Abstract: An apparatus and associated method related to reading from memory an indicia that is dedicated to identifying a first portion less than an entirety of an addressable storage medium, the first portion having previously been subjected to a certification scrutiny. In relation to results of the reading, a second portion less than the entirety of the addressable storage medium is selected for subsequently subjecting the second portion to the certification scrutiny.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology contemplate a data storage system having a removable storage device operably transferring user data between the data storage system and another device via execution of a plurality of input/output commands. A commonality factoring module executes computer instructions stored in memory to assign commonality information to the user data. A deduplication module executes computer instructions stored in memory to combine a plurality of files of the user data (user data files) with at least one file of corresponding commonality information (commonality information file), the combined files forming a sequential data stream.

Abstract: A storage library is described that includes a tape magazine that possesses at least one spare slot and a number of other addressable slots that each contains a tape cartridge. Each addressable slot is mapped and made known to a host when the host is linked to the storage library. One of the addressable slots contains a tape cartridge that prior to being mapped as an addressable slot was formerly a spare slot unmapped to the host and the current spare slot was formerly mapped as an addressable slot.

Abstract: A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.

Abstract: A robotic tape library which queues two or more move instructions is described. Generally, the robotic system receives a first move instruction which commands a first robot to move a first tape cartridge from a shelf to a first tape drive to be loaded therein. Though the first move has not actually taken place, the library replies to the host computer that the first tape drive has been loaded with the first tape cartridge, at least to an acceptable level of engagement, at which point, the first move instruction is queued. After receiving a second move instruction from the host to move a second tape cartridge from the shelf to a second tape drive, the library reorganizes and physically carries out the move instructions with potentially different hardware in a preferred order.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology contemplate a data storage system having a removable storage device operably transferring data between the data storage system and another device via execution of a plurality of input/output (I/O) commands. A commonality factoring (CF) module executing computer instructions stored in memory assigns a CF tag to a data pattern in the transferred data. A deduplication module executing computer instructions stored in memory determines if the data pattern corresponding to the CF tag is previously stored in the removable storage device.

Abstract: A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a single tape picker device that is adapted to hold two tape cartridges at the same time facilitating an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device.

Abstract: A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology for a data storage system having a data storage space operably transferring user data via input/output (I/O) commands between the data storage system and another device. The data storage space includes a first memory device operably storing location information for a selected user data set corresponding to one of the I/O commands. The first memory also operably stores a first amount of the selected user data set. The data storage space also includes a second memory device different than the first memory device and operably storing a different second amount of the selected user data set. The data storage system has a controller that interleaves an entirety of the selected user data set from the first and second memory devices during execution of another of the I/O commands.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methodology contemplating a data storage system having a memory that includes a first addressable storage space and a second differently addressable storage space. A controller selectively accesses stored instructions that when executed transfer some user data sets with the first addressable storage space in accordance with a dense allocation of the first addressable storage space, and transfer other user data sets with the second addressable storage space in accordance with a sparse allocation of the second addressable storage space that allocates a predefined reserved storage capacity between adjacent stored non-sequential user data sets.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology providing a data storage system including a memory having a first addressable storage space and a second differently addressable storage space. A controller selectively accesses stored instructions that when executed store a first amount of a user data set to the first addressable storage space and store a different second amount of the user data set to the second addressable storage space. The controller subsequently calculates an address increment between the stored first and second amounts, and then shifts one of the stored first and second amounts by the address increment.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method provided for a plurality of storage elements arranged and concurrently accessible in an array. A controller executes programming instructions stored in memory to append an error correction code (ECC) block to a first data block and to store the first data block with appended ECC block in a first storage element of the plurality, the appended ECC block associated with a second data block other than the first data block.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for a storage system response. The system includes a first storage system adapted to be linked in communication with at least one client and with a second storage system, the second storage system retaining a plurality of digital assets. An asset map is adapted to track where in the first storage system or the second storage system each of the plurality of digital assets is retained. A migrator is also provided and structured and arranged to migrate each of the plurality of digital assets from the second storage system to the first storage system, the migrator further adapted to update the asset map regarding a status of migration for each of the plurality of digital assets. A server structured and arranged to fulfill digital asset requests received by the first storage system from the at least one client, the server structured and arranged to consult the asset map to determine where the requested digital assets resides. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for maintaining paired data between tape cartridges and linking the paired data to through medium auxiliary memory devices is presented. One method includes providing a first tape cartridge possessing a first medium auxiliary memory device and a first tape medium and a second tape cartridge possessing a second medium auxiliary memory device and a second tape medium. Data maintained on the first tape medium can be copied to the second tape medium. A first record can be stored on the first medium auxiliary memory device indicating that data on the first tape medium was copied to the second tape medium. Likewise, a second record can be stored on the second medium auxiliary memory device indicating that data on the second tape medium originated from the first tape medium.

Abstract: A method for certifying data on tape cartridges for a library with a first tape cartridge that possesses a medium auxiliary memory device, a medium auxiliary memory reader/writer, a first tape drive and a second tape drive, a shelf system, and access to a memory device containing a media lifecycle management data base. After a period of time from when data was originally stored on the tape first cartridge, a portion of data residing on the first tape cartridge is read. The portion of data is assessed as to whether a percentage of the portion contains an expected data structure and if the percentage exceeds a predetermined threshold, a data recovery sequence is initiated.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for a organizing a robotic storage system. The robotic storage system includes a plurality of storage locations of varying priority and varying distance to a data read/write device. The robot storage system further includes a plurality of portable data storage elements each having at least three fields, a load field, a read/write field and a user determined field. A temporary storage location within the robotic storage system for each data storage element is determined at least in part by evaluating the data storage element's load field, read/write field and user determined fields to determine a heat value and correlating the heat value to the storage locations. An associated method of use is also disclosed.

Abstract: Described are systems for and methods of improving the efficiency of an automated data storage library.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for writing encryption data to memory in a plurality of partially overlapping data segments and subsequently retrieving the encryption data by combining a selected one of either a first set of the overlapping data segments that define the encrypted data or a different second set of the overlapping data segments that define the encrypted data.

Abstract: A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.

Abstract: A robotic tape library which queues two or more move instructions is described. Generally, the robotic system receives a first move instruction which commands a first robot to move a first tape cartridge from a shelf to a first tape drive to be loaded therein. Though the first move has not actually taken place, the library replies to the host computer that the first tape drive has been loaded with the first tape cartridge, at least to an acceptable level of engagement, at which point, the first move instruction is queued. After receiving a second move instruction from the host to move a second tape cartridge from the shelf to a second tape drive, the library reorganizes and physically carries out the move instructions in a preferred order.