SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MEDIA MANAGEMENT, SUCH AS MANAGEMENT OF MEDIA TO AND FROM A MEDIA STORAGE LIBRARY, INCLUDING REMOVABLE MEDIA

• US 20130304985A1
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kottomtharayil, Rajiv, Vijayan, Manoj Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system and method for determining media to be exported out of a media library is described. In some examples, the system determines a media component to be exported, determines the media component is in the media library for a specific process, and exports the media component after the process is completed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when implemented by a component of a data storage system, perform a method to facilitate physical transfer of media components with respect to an automated data storage library, wherein the automated data storage library includes (i) multiple data storage components, (ii) at least one device for at least reading data from the data storage components, (iii) a robot for automatically moving data storage components within the automated data storage library, and (iv) a library controller coupled to the device and the robot, wherein the method comprises:

receiving a signal indicating that a particular media component is to be physically retrieved from a remote location and to be imported into the automated data storage library, wherein the particular media component is to be used by the automated data storage library for a predetermined data read or data write operation;

automatically sending a message to the remote location, wherein the message identifies the particular media component, and wherein the message includes a request to physically send the particular media component for import to the automated data storage library; and

,

instructing the automated data storage library or the data storage system to not export the particular media component until the predetermined data read or data write operation has been performed.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

identifying the remote location storing the particular media component;

acknowledging a successful import of the particular media component;

indicating when the predetermined read or write operation has been performed; and

upon receiving the indication, exporting the particular media component.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the particular media component is a magnetic tape.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the particular media component is an optical disk.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the particular media component is a USB drive.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the remote location is an off site media component storage facility.

7. A method in a computing system for determining media to be exported out of a media library, the method comprising:

determining that a media component contains stored data from a first time;

wherein the first time is earlier than a second time, the second time being a threshold time for keeping media within the media library;

determining that the media component is in the media library for a specific process; and

when the specific process is completed, determining that the media component is to be exported out of the media library.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the media component is to be exported out of the media library is performed automatically.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the media component is to be exported out of the media library comprises receiving a user input from a system administrator.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the media component is in the media library for a specific process comprises referring to a database of recalled media components.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the media component is in the media library for a specific process comprises receiving an indication from a system administrator.

12. A method of automatically performing a restore operation, the method comprising:

identifying a media component to be recalled in order to perform the restore operation;

automatically recalling the media component from an off site storage location,

wherein the off site storage location houses the media component;

automatically recovering data stored on the media component;

automatically determining that the data recovery is complete; and

only after the recovery is complete, sending the media component back to the off site storage location.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

verifying the recalled media component as the identified media component.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

automatically comparing the recalled media component to the identified media component; and

automatically recovering data only if the comparison determines that the recalled media component is the identified media component.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically sending the media component comprises automatically generating shipping materials to accompany the media component.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically sending the media component comprises automatically alerting the off site storage location.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically recalling the media component comprises automatically sending a message to the off site storage location requesting the media component.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying a media component comprises receiving a user input.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying a media component comprises receiving an automatically generated recall flag.

20. One or more computer memories collectively containing a data structure, the data structure being a list of media contained within a media library and recalled to the media library and containing one or more entries, each entry containing medium identification information, the medium identification information identifying the medium, and system use information, the system use information indicating a restore operation to be performed using the medium.

21. A system for determining when to transfer physical media out of a media library, the system comprising:

a time determination component that determines a date value associated with a physical medium or data stored on the physical medium;

a restore component that determines if the physical medium is in the media library for a data transfer operation;

an action component that, in response to a determination that the physical medium is in the media library for a restore operation, performs an action indicating that the physical medium is in the media library for the data transfer operation; and

a export component that exports the physical medium from the media library after receiving information from both the time determination component and the action component.

22. A system for performing a restore operation, the system comprising:

means for identifying a media component to be recalled in order to perform the restore operation;

means for recalling the media component from an off site storage location, wherein the off site storage location houses the media component;

means for recovering data stored on the recalled media component;

means for determining that the data recovery is complete; and

only after the recovery is complete, means for sending the media component back to the off site storage location.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for verifying the recalled media component as the identified media component, wherein the means for verifying comprise a scanner.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for verifying the recalled media component as the identified media component, wherein the means for verifying comprise an RFID reader.