Apparatus, system, and method for automatically mapping a tape library system

• US 7,962,645 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dain, Joseph Whitney, James, Raymond Anthony, Luciani, David, Fisher, James Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Ismail; Shawki S
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUQ, FARZANA B
• Application Number:
  US11/047,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,325 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/226, 709/238, 709/245, 711/4, 711/111, 711/114, 711/162, 711/202, 360/69, 360/71, 360/92.1
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0662 Virtualisation aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/689 Control of the cassette changing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically and transparently mapping tape drives within tape libraries to IP addresses. In one embodiment, the tape library includes, a DHCP server, a LAN to serial switch, and a library manager configured with the necessary modules to map the tape library devices to the proper IP addresses. The entire process may be transparent to users. The result is that the tape library is configured with the proper IP addressing without costly, time-consuming, and error-prone manual intervention. The tape library can be configured more quickly with accurate IP addressing and is able to operate efficiently and properly.

Claims

1. A method for automatically mapping a tape library system, the method comprising:

establishing communication with a device within an unidentified frame in a tape library system, the unidentified frame having a Media Access Control (“

MAC”

) address associated therewith, the unidentified frame comprising a hardware frame holding one or more devices in one or more physical slots;

distinguishing the unidentified frame by sequentially determining characteristics of devices held in the unidentified frame until characteristics are determined that distinguish the unidentified frame from other frames in the tape library system, the characteristics comprising characteristics that facilitate frame identification including a type of devices held in the unidentified frame and a quantity of devices held in the unidentified frame; and

associating a persistent IP address with the MAC address in response to distinguishing the unidentified frame.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprise a physical location of the device in the tape library.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprise a device model number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprise a device type.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the characteristics comprise a device quantity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication comprises associating a temporary IP address with the frame.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication comprises communicating through a hub.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication comprises communicating through a LAN switch.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the MAC address is the MAC address of the hub.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a tape drive.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a termination device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the characteristics comprise a physical location of the device in the tape library.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the characteristics comprise a device model number.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the characteristics comprise a device type.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the characteristics comprise a device quantity.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the IP address assignment module is further configured to associate a temporary IP address with the frame.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the MAC address is the MAC address of the hub.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device is a tape drive.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device is a termination device.

12. An apparatus for automatically mapping a tape library system, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of software modules, the plurality of software modules comprising;

a communication module configured to establish communication with a device within an unidentified frame in a tape library system, the unidentified frame having a Media Access Control (“

MAC”

) address associated therewith, the unidentified frame comprising a hardware frame holding one or more devices in one or more physical slots,

an identification module configured to distinguish the unidentified frame by sequentially determining characteristics of devices held in the unidentified frame until characteristics are determined that distinguish the unidentified frame from other frames in the tape library system, the characteristics comprising characteristics that facilitate frame identification including a type of devices held in the unidentified frame and a quantity of devices held in the unidentified frame, and

an IP address assignment module configured to associate a persistent IP address with the MAC address in response to distinguishing the unidentified frame; and

a processor configured to execute the plurality of software modules.

21. A system for automatically mapping a tape library system, the system comprising:

a library manager configured to establish communication with a device within an unidentified frame in a tape library system, the unidentified frame having a Media Access Control (“

MAC”

) address associated therewith, the unidentified frame comprising a hardware frame holding one or more devices in one or more physical slots;

the library manager configured to distinguish the unidentified frame by sequentially determining characteristics of devices held in the unidentified frame until characteristics are determined that distinguish the unidentified frame from other frames in the tape library system, the characteristics comprising characteristics that facilitate frame identification including a type of devices held in the unidentified frame and a quantity of devices held in the unidentified frame;

the library manager further configured to associate a persistent IP address with the MAC address in response to distinguishing the unidentified frame;

a robotic device configured to mount a cartridge in a drive; and

a DHCP server configured to assign IP addresses to a switching device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of a device model number, a device type, a device quantity, and a physical location of the device within the unidentified frame.