensor; and

a plurality of magnetic tape data storage drives configured to read and write data with respect to magnetic tape data storage cartridges, and configured to detect and track follow servo tracks on magnetic tape;

said system comprising;

at least one library controller configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to transport said magnetic tape data storage cartridges, and configured to operate said at least one cartridge label sensor to read a label of an identified input magnetic tape data storage cartridge; and

a drive controller of said at least one magnetic tape data storage drive configured to A) identify an uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridge;

B) conduct a diagnostic test of said servo tracks on magnetic tape of said identified magnetic tape data storage cartridge using write criteria for said diagnostic test;

C) log diagnostic information resulting from said diagnostic test employing information read from said label to identify said diagnostic information as that of said magnetic tape data storage cartridge; and

D) provide said logged to said at least one library controller.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said drive controller is additionally configured to maintain a comprehensive history of diagnostic information resulting from diagnostic tests using write criteria, for a plurality of said identified input magnetic tape data storage cartridges.

8. The system of claim 7, additionally comprising a plurality of said drive controllers, at least one of said drive controllers associated with each of said plurality of magnetic tape data storage drives;

and wherein said at least one library controller is additionally configured to collect said comprehensive histories as maintained by drive controllers of said plurality of magnetic tape data storage drives.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one library controller is additionally configured to gather information from said collected histories and to provide said gathered information for analysis.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein a processor is configured to provide an inventory of magnetic tape data storage cartridges, identifying active cartridges and a scratch pool, and to identify cartridges that are input into said library;

and is further configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to provide said input cartridges to said at least one magnetic tape data storage drive to initiate said diagnostic test of an uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridge before said magnetic tape data storage cartridge is added to said inventory scratch pool.

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

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

at least one cartridge label sensor; and

a plurality of magnetic tape data storage drives configured to read and write data with respect to magnetic tape data storage cartridges, and configured to detect and track follow servo tracks on magnetic tape; and

at least one library controller configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to transport said magnetic tape data storage cartridges, and to operate said at least one cartridge label sensor to read labels of magnetic tape data storage cartridges;

said method comprising the steps of;

identifying uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridges;

conducting a diagnostic test of said servo tracks on magnetic tape of said identified magnetic tape data storage cartridge using write criteria for said diagnostic test;

logging diagnostic information resulting from said diagnostic test employing information read from said label to identify said diagnostic information as that of said magnetic tape data storage cartridge; and

collecting said logged diagnostic information resulting from said diagnostic test at said at least one library controller.

12. The method of claim 11, additionally comprising the step of maintaining a comprehensive history of diagnostic information resulting from diagnostic tests using write criteria, for a plurality of said identified magnetic tape data storage cartridges.

13. The method of claim 12, additionally comprising the steps of gathering information from said maintained comprehensive history;

and providing said gathered information for analysis.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein a processor is configured to provide an inventory of magnetic tape data storage cartridges, identifying active cartridges and a scratch pool, and to identify cartridges that are input into said library;

and wherein said method additionally comprises operating said at least one robot accessor to provide said input cartridges to said at least one magnetic tape data storage drive to initiate said diagnostic test of an uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridge before said magnetic tape data storage cartridge is added to said inventory scratch pool.

15. A computer program product embodied on at least one computer readable medium, configured to be usable with at least one programmable computer processor to provide diagnostic information regarding magnetic tape in an automated data storage library, said automated data storage library comprising a plurality of storage shelves configured to store magnetic tape data storage cartridges;

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

at least one cartridge label sensor; and

a plurality of magnetic tape data storage drives configured to read and write data with respect to magnetic tape data storage cartridges, and configured to detect and track follow servo tracks on magnetic tape; and

at least one library controller configured to operate said at least one robot accessor to transport said magnetic tape data storage cartridges, and to operate said at least one cartridge label sensor to read labels of said magnetic tape data storage cartridges;

said computer program product comprising;

computer readable program code causing said at least one programmable computer processor to identify uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridges;

computer readable program code causing said at least one programmable computer processor to conduct a diagnostic test of said servo tracks on magnetic tape of said identified magnetic tape data storage cartridge using write criteria for said diagnostic test;

computer readable program code causing said at least one programmable computer processor to log diagnostic information resulting from said diagnostic test employing information read from said label to identify said diagnostic information as that of said magnetic tape data storage cartridge;

computer readable program code causing said at least one programmable computer processor to collect said logged diagnostic information resulting from said diagnostic test at said at least one library controller.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, additionally comprising computer readable program code causing said at least one programmable computer processor to maintain a comprehensive history of diagnostic information resulting from diagnostic tests using write criteria, for a plurality of said identified magnetic tape data storage cartridges.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, additionally comprising computer readable program code causing said at least one programmable computer processor to gather information from said maintained comprehensive history;

and provide said gathered information for analysis.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein a processor is additionally configured to provide an inventory of magnetic tape data storage cartridges, identifying active cartridges and a scratch pool, and identifying cartridges that are input into said library;

and wherein said computer program product additionally comprises computer readable program code causing said at least one programmable computer processor to operate said at least one robot accessor to provide said input cartridges to said at least one magnetic tape data storage drive to initiate said diagnostic test of an uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridge before said magnetic tape data storage cartridge is added to said inventory scratch pool.