Tracking error events relating to data storage drives and/or media of automated data storage library subsystems

• US 7,627,786 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kishi, Gregory Tad, Friauf, Cheryl Marie, Lee, Duke Andy, Bello, Keith Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Maskulinski; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US11/535,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 714/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0727 in a storage system, e.g. in a DASD or network based storage system drivers for digital recording or reproducing units G06F3/06; circuits for error detection or correction within digital recording or reproducing units G11B20/18; for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/076 by exceeding a count or rate limit, e.g. word- or bit count limit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0781 Error filtering or prioritizing based on a policy defined by the user or on a policy defined by a hardware/software module, e.g. according to a severity level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0787 Storage of error reports, e.g. persistent data storage, storage using memory protection

Abstract

With detection of a selected error event involving a data storage drive and data storage media, a subsystem attempts to move the media to another drive, and conduct a similar operation. The subsystem separately tracks successive error events of individual drives and individual media, wherein a complete successful operation breaks the chain of the successive error events; and upon the number of successive error events reaching a threshold, fails the data storage drive or the data storage media. Error events are categorized into:

• • 1) error events before or during a mount of a media into a drive; and
  • 2) error events after a successful mount of a media into a drive; and
    conducts the tracking, comparing and failing steps separately for each of the categories for the drives and the media.

Claims

1. In an automated data storage library subsystem with storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives, and at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives, the method comprising:

detecting the occurrence of selected error events involving a data storage drive and selected error events involving a data storage media;

upon a selected error event involving a data storage media, attempting to move said data storage media to another data storage drive to prevent a retry procedure, and conducting a similar operation to the operation that resulted in said selected error event;

separately tracking successive error events of individual data storage drives and individual data storage media, wherein a complete successful operation of at least one of said data storage drives and said data storage media breaks the chain of said successive error events for said successful at least one data storage drive and said data storage media having a chain of said successive error events;

comparing the number of said successive error events of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, placing at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally:

categorizing said error events involving said data storage drive and said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

conducting said tracking, comparing and placing steps for each of said categories for said data storage drives and said data storage media; and

wherein said breaking of said chain of successive error events applies only to a category of error events to which said complete successful operation belongs.

3. The method of claim 2, additionally:

separately accumulating selected error events regarding individual data storage drives and regarding individual data storage media in each of said categories over a period of time;

comparing the number of said accumulated error events of at least one of a data storage drive and a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said accumulated error events in said category reaching said threshold, placing said at lest one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category.

4. The method of claim 1, additionally:

reducing related errors to a single said selected error event.

5. The method of claim 1, additionally:

storing, in a database, information relating to said selected error events relevant to both a data storage media and a data storage drive, said information describing said data storage media and said data storage drive and said selected error event.

6. In an automated data storage library subsystem with storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives, and at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives, the method comprising:

detecting the occurrence of selected error events involving a data storage drive and selected error events involving a data storage media;

upon a selected error event involving a data storage media, attempting to move said data storage media to another data storage drive, and conducting a similar operation to the operation that resulted in said selected error event;

separately tracking successive error events of individual data storage drives and individual data storage media, wherein a complete successful operation of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media breaks the chain of said successive error events;

comparing the number of said successive error events of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media to a threshold;

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, placing at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category;

additionally;

categorizing said error events involving said data storage drive and said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

conducting said tracking, comparing and placing steps for each of said categories for said data storage drives and said data storage media; and

, additionally;

categorizing said error events into;

A) immediate error events; and

B) non-immediate error events; and

upon isolating at least one of a data storage media and a data storage drive with said immediate error event, placing said isolated at least one of said data storage media and said data storage drive in a failed category; and

conducting said tracking, comparing and placing steps for said non-immediate error events for said at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media involved in said immediate error event with at least one of said failed category data storage media and said failed category data storage drive without considering said immediate error event in said succession or said accumulation of error events.

7. In an automated data storage library subsystem with storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives, and at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives, the method comprising:

detecting the occurrence of selected error events involving a data storage drive and selected error events involving a data storage media;

upon a selected error event involving a data storage media, attempting to move said data storage media to another data storage drive, and conducting a similar operation to the operation that resulted in said selected error event;

separately tracking successive error events of individual data storage drives and individual data storage media, wherein a complete successful operation of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media breaks the chain of said successive error events;

comparing the number of said successive error events of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media to a threshold;

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, placing at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category;

additionally;

categorizing said error events involving said data storage drive and said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

conducting said tracking, comparing and placing steps for each of said categories for said data storage drives and said data storage media;

additionally;

separately accumulating selected error events regarding individual data storage drives and regarding individual data storage media in each of said categories over a period of time;

comparing the number of said accumulated error events of at least one of a data storage drive and a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said accumulated error events in said category reaching said threshold, placing said at lest one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category; and

, additionally;

if error events are related to each other, reduce weighting of said error events in said succession and in said accumulation of said selected error events.

