Abstract: A method to select a deduplication protocol for a data storage library comprising a plurality of data storage devices configured as a RAID array, by establishing a normal deduplication protocol, a RAID failure deduplication protocol, and a multiple storage device failure deduplication protocol. The method receives host data comprising a plurality of interleaved data blocks. If the system is operating without any storage device failures, then the method processes the host data using the normal deduplication protocol. If the system is operating with a storage device failure, then the method processes the host data using the RAID failure deduplication protocol. If the system is operating with multiple storage device failures, then the method processes the host data using the multiple storage device failure deduplication protocol.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to an automated media library receives a request or access to the library from an individual having an identity. Access may include importing media to the library, exporting media from the library, and opening a locked door to a cabinet containing the library.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for injecting noise onto a link of a network. The apparatus, system, and method include, providing a noise injector card, connecting the noise injector card to the link, receiving a control signal to activate the noise injector card, switching a switch of the noise injector card, and injecting noise onto the link.

Abstract: Various embodiments for optimized power savings in a storage virtualization system are provided. First meta data for physical resources which describes a power status of a storage resource in one of a powered-on/read-write, powered-on/read only, and powered-off power state is created. Second meta data for each of the physical storage resources which determines an actual performance of the physical storage resources and which supports optimization of a powering-on and a powering-off of the physical storage resources is created. A write request from one of a host and application to logical and virtual storage resource is executed.

Abstract: Various embodiments for an Input/Output (I/O) path selection based on workload types are provided. A port workload controller is adapted to control the workload types of ports for accessing a storage device. A storage access command is received by the port workload controller from an application being executed on a virtual server on a physical server. The workload types related to the storage access command are determined. Storage access paths between the application and the storage device having the same workload types as the determined workload types related to the storage access command are determined. Storage access paths mapping data that is controlled by the port workload controller is used. A selected storage access path is selected out of the determined storage access paths having the least utilization. The storage device is accessed via the selected one of the plurality of storage access paths.

Abstract: Various embodiments for managing a virtual tape library cluster are provided. A virtual tape library system is enhanced by representing virtual tape resources in cluster nodes with a unique serial number. A least utilized cluster node is determined. One of the virtual tape resources represented within the least utilized cluster node is selected.

Abstract: Various embodiments for autonomic reclamation processing for tapes are provided. Instructions are received to perform reclamation processing on the formatted tape. Formatted tape is loaded into a tape drive for buffering active data during reclamation processing and consolidating all of the active data in capacity optimized manner on the same formatted tape. The formatted tape comprises metadata denoting active and inactive data blocks for files. The meta data of the formatted tape is read into a reclamation memory. The table is sorted and a starting block address is sorted. All active files ordered in the table starting at the starting block address are read into the reclamation memory. The files are written from the reclamation memory to the formatted tape from the starting block address and updating the table with new block addresses of the files. The meta data is updated with the updated table.

Abstract: A method for accessing data in a data storage system is presented. The method includes supplying a host computer that is in communication with the data storage system, where the data storage system includes a data storage medium and a holographic data storage medium. A first request is generated to access a directory encoded in the data storage medium and includes a first encryption key. The requested directory recites a listing of data files encoded in the holographic storage medium. If the first encryption key decrypts the directory, the directory is read and a data file encoded in the holographic data storage medium is identified. A second request is then generated to access the data file and includes a second encryption key. Finally, if the second encryption key decrypts the data file, then it is read.

Abstract: A method of de-duplicating duplicate data in a data storage system that includes identifying a plurality of portions of data, comparing each portion of the data to identify duplicate data and identifying a link associated with each duplicate data, determining whether a Hamming link-separation-distance between the identified link and all other existing links is greater than twice the Hamming radius of an error correction code in the data storage system, and then replacing the duplicate data with the identified link.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for balancing the requirements of high availability achieved by redundant active components and power saving achieved by less active components. The requirement for high availability can be expressed by the recovery time objective (RTO) which specifies the amount of time it takes to recover from a failure in the system. Based on the configured RTO, the system configures the most appropriate power mode.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to optimize the performance of a holographic data storage system, where that holographic data storage system comprises a plurality of calibratable components, and where each of the plurality of calibratable components comprises one or operational parameters, and where each of those operational parameter is associated with a nominal range. The method seriatim tests each calibratable component and measures the one or more operational parameters for that device. The method determines if the one or more operational parameters associated with each of the calibratable components fall within the associated nominal ranges. If an operational parameter associated with a selected calibratable component fall outside the associated nominal range, then the method recalibrates that selected calibratable component.

