Abstract: According to the disclosure, embodiments of archival storage system are disclosed. The archival storage system includes two or more removable disk drives that provide random access and are readily expandable. One or more application servers can store archival data to the one or more removable disk drives. Further, the archival storage system provides intelligent archiving by adapting storage requirements to the type of data being archived by the application servers. Methods for storing archival data are also provided that store archival information in removable disk drives.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unique and novel archiving system that includes two or more network storage systems, each network storage system including removable hard disk drives embedded in removable disk cartridges, referred to simply as removable disk drives. The removable disk drives allow for expandability and replacement such that the archiving system need not be duplicated to add new or more storage capacity. In embodiments, the archiving system accesses, writes, reads, or performs functions on data from one network storage system to another remote network storage system.

Abstract: According to the disclosure, a unique and novel archiving system that allows the digital shredding of archived data is disclosed. Embodiments of the archiving system include removable disk drives that store data, which may be erased such that the data is considered destroyed but that allows the removable disk drive to be reused. The archiving system can determine which data should be erased. Then, the data is digitally shredded such that the removed data cannot be retrieved or deciphered. In alternative embodiments, a protection may be placed on the data required to be kept because the data is associated with a legal suit. This “legal hold” prevents the data from being digitally shredded. As such, the archiving system can provide a system that can dispose of data on a file-by-file or granular level without physically destroying the media upon which the data is stored.

Abstract: According to the invention, an authorization system for authorizing access to a data cartridge is disclosed. The authorization system includes a code, a data cartridge interface, a fingerprint processor, a password generator, and an authorization engine. The code is obtained from outside the data cartridge. The data cartridge interface is used to read data from the data cartridge, where the data includes first information and a fingerprint. The fingerprint generator generates second information using at least the code. The password generator unlocks the data cartridge using the code and the data. The authorizing engine is coupled to at least one of the password generator or the fingerprint processor. At least some of the data or the second information is compared to authorize the data cartridge.

Abstract: An archiving system including one or more removable disk drives embedded in removable disk cartridges, referred to simply as removable disk drives. The removable disk drives allow for expandability and replacement such that the archiving system need not be duplicated to add new or more storage capacity. In embodiments, the removable disk drives store metadata that contain information about the data stored on the removable disk drive. The metadata allows the system to retrieve the correct data from the random access memory and establishes controls on the data stored on the removable disk drive. In embodiments, the metadata is stored in two locations, such that, if the metadata in one location is corrupted, the second copy of the metadata may be retrieved.

Abstract: Systems and methods for commonality factoring for storing data on removable storage media are described. The systems and methods allow for highly compressed data, e.g., data compressed using archiving or backup methods including de-duplication, to be stored in an efficient manner on portable memory devices such as removable storage cartridges. The methods include breaking data, e.g., data files for backup, into unique chunks and calculating identifiers, e.g., hash identifiers, based on the unique chunks. Redundant chunks can be identified by calculating identifiers and comparing identifiers of other chunks to the identifiers of unique chunks previously calculated. When a redundant chunk is identified, a reference to the existing unique chunk is generated such that the chunk can be reconstituted in relation to other chunks in order to recreate the original data. The method further includes storing one or more of the unique chunks, the identifiers and/or the references on the removable storage medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for commonality factoring for storing data on removable storage media are described. The systems and methods allow for highly compressed data, e.g., data compressed using archiving or backup methods including de-duplication, to be stored in an efficient manner on portable memory devices such as removable storage cartridges. The methods include breaking data, e.g., data files for backup, into unique chunks and calculating identifiers, e.g., hash identifiers, based on the unique chunks. Redundant chunks can be identified by calculating identifiers and comparing identifiers of other chunks to the identifiers of unique chunks previously calculated. When a redundant chunk is identified, a reference to the existing unique chunk is generated such that the chunk can be reconstituted in relation to other chunks in order to recreate the original data. The method further includes storing one or more of the unique chunks, the identifiers and/or the references on the removable storage medium.