초록 ▼

Virtual data storage cartridges are created on a data storage subsystem to/from which volume writes and reads are directed. When a number of data volumes have been written, the controller may migrate them to the tape drive, a much faster process than writing directly to tape and enabling multiple lo

Virtual data storage cartridges are created on a data storage subsystem to/from which volume writes and reads are directed. When a number of data volumes have been written, the controller may migrate them to the tape drive, a much faster process than writing directly to tape and enabling multiple logical volumes to be written to a single physical tape. With the present invention, virtual scratch cartridges are virtually premounted in a virtual drive loader while the virtual drive is accessing another virtual cartridge. When the host calls for a new scratch cartridge, it can be mounted in the virtual drive almost immediately, having already been virtually pre-loaded.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of vir

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of:maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier;maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges;selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database;entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map;receiving from a host a scratch mount request; andsatisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising:choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; andremoving the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.