Abstract: Described is a tape library system that generally comprises a plurality of tape drives and a data bus that links a host computer system to a first tape drive address and a second tape drive address. However, the first tape drive address points to a first controller and switch system that assumes the identity of one of the tape drives. The first controller and switch system is linked to a first tape drive adapted to cooperate with a first type of tape cartridge and a second tape drive adapted to cooperate with second type of tape cartridge. The second tape drive address points to a second controller and switch system that assumes the identity of a different one of the tape drives. The second controller and switch system is linked to a third tape drive adapted to cooperate with the first type of tape cartridge and a third tape drive adapted to cooperate with the second type of tape cartridge.

Abstract: A method for recording parity data of data stripes within shingled media recording bands in a redundant array of independent disks can be accomplished using a plurality of shingled media recording (SMR) hard disk drives (HDD) each with a plurality of shingled data bands. A data stream received from a host computer system is sequentially stored to a plurality of block segments in successive order, one stripe at a time successively. Each of the shingled data bands possess n data blocks (or multiple data blocks that are grouped together as a data unit) that are successively ordered, each corresponding successive data block from all of the SMR HDDs defines a data stripe, accordingly n data blocks in each SMR HDD defines n stripes across the shingled data bands. A transaction group sync triggers a halt to writing the data stream. The rest of the data stripe is written with fill bits.

Abstract: In certain instances, a data management application (software application) that manages moving data files, and the like, from a primary high-speed storage system. An end-user can configure the data management application for particular files via management policies. Based on the management policies, after a file is migrated from the primary storage system to a targeted secondary storage system, a breadcrumb pointing to a webpage for the migrated file is left behind in the primary storage system. The webpage can be used to manage the migrated file, such as moving the migrated file back to the primary storage system.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology contemplating an apparatus having a processor-based storage controller. A nontransient, tangible computer memory is configured to store a data file. Computer instructions are stored in the computer memory defining file-level array storage logic that is configured to be executed by the controller to logically containerize the data file in a file-level data set across a plurality of virtual storage containers, and to concurrently flush the virtual storage containers by migrating units of the file-level data set to a plurality of physical storage devices.

Abstract: An optical disk RAID set is described that essentially comprises a plurality of optical recording disks including at least one full capacity disk and a plurality of less than full capacity disks. The full capacity disk possessing a rated storage capacity set by an original manufacturer. The less than full capacity disks, which are generally considered reject disks, do not meet the rated storage capacity due to surface flaws or other manufacturing defects. The less than full capacity disks are reserved for user data. Parity is generated from the user data on the less than full capacity disks. The parity data is stored to the full capacity disk.

Abstract: Embodiments described are generally directed to a mass storage unit possessing a plurality of non-volatile data storage devices each possessing non-transitory mass storage memory hardware, a drive message router possessing with a plurality of different light sequence instructions retained therein, a motherboard that is connected to each of the non-volatile data storage devices and the drive message router via a bus that is adapted to transfer data via a data storage protocol arranged for mass data storage, a bezel electrically connected to the drive message router via an electrical cable that is adapted to transfer signals in a non-data storage protocol, a plurality of lights visibly disposed on the bezel. The drive message router is adapted to receive a data packet in the data storage protocol from the motherboard via the bus. Once received, an execution instruction is extracted from the message to carry out a subset of the light sequence instructions in a particular order.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated method contemplating sending a bulk request to a first archive storage controller to transfer application data from a server at a target transfer rate, the first archive storage controller residing within a complex of archive storage controllers; identifying two or more archive storage controllers in the complex collectively forming a speed matching buffer set capable of parallel streaming the application data at a data transfer rate that is at least the target transfer rate; and as a result of the identifying step, apportioning the application data to the speed matching buffer set.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magazine-based data cartridge library that, in one embodiment, comprises a plurality of shelves that are capable of holding a plurality of data cartridge magazines, one or more drives, a magazine transport for moving magazines within the cabinet, and a cartridge transport for moving data cartridges between a magazine and a drive.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for interfacing a plurality of electronic devices with a network to execute input/output (I/O) commands. A power manager is configured to individually control amounts of power supplied to each of the electronic devices. The power manager selectively increases an amount of power supplied to a first one of the electronic devices based on an amount of power being supplied to a different second one of the electronic devices.

Abstract: A cloud environment is provided generally having at least one private data center possessing a controller/routing system and nonvolatile mass storage, a plurality of data objects retained in the nonvolatile mass storage, and a public cloud storage service provider linked to the controller/routing system. The public cloud storage service provider possessing a database containing policy decisions and metadata of the plurality of data objects. When data objects are uploaded to the cloud environment, the private data center is in possession of the data objects, the public cloud is not in possession of the data objects. The private data center is not in possession of the policy decisions and the metadata for the plurality of data objects, rather the public cloud storage service provider is. The public cloud storage service provider adapted to be communicatively linked to an end-user computing system by way of the controller/routing system.

Abstract: A cloud environment is provided generally having a private data center possessing a controller/routing system and nonvolatile mass storage, a plurality of data objects retained in the nonvolatile mass storage, and a public cloud storage service provider linked to the controller/routing system. The public cloud storage service provider possessing a database logically set up by an administrator to contain policy decisions and metadata of the plurality of data objects. When data objects are uploaded to the cloud environment, the private data center is in possession of the data objects, the public cloud is not in possession of the data objects. The private data center is not in possession of the policy decisions and the metadata for the plurality of data objects, rather the public cloud storage service provider is. The public cloud storage service provider adapted to be communicatively linked to an end-user computing system by way of the controller/routing system.

Abstract: A cloud environment is provided generally having at least one private data center possessing a controller/routing system and nonvolatile mass storage, a plurality of data objects retained in the nonvolatile mass storage, and a public cloud storage service provider linked to the controller/routing system. The public cloud storage service provider possessing a database containing policy decisions and metadata of the plurality of data objects. The private data center is not in possession of the policy decisions and the metadata for the plurality of data objects, rather the public cloud storage service provider is. The private data center in possession of the plurality of data objects, whereas the public cloud storage provider is not. The public cloud storage service provider adapted to be communicatively linked to an end-user computing system by way of the controller/routing system. The data center is independent of the public cloud storage provider.

Abstract: A cloud environment is provided generally having at least one private data center possessing a controller/routing system and nonvolatile mass storage, a plurality of data objects retained in the nonvolatile mass storage, and a public cloud storage service provider linked to the controller/routing system. The public cloud storage service provider possessing a database containing policy decisions and metadata of the plurality of data objects. When a data object is uploaded by an end-user to a specific data bucket in the cloud environment, the private data center is the recipient of the data object because the specific data bucket is located in the private data center and not in the public cloud storage service. Meta data and location information about the data object is uploaded to the public cloud storage service provider. The private data center is not in possession of the policy decisions and the metadata for data objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magazine-based data cartridge library that, in one embodiment, comprises a plurality of shelves that are capable of holding a plurality of data cartridge magazines, one or more drives, a magazine transport for moving magazines within the cabinet, and a cartridge transport for moving data cartridges between a magazine and a drive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mobile media with both dedicated readable and writeable user data space and dedicated readable and writeable drive device space. The mobile data storage media adapted for operatively working with a drive device comprises a data space accessible by an end user and a drive software space accessible by the drive device and inaccessible by an end user. The drive software space is adapted to accommodate firmware for use by the drive device in addition to the reading and writing of software by the drive device. The media is adapted to receive and store software from the drive device or, alternatively, is adapted to transmit software to the drive device.

Abstract: A magazine-based data storage library is described that essentially provides a first tape cartridge adapted to retain first data and first metadata, a second tape cartridge adapted to retain second data and second metadata, a random access storage memory, such as a hard disk drive, whereon parity of the first data and the second data along with the first metadata and second metadata is retained. It is not required that the first data and the second data be written in parallel. The parity data on the random access storage memory is transferred to a parity tape, which can be used to reconstruct any data lost from either the first tape cartridge or the second tape cartridge.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention described here are directed to a tape library that is constructed within an integrated with a standard freight/shipping container to form a freight/shipping container tape library. The freight/shipping container library can be assembled at a manufacturing site, loaded with tape media, equipped with the tape drives, provided with robotic transporters and all the necessary computing systems, wiring, and electronics to fully function as a storage system when transported to an end user location.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology contemplating an apparatus having a processor-based storage controller. A nontransient, tangible computer memory is configured to store a data file. Computer instructions are stored in the computer memory defining file-level array storage logic that is configured to be executed by the controller to logically containerize the data file in a file-level data set across a plurality of virtual storage containers, and to concurrently flush the virtual storage containers by migrating units of the file-level data set to a plurality of physical storage devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology contemplating a processor-based storage controller and a nontransient, tangible computer memory configured to store a plurality of data files. Computer instructions are stored in the computer memory defining container-level array storage logic that is configured to be executed by the controller to sequentially containerize the data files to a plurality of virtual storage containers, and to flush the virtual storage containers by migrating each storage container's contents to a respective physical storage device.

Abstract: A magazine-based data storage library in connection with a disk drive-based archive storage system is described that essentially generates parity data for tape formatted data streams (stored to tape cartridges) that do not align by way of data blocks or file marks. Data streams intended for tape storage sent to tape cartridges are also sent to a disk drive storage system via an encoder where parity of the data streams can be generated. More specifically, the encoder digitally formats tape blocks and tape marks (as well as other tape formatted structure) in a digital stream of data that can be added to other encoded digital streams of data to generate parity. To reconstruct a specific tape cartridge from a tape set, the encoded data from each of the tapes in the tape set are subtracted from the parity data and the remaining encoded data is decoded and sent to a designated tape cartridge.