Method and system for selectively deleting stored data
First Claim
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1. A method in a computing system for selectively deleting data stored on a storage medium, the method comprising:
- receiving an instruction to delete at least one selected data file contained on a first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium is a removable, magnetic tape;
identifying in an index associated with the first storage medium a location of the at least one selected data file on the first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium contains at least one data file that precedes at least one selected data file;
transferring from the first storage medium to a second storage medium at least one selected data file and at least one preceding data file; and
transferring back from the second storage medium to the first storage medium the at least one preceding data file but not the at least one selected data file.
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Abstract
A method and system are provided for selectively deleting data stored to storage media, such as a tape, in a network storage system. An instruction to delete selected data is received and the location of the data selected for deletion is identified. The location of the data is obtained by consulting an index of storage data. The selected data is retrieved, together with any other data on the tape that precedes the selected data. The retrieved data, excluding the selected data, is copied to a tape. The index is updated to reflect the changes in the stored data on the tape.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method in a computing system for selectively deleting data stored on a storage medium, the method comprising:
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receiving an instruction to delete at least one selected data file contained on a first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium is a removable, magnetic tape; identifying in an index associated with the first storage medium a location of the at least one selected data file on the first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium contains at least one data file that precedes at least one selected data file; transferring from the first storage medium to a second storage medium at least one selected data file and at least one preceding data file; and transferring back from the second storage medium to the first storage medium the at least one preceding data file but not the at least one selected data file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for selectively deleting data stored on a storage medium, the method comprising:
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receiving and processing an instruction to delete at least one selected data file from a first storage medium; identifying in an index associated with the data file, a location of the at least one selected data file on the first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium contains multiple data files, and wherein the first storage medium comprises magnetic tape storage; transferring from the first storage medium to a second storage medium at least one other data file preceding at least one selected data file; and deleting from the first storage medium the at least one selected data file without deleting the at least one other preceding data file, further comprising; using header and footer data associated with the at least one selected data file in order to determine a starting point or a finishing point on the magnetic tape storage at which the at least one selected data file starts or finishes, respectively; shifting the location of the at least one other preceding data file on the magnetic tape storage to either the starting point or the finishing point. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A computing system for selectively deleting data stored on a first storage medium comprising magnetic tape, the system comprising:
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means for receiving and processing an instruction to delete at least one selected data file stored on the first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium comprises magnetic tape; means for identifying a location of the at least one selected data file on the first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium contains multiple data files; means for transferring from the first storage medium to a second storage medium at least one data file preceding at least one selected data file; means for transferring back from the second storage medium to the first storage medium the transferred preceding data file of the multiple data files; and means for deleting from the first storage medium the at least one selected data file.
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12. An apparatus for selectively deleting data stored on a storage device having a magnetic tape storage medium, the apparatus comprising:
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a storage device having a magnetic tape storage medium; a storage manager for receiving and processing an instruction to delete at least one selected data file from the magnetic tape storage medium, wherein the magnetic tape storage medium contains multiple data files, including at least one selected data file and at least one file that precedes the at least one selected data file; a media management component, coupled to the storage manager, for identifying a location of the at least one selected data file on the magnetic tape storage medium, wherein the media management component is also coupled to another storage device; and a jobs agent, in communication with the storage manager, for transferring from the magnetic tape storage medium to the other storage device the at least one data file that precedes the selected data file;
whereinthe storage device is coupled to the media management component for transferring back from the other storage device to the magnetic tape storage medium the at least one preceding data file. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer readable storage medium storing program code which when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for selectively deleting data stored on a storage medium, the method comprising:
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receiving and processing an instruction to delete at least one selected data file from a first-storage medium comprising magnetic tape; identifying a location of the at least one selected data file on the first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium contains multiple data files, wherein identifying the location includes reviewing an index associated with the first data storage medium; transferring from the first storage medium to a second storage medium at least one other data file that precedes at least one selected data file; and transferring back from the second storage medium to the first storage medium the at least one other preceding data file. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification