Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for determining completion of commands in a library system and providing an indication of the completion to a component of the media library system so that other commands which are dependent upon the completion can be efficiently issued and executed. In one embodiment, a tape is mounted in a drive of the library and a filesystem mount command is issued to initiate a filesystem mount operation. Diagnostic information generated by the operating system for this operation is communicated to the media library management application. When the filesystem mount process is completed, a corresponding diagnostic message is communicated to the media library management application. Until this message is received by the media library management application, commands that are dependent upon the completion of the filesystem mount process are inhibited, and afterward these dependent commands are allowed to be issued.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for archive verification are disclosed. More specifically, embodiments of this archive verification can comprise loading media into a drive and reading data from the media to verify that the media and data on the media can be read. In one embodiment, media can be loaded into a drive and read according to a verification policy. As part of verifying that media and data on media can be read, read errors or other verification data associated with media can be obtained. Using this verification data a result for the media may be determined.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein can avoid such speed degradations caused by performance monitoring. According to one embodiment, a media drive monitoring device can issue a command that does not penetrate reservations at the drive. If the drive is reserved, the drive will return a reservation conflict (“RC”) or other status indicating the previous reservation. The monitoring device can continue to issue the command to the drive until the drive responds in a manner that indicates that it is no longer reserved. The monitoring appliance can then issue a command to collect information from the drive (e.g., the Log Sense command or other command).

Abstract: A read cache may include portions of files stored on media of a media library. Embodiments described herein may include systems and methods for restoring a read cache, including restoring stub files to a read cache on an ad hoc basis.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for diagnosing a network and identifying problems in a network which reduce the data transfer rate of data through the network. One embodiment of a method for network diagnosis may include infusing data into a network upstream and downstream of a portion of the network relative to a library drive, querying the drive at intervals over time for drive data to determine the data transfer rate at the drive and comparing the data transfer rate of the data infused upstream of the device or network portion with the data transfer rate of the data infused downstream of the device or network portion to determine throughput. By comparing the data transfer rate of data infused upstream and downstream of a network device or network portion, problem devices in a network may be identified.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for synchronizing data written to tape with improved data recovery. When writing data to tape, an index is kept in memory and updated to reflect change(s) to a file system mounted on tape. After a predetermined amount of data is written to a tape, a device may perform a sync operation, causing the index to be written into a data partition of the tape. If the sync operation is successful, the index in the index partition of the tape can be updated using a copy of the index in the data partition of the tape next time the tape is mounted. If the sync operation is not successful, the device may write the data to a different location on the same or another tape, update the index, and force another sync operation. This process can be repeated.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for streaming data to multiple reading clients. More particularly, embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for using a memory buffer to stream file data from a mounted tape file system volume to multiple reading clients.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for monitoring components in a library by tracking the movement of library components. By tracking the movement of library components, the degradation of library components can be monitored and the reliability of library components determined, allowing unreliable components to be bypassed or replaced, enhancing the reliability of the library and preventing data loss.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for processing commands to network target devices through a SCSI router in a Fiber Channel network having a plurality of Fiber Channel hosts. The system may be configured to receive a command, and determine that the command requires a transfer of data larger than a threshold size. The system may also be configured to receive a plurality of data blocks associated with the command, store the plurality of data blocks in at least one buffer, and determine if there is an initial amount of data in the at least one buffer. The system may be further configured to forward at least one of the plurality data blocks, and request an additional data block associated with the command.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for archive verification including the verification of media in a library, are disclosed. More specifically, a method of archive verification may include performing an initial verification on a first media in a first drive and performing a subsequent verification on the first media in a second drive not used for the initial verification, and comparing the results of the initial verification and the subsequent verification. Embodiments may further perform an initial verification of the readability of a second tape media and subsequent verification of the readability for the second tape media, and compare the results of the initial verification to the results of the subsequent verification to determine the tape drive health, the efficacy of the first tape media or the second tape media, the efficacy of the first tape drive or the second tape drive, or whether to replace a tape media.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for a self-describing tape that allow files stored on a tape according to a tape file system to be presented in a similar manner (e.g., to an operating system, to a network file system interface) by different instances of a second type of file system (e.g., a non-tape file system). This can include, for example, allowing a file system of the second type to consistently present files over a network file system interface as being available at the same directory path location, according to the same permissions.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for archive verification are disclosed. More specifically, embodiments of this archive verification can comprise loading media into a drive and reading data from the media to verify that the media and data on the media can be read. In one embodiment, media can be loaded into a drive and read according to a verification policy. As part of verifying that media and data on media can be read, read errors or other verification data associated with media can be obtained. Using this verification data a result for the media may be determined.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for monitoring components in a library by tracking the movement of library components. By tracking the movement of library components, the degradation of library components can be monitored and the reliability of library components determined, allowing unreliable components to be bypassed or replaced, enhancing the reliability of the library and preventing data loss.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for synchronizing data written to tape with improved data recovery. When writing data to tape, an index is kept in memory and updated to reflect change(s) to a file system mounted on tape. After a predetermined amount of data is written to a tape, a device may perform a sync operation, causing the index to be written into a data partition of the tape. If the sync operation is successful, the index in the index partition of the tape can be updated using a copy of the index in the data partition of the tape next time the tape is mounted. If the sync operation is not successful, the device may write the data to a different location on the same or another tape, update the index, and force another sync operation. This process can be repeated.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer software utilized in the implementation of tamper protection, where unique information associated with data storage tapes and with particular revisions of these tapes is stored on the storage medium itself and on a memory of the tape cartridge, so that the data can be compared to determine whether unauthorized modifications have been made to the tapes. One embodiment is a system which includes an archive node appliance coupled between a set of hosts and a tape media library. The archive node appliance presents files stored on a tape of a media library as a directory. The archive node appliance maintains tamper prevention data on the tape and on an auxiliary memory on the cartridge of the tape, and determines from this data whether the tape has been altered by an authorized system.

Abstract: System, apparatus and computer program product for automatically determining a type of tape drive that is present in a media library and accessing the tape drive using commands that are adapted to the identified type of the drive. In one embodiment, a system includes a set of hosts, a media library and an archive node appliance. The archive node appliance is coupled between the hosts and the media library to provide the hosts with access to a set of drives and media in the media library. The archive node appliance has a processor and a data store that contains instructions that are executable on the processor to perform, for one or more of the drives, the method of identifying the type of the drive, identifying a set of software applications adapted to control the drive, and executing the software application, where the drive is accessed through the software application.

Abstract: A tape performance optimization method may include accumulating data in a memory, monitoring the accumulation of data, determining whether a certain amount of data has been accumulated in the memory, and causing the accumulated data to be migrated to a tape in a tape library. In one embodiment, the amount of data to be accumulated is set to be two wraps or a multiple thereof. Using embodiments, it can take zero or near zero time to rewind the tape when unloading occurs, eliminating wasted tape movement time and significantly increasing tape performance. In one embodiment, the accumulation of data may be terminated even if the desired amount of data has not been accumulated. In one embodiment, the termination might be triggered by a timeout condition.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems comprise collecting data associated with a library or library components and storing the collected data in repository. By collecting data associated with a library or library components and storing the collected data in a repository, the degradation of library components can be monitored and the reliability of library components determined, allowing unreliable components to be bypassed or replaced, enhancing the reliability of the library and preventing data loss.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for determining completion of commands in a library system and providing an indication of the completion to a component of the media library system so that other commands which are dependent upon the completion can be efficiently issued and executed. In one embodiment, a tape is mounted in a drive of the library and a filesystem mount command is issued to initiate a filesystem mount operation. Diagnostic information generated by the operating system for this operation is communicated to the media library management application. When the filesystem mount process is completed, a corresponding diagnostic message is communicated to the media library management application. Until this message is received by the media library management application, commands that are dependent upon the completion of the filesystem mount process are inhibited, and afterward these dependent commands are allowed to be issued.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for archive verification are disclosed. More specifically, embodiments of this archive verification can comprise loading media into a drive and reading data from the media to verify that the media and data on the media can be read. In one embodiment, media can be loaded into a drive and read according to a verification policy. As part of verifying that media and data on media can be read, read errors or other verification data associated with media can be obtained. Using this verification data a result for the media may be determined.