8. In an automated data storage library subsystem with storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives, and at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives, the method comprising:

detecting the occurrence of selected error events involving a data storage drive and selected error events involving a data storage media;

upon a selected error event involving a data storage media, attempting to move said data storage media to another data storage drive, and conducting a similar operation to the operation that resulted in said selected error event;

separately tracking successive error events of individual data storage drives and individual data storage media, wherein a complete successful operation of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media breaks the chain of said successive error events;

comparing the number of said successive error events of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, placing at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category;

and, additionally;

if a data storage drive is removed from said subsystem, clearing said error events of data storage media that occurred at said removed data storage drive.

9. The method of claim 8, additionally:

if a data storage drive is removed from said subsystem and returned, clearing said error events of said removed and returned data storage drive.

10. In an automated data storage library subsystem with storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives, and at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives, the method comprising:

detecting the occurrence of selected error events involving a data storage drive and selected error events involving a data storage media;

upon a selected error event involving a data storage media, attempting to move said data storage media to another data storage drive, and conducting a similar operation to the operation that resulted in said selected error event;

separately tracking successive error events of individual data storage drives and individual data storage media, wherein a complete successful operation of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media breaks the chain of said successive error events;

comparing the number of said successive error events of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, placing at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category;

and, additionally;

if a data storage media is removed from said subsystem, clearing said error events of data storage drive that occurred at said data storage drive with respect to said removed data storage media.

11. The method of claim 10, additionally:

if a data storage media is removed from said subsystem and returned, clearing said error events of said removed and returned data storage media.

12. An automated data storage library subsystem comprising:

storage shelves configured to store data storage media;

a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media;

at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives; and

library control configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events, wherein said breaking of said chain of successive error events applies only to a category of error events to which said complete successful operation belongs;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category.

13. The automated data storage library subsystem of claim 12, wherein said library control is additionally configured to:

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

wherein said breaking of said chain of successive error events applies only to a category of error events to which said complete successful operation belongs;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category.

14. The automated data storage library subsystem of claim 13, wherein said library control is additionally configured to:

reduce related errors to a single said selected error event.

15. The automated data storage library subsystem of claim 13, wherein said library control is additionally configured to:

store, in a database, information relating to said selected error events relevant to both a data storage media and a data storage drive, said information describing said data storage media and said data storage drive and said selected error event.

16. An automated data storage library subsystem comprising:

storage shelves configured to store data storage media;

a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media;

at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives; and

library control configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category; and

wherein said library control is additionally configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category; and

, wherein said library control is additionally configured to;

categorize said error events into;

A) immediate error events; and

B) non-immediate error events; and

upon isolating at least one of a data storage media and a data storage drive with said immediate error event, place said isolated at least one of said data storage media and said data storage drive in a failed category; and

conduct said tracking, comparing and placing steps for said non-immediate error events for said at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media involved in said immediate error event with at least one of said failed category data storage media and said failed category data storage drive without considering said immediate error event in said succession of error events.

17. An automated data storage library subsystem comprising:

storage shelves configured to store data storage media;

a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media;

at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives; and

library control configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category; and

wherein said library control is additionally configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category; and

, wherein said library control is additionally configured to;

separately accumulate selected error events in said categories regarding individual data storage drives and regarding individual data storage media over a period of time;

compare the number of said accumulated error events of at least one of a data storage drive and a data storage media to a threshold; and

upon said number of said accumulated error events reaching said threshold, place said at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category.

18. The automated data storage library subsystem of claim 17, wherein said library control is additionally configured to:

if error events are related to each other, reduce weighting of said error events in said succession and in said accumulation of said selected error events.

19. An automated data storage library subsystem comprising:

storage shelves configured to store data storage media;

a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media;

at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives; and

library control configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category; and

wherein said library control is additionally configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category; and

, wherein said library control is additionally configured to;

if a data storage drive is removed from said subsystem, clear said error events of data storage media that occurred at said removed data storage drive.

20. The automated data storage library subsystem of claim 19, wherein said library control is additionally configured to:

if a data storage drive is removed from said subsystem and returned, clear said error events of said removed and returned data storage drive.

21. An automated data storage library subsystem comprising:

storage shelves configured to store data storage media;

a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media;

at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives; and

library control configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category; and

wherein said library control is additionally configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category; and

, wherein said library control is additionally configured to;

if a data storage media is removed from said subsystem, clear said error events of data storage drive that occurred at said data storage drive with respect to said removed data storage media.

22. The automated data storage library subsystem of claim 21, wherein said library control is additionally configured to:

if a data storage media is removed from said subsystem, clear said error events of said removed and returned data storage media.