Abstract: A method for deduplicating and managing data blocks within a file system includes adding a deduplication identifier to each pointer pointing to a data block to indicate whether the data block is deduplicated, detecting duplicate data blocks, determining whether one of the duplicate data blocks has been deduplicated, when detected, determining that one duplicate data block is a master copy when it is determined that one duplicate data block has been deduplicated, selecting one of the duplicate data blocks to be a master copy when it is determined that the duplicate data blocks have not been deduplicated, and setting the deduplication identifier of the selected duplicate data block to indicate deduplication, and determining that the other duplicate data block is a new duplicate data block and setting the deduplication identifier of the other duplicate data block to indicate deduplication and directing the respective pointer to the master copy.

Abstract: A media passport system including a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder attached to a removable medium a plurality of RFID readers installed in rooms, wherein each RFID reader has a unique identification (ID), and a security server connected to the plurality of RFID readers via a network. The security server hosts a zone-table including a unique ID information of the removable medium, and a zone information determined as a subset of the unique IDs of the plurality of RFID readers. Based on this the security server sends an alarm when a removable medium is transported inside or outside a zone.

Abstract: A method and system for client backup data management and storage using virtual tape libraries (VTLs). A VTL controller executing a software method receives metadata that distinguishes among a plurality of different versions of backup data. The VTL controller determines a latest version of the backup data. The VTL controller determines a migration set of zero or more versions of the backup data. The latest version and any version included in the migration set are included in the plurality of different versions. The VTL controller determines that a storage of the latest version in a first storage medium (e.g., magnetic disk) of the VTL is complete. The VTL controller migrates the migration set to a second storage medium (e.g., magnetic tape) of the VTL if the migration set includes at least one version of the backup data.

Abstract: A data storage cartridge comprises data storage media configured to store data for read and/or write access, wherein the data may be arranged in a plurality of partitions; and a plurality of cartridge memories. A control system, for example of a data storage drive, is configured to allocate at least portions of capacity of the data storage media to cartridge memories of the data storage cartridge; and to provide information defining the allocated portions of capacity to the cartridge memories. Each of the cartridge memories may have a separate user and thus provide access for that user to separate partitions.

Abstract: A mirrored storage system for applications is provided, which enables and supports the variation and dynamic adaptation of the Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) based on policies. Furthermore, methods are provided for running such a mirrored storage system. Said mirrored storage system comprises a first storage system and at least one further storage system, wherein said first and said further storage system are connected via at least one mirror link. An application accesses said mirrored storage system via a network. Therewith, the data to be stored as response to a write command of said application can be mirrored according to a configurable time-varying RPO requirement of the application transmitting the corresponding write command.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to encode binary data into trinary data. Applicants' method provides binary data, and encodes that binary data into trinary data. By “binary data,” Applicants mean a plurality of bits, wherein each of those bits comprises a value selected from the group consisting of a first value and a second value. By “trinary data,” Applicants mean a plurality of bits, wherein each of those bits comprises a value selected from the group consisting of a first value, a second value, and a third value. The trinary data may be stored in ROM optical disks, nano-sized indentations in a thin-film, or multi-level magnetic storage. The trinary data may be also transmitted via three light levels in an optical communications network.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for configuring a data storage device. A storage module stores configuration data on a remote storage system that may include operating systems, applications, updates, and an index. A boot module boots a computer system from a program other than the regular boot program to provide access to a network in communication with the remote storage system. A device configuration module autonomically downloads and installs the operating systems, applications, and updates in response to data stored in an index on the remote storage system.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for reducing the collective power consumption of a plurality of storage devices including a plurality of associated storage volumes is provided. The storage volumes are grouped by a last access time according to a plurality of ranks. The plurality of ranks corresponds to a level of power consumption based on device activity. A volume of the plurality of storage volumes is moved between the plurality of ranks according to an access pattern of the volume.

Abstract: Various embodiments for differentiating between data and stubs pointing to a parent copy of deduplicated data are provided. Undeduplicated data is stored with a first cyclic redundancy check (CRC) seed. A stub pointing to the parent copy of the deduplicated data is stored with a second CRC seed. Subsequent to reading the deduplicated data, the first CRC seed is associated with the undeduplicated data, and the second CRC seed is associated with the stub. A CRC check is performed using one of the first and second CRC seeds. If the CRC check is positive, an I/O operation is allowed to proceed. If the CRC check is negative, an additional CRC check is performed using another one of the first and second CRC seeds.