Method to transfer information between data storage devices

• US 7,159,140 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yardy, Raymond, Greco, Paul M., Karp, James M., Swanson, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzo; Bryce P.
• Application Number:
  US10/645,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 714/7, 714/42
• US Class Current: 714/6.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0614 Improving the reliability of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/68 Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements

Abstract

A method to transfer information between data storage devices. The method provides an information storage assembly comprising a frame, a memory device disposed on that frame, information written to that memory device, a power supply removeably attached to the frame, and a first data storage device comprising a first identity removeably attached the frame. The method writes first configuration information to the memory device. If the method detects an error in the first data storage device, then the method removes the first data storage device from the frame. The method further provides a replacement data storage device, removeably attaches that replacement data storage device to the frame, and determines if the replacement device uses the first configuration information. If the replacement device uses the first configuration information, then the method provides the first configuration information to the replacement data storage device from the memory device.

Claims

1. A method to transfer information between data storage devices, comprising the steps of:

providing an information storage assembly comprising a frame, a memory device disposed on said frame, information written to said memory device, a power supply removeably attached to said frame, and a first data storage device comprising a first identity removeably attached to said frame;

writing first configuration information from said first data storage device to said memory device;

detecting an error in said first data storage device;

removing said first data storage device from said frame;

providing a replacement data storage device;

removeably attaching said replacement data storage device to said frame;

determining if said replacement data storage device utilizes said first configuration information;

operative if said replacement data storage device uses said first configuration information, providing said first configuration information to said replacement data storage device from said memory device;

writing second configuration information to said memory device;

determining if said replacement data storage device uses said second configuration information;

operative if said replacement data storage device uses said second configuration information, providing said second configuration information to said replacement data storage device;

writing third configuration information to said memory device;

determining if said replacement data storage device uses said third configuration information;

operative if said replacement data storage device uses said third configuration information, providing said third configuration information to said replacement data storage device;

operative if said replacement data storage devices does not utilize said first configuration information or said second configuration information or said third configuration information, writing configuration information from said replacement data storage device to said memory disposed in the information storage assembly.

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

determining if an identifier is to be assigned to said replacement data storage device;

operative if an identifier is to be assigned to said replacement data storage device;

providing an identifier; and

assigning said identifier to said replacement data storage device.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein to transfer information from a first data storage device to a replacement data storage device, wherein said first data storage device is removeably disposed in an information storage assembly comprising a frame, a memory device disposed on said frame, information written to said memory device, a power supply removeably attached to said frame, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:

writing first configuration information from said first data storage device to said memory device;

determining if said replacement data storage device utilizes said first configuration information;

operative if said replacement data storage device uses said first configuration information, providing said first configuration information to said replacement data storage device from said memory device after said first data storage device has been removed and said replacement data storage device removeably attached to said frame;

writing second configuration information to said memory device;

determining if said replacement data storage device uses said second configuration information;

operative if said replacement data storage device uses said second configuration information, providing said second configuration information to said replacement data storage device;

writing third configuration information to said memory device;

determining if said replacement data storage device uses said third configuration information;

operative if said replacement data storage device uses said third configuration information, providing said third configuration information to said replacement data storage device;

operative if said replacement data storage devices does not utilize said first configuration information or said second configuration information or said third configuration information, writing configuration information from said replacement data storage device to said memory disposed in the information storage assembly.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein to transfer information from a first data storage device to a replacement data storage device, wherein said first data storage device is removeably disposed in an information storage assembly comprising a frame, a memory device disposed on said frame, information written to said memory device, a power supply removeably attached to said frame, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:

writing first configuration information from said first data storage device to said memory device;

determining if said replacement data storage device utilizes said first configuration information;

operative if said replacement data storage device uses said first configuration information, providing said first configuration information to said replacement data storage device from said memory device after said first data storage device has been removed and said replacement data storage device removeably attached to said frame;

determining if an identifier is to be assigned to said replacement data storage device;

operative if an identifier is to be assigned to said replacement data storage device;

providing an identifier; and

assigning said identifier to said replacement data storage device.

5. A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having computer readable program code embodied therein method to transfer information from a first data storage device to a replacement data storage device, wherein said first data storage device is removeably disposed in an information storage assembly comprising a frame, a memory device disposed on said frame, information written to said memory device, a power OF supply removeably attached to said frame, comprising:

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to write first configuration information from said first data storage device to said memory device;

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to detect an error in said first data storage device;

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to provide said first configuration information to a replacement data storage device from said memory device after said first data storage device has been removed and said replacement data storage device removeably attached to said frame

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to determine if said replacement data storage device uses said second configuration information;

computer readable program code which, if said replacement data storage device uses said second configuration information, causes said programmable computer processor to provide said second configuration information to said replacement data storage device

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to determine if said replacement data storage device uses said third configuration information;

computer readable program code which, if said replacement data storage device uses said third configuration information, causes said programmable computer processor to provide said third configuration information to said replacement data storage device;

computer readable program code which, if said replacement data storage devices does not utilize said first configuration information or said second configuration information or said third configuration information, causes said programmable computer processor to write configuration information from said replacement data storage device to said memory disposed in the information storage assembly.

6. A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having computer readable program code embodied therein method to transfer information from a first data storage device to a replacement data storage device, wherein said first data storage device is removeably disposed in an information storage assembly comprising a frame, a memory device disposed on said frame, information written to said memory device, a power supply removeably attached to said frame, comprising:

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to write first configuration information from said first data storage device to said memory device;

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to detect an error in said first data storage device;

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to provide said first configuration information to a replacement data storage device from said memory device after said first data storage device has been removed and said replacement data storage device removeably attached to said frame

computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to determine if an identifier is to be assigned to said replacement data storage device;

computer readable program code which, if an identifier is to be assigned to said replacement data storage device, causes said programmable computer processor to assign an identifier to said replacement data storage device.