Abstract: A method to optimize the transmission of data from (N) primary backup appliances interconnected to a plurality of second backup appliances by a single communication link, wherein (N) is greater than 1, by transferring a data set to one or more secondary backup appliances by two or more of the (N) primary backup appliances using the communication link, and completing those transfers of the data sets by the two or more primary backup appliances at the same time.

Abstract: An automated data storage library employing a media accessor, an optical disk drive and a removable disk media. The media accessor includes a cartridge shell gripper. The optical disk drive includes a tape cartridge slot. The removable disk media includes a tape cartridge shell having a structural configuration operable to be physically engaged by the cartridge shell gripper and operable to be physically inserted into the tape cartridge slot by the cartridge shell gripper. The removable disk media further includes one or more optical disks disposed within the tape cartridge shell. A recording surface of each optical disk is extractable, partially or entirely, from the tape cartridge shell by the optical disk drive for writing data onto the optical disk and/or reading data from the optical disk.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for data synchronization. A first identifier for a portion of data on a primary volume is determined, wherein a unique identifier is associated with each portion of data at the primary volume. A second identifier for a portion of corresponding data at a secondary volume is determined, wherein a unique identifier is associated with each portion of data at the secondary volume. The first and second identifiers are compared. When the first and second identifiers do not match, the portion of corresponding data at the secondary volume in a storage device is replaced with the portion of data at the primary volume.

Abstract: A method to write information to an information storage medium. The method creates one or more objects comprising information and provides a first one of those one or more objects. The method writes a header label to an information storage medium, where the header label comprises an object processing indicator. The method assigns a first sequence number to the first object and writes that first object to the information storage medium beginning at a first blockid and ending at a second blockid. The method writes a trailer label to the information storage medium, where that trailer label comprises an embedded object field count. The method writes an object information block to the information storage medium, where that object information block comprises the first sequence number, the first blockid, and the second blockid.

Abstract: A method to adjust the data transfer rate for one of (N) primary backup appliances. The method forms by a first primary backup appliance at least one consistent transactions set. The first primary backup appliance receives the (n)th status signal, and the (n+1)th status signal from each of the other (N-1) primary backup appliances. The method calculates the (n)th effective bandwidth for each of the (N) primary backup appliances, the (n)th time to complete for each of the (N) primary backup appliances, and the (n)th effective aggregate bandwidth for all (N) primary appliances. If the (n)th time to complete for the first primary backup appliance is greater than the (n)th time to complete for each of the other (N-1) primary backup appliances, then the method provides at least one consistent transactions set from the first primary backup appliance to a first secondary backup appliance with no delay.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge, a recording system, and a magnetic tape drive are configured to, for example, guard against tampering with a write once overwrite protection pointer which allows a rewritable magnetic tape to be treated as write once. In one embodiment, the magnetic tape cartridge comprises a magnetic tape and a cartridge memory. The magnetic tape is configured to provide at least one overwrite protection pointer, the overwrite protection pointer identifying data to be protected from being overwritten; and the cartridge memory is configured to provide the at least one overwrite protection pointer, the overwrite protection pointer identifying magnetic tape data to be protected from being overwritten.

Abstract: The present invention provides fast read performance for accessing a file from a multiplicity of files when its corresponding Block ID is unavailable, by furnishing new file-positioning commands, allowing access to data based on File Number, at the same fast locate speed as with Block Ids, thereby expanding the range of applications that can use certain tape drive systems effectively. The present invention includes both a device architecture for supporting the file oriented positioning and the appending, as well as a software system that can permit easy application access to the device facilities and system components which permit the advantages to accrue without any software application or operator changes, including a robust architecture for navigating residual data, e.g., for data recovery. The present invention comprises several device command innovations, a relative positioning command, an absolute positioning command, and other commands, e.g., for sensing current position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for data synchronization. A first identifier is determined for a portion of data at a first source. A second identifier is determined for a portion of corresponding data at a second source. The first and second identifiers are compared. When the first and second identifiers do not match, the portion of corresponding data at the second source is replaced with the portion of data at the first source.

Abstract: A method to write information to an information storage medium. The method creates one or more objects comprising information and provides a first one of those one or more objects. The method writes a header label to an information storage medium, where the header label comprises an object processing indicator. The method assigns a first sequence number to the first object and writes that first object to the information storage medium beginning at a first blockid and ending at a second blockid. The method writes a trailer label to the information storage medium, where that trailer label comprises an embedded object field count. The method writes an object information block to the information storage medium, where that object information block comprises the first sequence number, the first blockid, and the second blockid.

Abstract: The process, apparatus, and system estimate the size of a data block in a data buffer to efficiently recover the data block to the memory of a computer. The data block resides in a data buffer prior to being written to a destination medium. If the data block cannot be written to the destination medium, the process, apparatus, and system create a data block size estimate. The data block size estimate may be based on the size of the largest data block in the data buffer. Alternately, the data block size estimate may be based on the size of a data block in the memory of the computer. The computer reserves a memory space proportional to the data block size estimate and recovers the data block to the memory space.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for communicating control messages between a first device and a second device. The apparatus, system, and method include a communication module that directs control messages between a first device and a second device through an intermediate device. The intermediate device is coupled to the first device by a control path and to the second device by a data path. The apparatus, system, and method also include a translation module and a transmission module that cooperate to translate control messages received over the control path at the intermediate device to transport data messages and transport data messages received over the data path at the second device to control messages. Transport data messages are sent over the data path to the second device and control messages from the second device are sent over the control path to the first device.

Abstract: A method to adjust the data transfer rate for one of (N) primary backup appliances. The method forms by a first primary backup appliance at least one consistent transactions set. The first primary backup appliance receives the (n)th status signal, and the (n+1)th status signal from each of the other (N?1) primary backup appliances. The method calculates the (n)th effective bandwidth for each of the (N) primary backup appliances, the (n)th time to complete for each of the (N) primary backup appliances, and the (n)th effective aggregate bandwidth for all (N) primary appliances. If the (n)th time to complete for the first primary backup appliance is greater than the (n)th time to complete for each of the other (N?1) primary backup appliances, then the method provides at least one consistent transactions set from the first primary backup appliance to a first secondary backup appliance with no delay.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are presented for scaling storage media to improve data access performance. A scaling module is provided and configured to receive a dataset, identify storage characteristics of the dataset, make a determination based upon user-defined storage criteria, and select a storage instruction. In one embodiment, the storage instruction is configured to scale the storage medium to a predefined capacity. The predefined capacity of the storage medium is configured to optimize data access performance. Alternatively, the storage instruction is configured to not scale the storage medium. Additionally, the present invention may be configured to map and track the storage medium while the dataset is being written to or read from the storage medium.

Abstract: A method to read (N) sequential files written to an information storage medium, and then skip the next (M) sequential files. The method initially identifies the (M) files to be skipped. After identifying the (M) files to be skipped, the method reads the (N) files.