Support for worm cartridges realized by linear tape file system (LTFS)
First Claim
1. A file system for eliminating the appending of unnecessary data created when a built-in tape in a tape cartridge mounted in a tape drive being used is accessed, to reduce consumption of capacity in a Write Once Read Many (WORM) index partition, the tape cartridge containing a built-in tape divided into two WORM partitions, the history of a plurality of files and metadata including the allocation of one or more recorded files being recorded in one WORM data partition, and metadata being recorded in the WORM index partition, wherein the file system, in response to an access request for a file on a tape cartridge mounted in a tape drive, enables:
- metadata recorded in the WORM index partition to be read;
the read metadata to be written to an index area in local storage;
metadata written to the index area to be used without using the metadata recorded in the WORM index partition in response to an access request to a file;
determination of whether the access request for metadata written in the index area is accompanied by an update of the metadata; and
writing the metadata written to the index area to the WORM index partition when it has been determined that the access request is accompanied by an update of the metadata.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
When a WORM cartridge is formatted for Tape File System (LTFS) in advance, such as prior to shipment, Linear Tape File System Library Edition (LTFS LE) is expanded by software to reduce consumption of the index partition and to support elimination of the appending of unnecessary data. More specifically, instead of recording metadata in the index partition during normal unmounting, the metadata is recorded in separate local storage such as on hard disk drive (HDD), and the index partition is updated only when the cartridge is ejected from the library. In this way, the present invention is able to significantly reduce the frequency of index partition updates. Because an update occurs only when the user intentionally ejects a cartridge, overflow of the index partition before overflow of the data partition can be prevented.
12 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A file system for eliminating the appending of unnecessary data created when a built-in tape in a tape cartridge mounted in a tape drive being used is accessed, to reduce consumption of capacity in a Write Once Read Many (WORM) index partition, the tape cartridge containing a built-in tape divided into two WORM partitions, the history of a plurality of files and metadata including the allocation of one or more recorded files being recorded in one WORM data partition, and metadata being recorded in the WORM index partition, wherein the file system, in response to an access request for a file on a tape cartridge mounted in a tape drive, enables:
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metadata recorded in the WORM index partition to be read; the read metadata to be written to an index area in local storage; metadata written to the index area to be used without using the metadata recorded in the WORM index partition in response to an access request to a file; determination of whether the access request for metadata written in the index area is accompanied by an update of the metadata; and writing the metadata written to the index area to the WORM index partition when it has been determined that the access request is accompanied by an update of the metadata. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
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Original AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
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InventorsHasegawa, Tohru, Nagura, Hironobu, Ozeki, Kazuhiro
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Primary Examiner(s)DWIVEDI, MAHESH H
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Application NumberUS15/412,255Publication NumberTime in Patent Office414 DaysField of Search707822US Class CurrentCPC Class CodesG06F 16/156 Query results presentationG06F 16/181 providing write once read m...
