Method to validate system configuration in a data storage and retrieval system
First Claim
1. A method to evaluate the performance of input/output devices and interconnecting buses disposed in a data storage and retrieval system, wherein said data storage and retrieval system comprises a host computer comprising a first host bus adapter and a second host bus adapter, first information comprising one or more valid system configurations, and second information comprising an apparent system configuration, said method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a library external to said host computer, wherein said library comprises a plurality of input/output devices, a plurality of data storage media disposed in a plurality of data storage cartridges which are stored in a plurality of storage slots, and one or more accessors to retrieve, transport, and insert, said plurality of data storage cartridges in said plurality of input/output devices,supplying a first bus connecting said first host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices;
supplying a second bus connecting said second host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices;
providing third information via said first bus to one of said plurality of input/output devices, wherein said third information comprises a series of connect commands interspersed with a series of disconnect commands, wherein said connect commands are selected from the group consisting of read buffer commands and write buffer commands;
receiving fourth information via said first bus from said one of said plurality of input/output devices, wherein said fourth information comprises device status information, transmitted data, and bus access requests;
evaluating-the performance of said first bus;
comparing the performance of said first bus with nominal performance specifications for said first bus;
when determining that the performance of said first bus is not acceptable,displaying an error message on said host computer;
when determining that the performance of said first bus is acceptable, placing said data storage and retrieval system in a ready state.
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Abstract
A data storage and retrieval system is disclosed which includes encoded information regarding known valid system configurations, nominal performance specifications for various I/O devices, and nominal performance specifications for various interconnecting communication buses. A method is disclosed to validate the apparent configuration of the data storage and retrieval system. A method is disclosed to evaluate the performance of each I/O device and interconnecting bus disposed within the data storage and retrieval system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method to evaluate the performance of input/output devices and interconnecting buses disposed in a data storage and retrieval system, wherein said data storage and retrieval system comprises a host computer comprising a first host bus adapter and a second host bus adapter, first information comprising one or more valid system configurations, and second information comprising an apparent system configuration, said method comprising the steps of:
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supplying a library external to said host computer, wherein said library comprises a plurality of input/output devices, a plurality of data storage media disposed in a plurality of data storage cartridges which are stored in a plurality of storage slots, and one or more accessors to retrieve, transport, and insert, said plurality of data storage cartridges in said plurality of input/output devices, supplying a first bus connecting said first host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices; supplying a second bus connecting said second host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices; providing third information via said first bus to one of said plurality of input/output devices, wherein said third information comprises a series of connect commands interspersed with a series of disconnect commands, wherein said connect commands are selected from the group consisting of read buffer commands and write buffer commands; receiving fourth information via said first bus from said one of said plurality of input/output devices, wherein said fourth information comprises device status information, transmitted data, and bus access requests; evaluating-the performance of said first bus; comparing the performance of said first bus with nominal performance specifications for said first bus; when determining that the performance of said first bus is not acceptable, displaying an error message on said host computer; when determining that the performance of said first bus is acceptable, placing said data storage and retrieval system in a ready state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A data storage and retrieval system a computer readable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein for evaluating the performance of input/output devices and interconnecting buses disposed within a data storage and retrieval system, wherein said data storage and retrieval system comprises a host computer comprising a first host bus adapter and a second host bus adapter, and a library external to said host computer comprising a plurality of input/output devices, a plurality of data storage media disposed in a plurality of data storage cartridges which are stored in a plurality of storage slots, and one or more accessors to retrieve, transport, and insert, said plurality of data storage cartridges in said plurality of input/output devices, said data storage and retrieval system further comprising a first bus connecting said first host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices, a second bus connecting said second host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices, first information comprising one or more valid system configurations, and second information comprising an apparent system configuration, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:
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providing to one of said plurality of input/output devices third information via said first bus, wherein said third information comprises a series of connect commands interspersed with a series of disconnect commands, wherein said connect commands are selected from the group consisting of read buffer commands and write buffer commands; receiving from said one of said plurality of input/output devices fourth information via said first bus; analyzing said fourth information, wherein said fourth information comprises device status information, transmitted data, and bus access requests; evaluating the performance of said first bus; comparing the performance of said first bus with nominal performance specifications for said first bus; when determining that the performance of said first bus is not acceptable, displaying an error message on said host computer; when determining that the performance of said first bus is acceptable, placing said data storage and retrieval system in a ready state. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product encoded to an information storage medium and having computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer program product being usable with a programmable computer processor for evaluating the performance of input/output devices and interconnecting buses disposed within a data storage and retrieval system, wherein said data storage and retrieval system comprises a host computer comprising a first host bus adapter and a second host bus adapter, and a library external to said host computer comprising a plurality of input/output devices, a plurality of data storage media disposed in a plurality of data storage cartridges which are stored in a plurality of storage slots, and one or more accessors to retrieve, transport, and insert, said plurality of data storage cartridges in said plurality of input/output devices, said data storage and retrieval system further comprising a first bus to each of said plurality of input/output devices, a second bus connecting said second host bus adapter to each of said plurality of input/output devices, first information comprising one or more valid system configurations, and second information comprising an apparent system configuration, comprising:
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computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to provide third information via said first bus to one of said plurality of input/output devices, wherein said third information comprises a series of connect commands interspersed with a series of disconnect commands, wherein said connect commands are selected from the group consisting of read buffer commands and write buffer commands; computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to receive fourth information via said first bus from said one of said plurality of input/output devices, wherein said fourth information comprises device status information, transmitted data, and bus access requests; computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to compare the performance of said first bus with nominal performance specifications for said first bus; computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to determine that the performance of said first bus is not acceptable and to display an error message on said host computer; computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to determine that the performance of said first bus is acceptable and to place said data storage and retrieval system in a ready state. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification