Library virtualisation module

• US 7,831,575 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgeworks Limited
• Original Assignee: Bridge Works Limited
• Inventors: Trossell, David Paul, Dauchot, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chojnacki; Mellissa M
• Application Number:
  US10/208,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,024 Days
• Field of Search: 395 80- 84, 395/182.04, 395/275, 711/4, 711/112, 707 1- 10, 707/104, 707/3
• US Class Current: 707/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0626 Reducing size or complexity of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox

Abstract

A library virtualisation module (LVM) 13 is disclosed, the LVM being configured to connect first and second hosts 11, 12 to a library 14. The LVM comprises least two host input/outputs, each for connection to a respective host; and a library input/output, for connection to the library 14. The LVM 13 is arranged to modify requests received at its host input/outputs and to provide modified requests to the library input/output in such a way as to divide resources of the library 14 between the hosts 11, 12 without requiring unmodified requests to take into account the division of resources.

Claims

1. A library virtualization module (LVM) comprising:

at least first and second bidirectional host input/output, each for connection to a respective associated one of at least first and second hosts; and

a bidirectional library input/output, for connection to a library, said library having resources divisible into at least first and second divisions of resources,

a processor comprising instruction for causing the LVM to;

divide said resources of said library between said at least first and second hosts to allocate a first division of resources to said first host and to allocate a second division of resources to said second host;

receive Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) commands at said at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs;

receive a first SCSI command at the first bidirectional host input/output, the first SCSI command relating to a resource outside of the first division of resources;

modify the first SCSI command to provide a modified SCSI command so that the only resources to which the modified SCSI command relates are said first division of resources of said library;

provide said modified SCSI command to said bidirectional library input/output;

receive at said bidirectional library input/output library resource information comprising one of;

a) address information relating to library resources, b) information quantifying the library resources, and c) address information relating to library resources and information quantifying the library resources,

modify said library resource information to provide modified information, and provide the resulting modified information to one of said at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs;

record a unit attention signal received at said bidirectional library input/output following recording of said unit attention signal, receive an access request at said first bidirectional host input/output;

supply data representative of said unit attention condition to said first bidirectional host input/outputs in response to receiving said access request at said first bidirectional host input/output, following recording of said unit attention signal receive an access request at said second bidirectional host input/output;

supply data representative of said unit attention signal to said second bidirectional host input/output in response to receiving said access request at said second bidirectional host input/output; and

delete said unit attention signal subsequent to supplying said data representative of said unit attention signal to both of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

2. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 1, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to modify absolute addresses of resources of said library according to said at least first and second divisions of the resources.

3. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 1, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to queue SCSI commands received at said bidirectional host input/outputs and to pass queued SCSI commands to the bidirectional library input/output only on a determination that a previous SCSI command has been executed.

4. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second bidirectional library input/output.

5. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 4, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to facilitate mirroring of data received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

6. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 4, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to facilitate data splicing of data received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

7. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 1, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to block library reset SCSI commands received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

8. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 1, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to block library initialize SCSI commands received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

9. A method using a processor comprising:

providing at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs, each for connection to a respective associated one of at least first and second hosts;

an providing a bidirectional library input/output, for connection to a library, said library having resources divisible into at least first and second divisions of resources, providing a library virtualization module (LVM), the LVM;

dividing said resources of said library between said at least first and second hosts to allocate a first division of resources to said first host and to allocate a second division of resources to said second host;

receiving Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) commands at said at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs;

receiving a first SCSI command at the first bidirectional host input/output, the first SCSI command relating to a resource outside of the first division of resources;

modifying the first SCSI command, the only resources to which the modified first SCSI command relates being said first division of resources of said library;

providing said modified SCSI command to said bidirectional library input/output;

receiving at said bidirectional library input/output library resource information comprising one of;

a) address information relating to library resources,

b) information quantifying the library resources, and

c) address information relating to library resources and information quantifying the library resources, modifying said library resources information and providing the resulting modified information to one of said at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs;

recording a unit attention signal received at said bidirectional library input/output following recording of said unit attention signal receiving an access request at said first bidirectional host input/output;

supplying data representative of said unit attention signal to said first bidirectional host input/output in response to receiving said access request at said first bidirectional host input/output, following said recording of said unit attention signal receiving an access request at said second bidirectional host input/output;

supplying data representative of said unit attention signal to said second bidirectional host input/output in response to said receiving said access request at said second bidirectional host input/output; and

deleting said unit attention signal subsequent to supplying said data representative of said unit attention signal to both of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising modifying absolute addresses of resources of said library according to said at least first and second divisions of the resources.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising queuing SCSI commands received at said bidirectional host input/outputs and passing queued SCSI commands to the bidirectional library input/output only on a determination that a previous SCSI command has been executed.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising providing a second bidirectional library input/output.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising facilitating mirroring of data received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising facilitating data splicing of data received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising blocking library reset SCSI commands received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising blocking library initialize SCSI commands received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

17. A library virtualization module (LVM) comprising:

at least first and second bidirectional host input/output means, each for connection to a respective associated one of at least first and second host means; and

a bidirectional library input/output means, for connection to a library, said library having resources divisible into at least first and second divisions of resources, a processor comprising instructions for causing the LVM to;

divide said resources of said library between said at least first and second host means to allocate a first division of resources to said first host means and to allocate a second division of resources to said second host means;

receive Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) commands at said at least first and second bidirectional host input/output means;

receive a first SCSI command at the first bidirectional host input/output means, the first SCSI command relating to a resource outside of the first division of resources;

modify the first SCSI command to provide a modified SCSI command so that the only resources to which the modified SCSI command relates are said first division of resources of said library;

provide said modified SCSI command to said bidirectional library input/output means;

receive at said bidirectional library input/output means library resource information comprising one of;

a) address information relating to library resources

b) information quantifying the library resources, and

c) address information relating to library resources and information quantifying the library resources, modify said library resource information to provide modified information, and provide the resulting modified information to one of said at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs means; and

record a unit attention signal received at said bidirectional library input/output means;

following said recording of said unit attention signal receive an access request at said first bidirectional host input/output means;

supply data representative of said unit attention signal to said first bidirectional host input/output means in response to receiving said access request at said first

bidirectional host input/output means, following said recording of said unit attention signal receive an access request at said second bidirectional host input/output means;

supply data representative of said unit attention signal to said second bidirectional host input/output means in response to said receiving said access request at said second bidirectional host input/output means; and

deleting said unit attention signal subsequent to supplying said data representative of said unit attention signal to both of said first and second bidirectional host input/output means.

18. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 17, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to modify absolute addresses of resources of said library according to said at least first and second divisions of the resources.

19. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 17, the electronically readable medium processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to queue SCSI commands received at said bidirectional host input/output means and to pass queued SCSI commands to the bidirectional library input/output means only on a determination that a previous SCSI command has been executed.

20. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a second bidirectional library input/output means.

21. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 20, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to facilitate mirroring of data received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/output means.

22. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 20, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to facilitate data splicing of data received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/output means.

23. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 17, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to block library reset SCSI commands received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/output means.

24. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 17, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to block library initialize SCSI commands received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/output means.

25. A library virtualization module (LVM) comprising:

at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs, each for connection to a respective associated one of at least first and second hosts; and

a bidirectional library input/output, for connection to a library, said library having resources divisible into at least first and second divisions of resources

a processor comprising instructions for causing the LVM to;

divide said resources of said library between said at least first and second hosts to allocate a first division of resources to said first host and to allocate a second division of resources to said second host;

receive Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) commands at said at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs;

receive a first SCSI command at the first bidirectional host input/output, the first SCSI command relating to a resource outside of the first division of resources;

modify the first SCSI command, the only resources to which the modified first SCSI command relates being said first division of resources of said library;

provide said modified SCSI command to said bidirectional library input/output;

receive at said bidirectional library input/output means library resource information comprising one of;

a) address information relating to library resources,

b) information quantifying the library resources, and

c) address information relating to library resources and information quantifying the library resources, modify said library resource information and provide the resulting modified information to one of said at least first and second bidirectional host input/outputs; and

record a unit attention signal condition received at said bidirectional library input/output following recording of said unit attention signal receive an access request at said first bidirectional host input/output means;

supply data representative of said unit attention signal to said first bidirectional host input/output means in response to receiving said access request at said first bidirectional host input/output means, following recording of said unit attention signal receive an access request at said second bidirectional host input/output means;

supply data representative of said unit attention signal to said second bidirectional host input/output means in response to receiving said access request at said second bidirectional host input/output means; and

deleting said unit attention signal subsequent to supplying said data representative of said unit attention signal to both of said first and second bidirectional host input/output means.

26. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 25, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to modify absolute addresses of resources of said library according to said at least first and second divisions of the resources.

27. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 25, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM queue SCSI commands received at said bidirectional host input/outputs and pass queued SCSI commands to the bidirectional library input/output only on a determination that a previous SCSI command has been executed.

28. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a second bidirectional library input/output.

29. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 28, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to facilitate mirroring of data received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

30. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 28, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to facilitate data splicing of data received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

31. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 25, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to block library reset SCSI commands received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.

32. The library virtualization module as claimed in claim 25, the processor further comprising instructions for causing the LVM to block library initialize SCSI commands received at least one of said first and second bidirectional host input/outputs.