23. An automated data storage library subsystem comprising:

storage shelves configured to store data storage media;

a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media;

at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives; and

library control configured to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving a data storage media and error events involving a data storage drive;

upon a selected error event involving a data storage media, attempt to move said data storage media to another data storage drive to prevent a retry procedure, and conduct a similar operation to the operation that resulted in said selected error event;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives, wherein a complete successful operation of at least one of said data storage drives breaks the chain of said successive error events for said successful at least one data storage drive and said data storage media having a chain of successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive to a threshold;

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage media, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category.

24. A computer program product comprising at least one of data storage and memory having computer useable program code stored therein for operating a library control of an automated data storage library subsystem, said subsystem comprising storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media, at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives;

said computer useable program code configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events, wherein said breaking of said chain of successive error events applies only to a category of error events to which said complete successful operation belongs;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said computer useable program code is additionally configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to:

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events, wherein said breaking of said chain of successive error events applies only to a category of error events to which said complete successful operation belongs;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said computer useable program code is additionally configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to:

reduce related errors to a single said selected error event.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said computer useable program code is additionally configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to:

store, in a database, information relating to said selected error events relevant to both a data storage media and a data storage drive, said information describing said data storage media and said data storage drive and said selected error event.

28. A computer program product comprising at least one of data storage and memory having computer useable pro gram code stored therein for operating a library control of an automated data storage library subsystem, said subsystem comprising storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media, at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives;

said computer useable program code configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category; and

, additionally to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category; and

additionally to;

categorize said error events into;

A) immediate error events; and

B) non-immediate error events; and

upon isolating at least one of a data storage media and a data storage drive with said immediate error event, place said isolated at least one of said data storage media and said data storage drive in a failed category; and

conduct said tracking, comparing and placing steps for said non-immediate error events for said at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media involved in said immediate error event with said at least one of said failed category data storage media and said failed category data storage drive without considering said immediate error event in said succession and said accumulation of error events.

29. A computer program product comprising at least one of data storage and memory having computer useable program code stored therein for operating a library control of an automated data storage library subsystem, said subsystem comprising storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media, at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives;

said computer useable program code configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category; and

, additionally to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category; and

, wherein said computer useable program additionally to;

separately accumulate selected error events in said categories regarding individual data storage drives and regarding individual data storage media over a period of time;

compare the number of said accumulated error events of at least one of a data storage drive and a data storage media to a threshold; and

upon said number of said accumulated error events reaching said threshold, place said at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said computer useable program code is additionally configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to:

if error events are related to each other, reduce weighting of said error events in said succession and in said accumulation of said selected error events.

31. A computer program product comprising at least one of data storage and memory having computer useable program code stored therein for operating a library control of an automated data storage library subsystem, said subsystem comprising storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media, at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives;

said computer useable program code configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category; and

, additionally to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category; and

, additionally to;

if a data storage drive is removed from said subsystem, clear said error events of data storage media that occurred at said removed data storage drive.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein said computer useable program code is additionally configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to:

if a data storage drive is removed from said subsystem and returned, clear said error events of said removed and returned data storage drive.

33. A computer program product comprising at least one of data storage and memory having computer useable program code stored therein for operating a library control of an automated data storage library subsystem, said subsystem comprising storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media, at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives;

said computer useable program code configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage drives;

categorize said error events into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category; and

, additionally to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving data storage media;

categorize said error events involving said data storage media into;

1) error events before and during a mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive; and

2) error events after a successful mount of a data storage media into a data storage drive;

track successive error events of individual data storage media in each of said categories, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media with respect to a data storage drive breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media in a category to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category; and

, additionally to;

if a data storage media is removed from said subsystem, clear said error events of data storage drive that occurred at said data storage drive with respect to said removed data storage media.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein said computer useable program code is additionally configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to:

if a data storage media is removed from said subsystem, clear said error events of said removed and returned data storage media.

35. A computer program product comprising at least one of data storage and memory having computer useable program code stored therein for operating a library control of an automated data storage library subsystem, said subsystem comprising storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives configured to mount, demount, read and write data with respect to data storage media, at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives;

and said library control, said computer useable program code configured to, when executed on said library control, cause said library control to;

detect the occurrence of selected error events involving a data storage media and selected error events involving a data storage drive;

upon a selected error event involving a data storage media, attempt to move said data storage media to another data storage drive to prevent a retry procedure, and conduct a similar operation to the operation that resulted in said selected error event;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage drives, wherein a complete successful operation of at least one of said data storage drives breaks the chain of said successive error events for said successful at least one data storage drive having a chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage drive to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage drive in a failed category;

separately track successive error events of individual data storage media, wherein a complete successful operation of said data storage media breaks the chain of said successive error events;

compare the number of said successive error events of a data storage media to a threshold; and

upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, place said data storage media in a failed category.