Abstract: A server interface is adapted to communicate with a server and a data path is adapted to communicate with a random access data storage device. A controller is configured to transfer data between the server interface and the data path. The controller is operational so as to manage the data on the storage device as a plurality of sequentially-ordered virtual tape volumes, wherein a loaded one of the virtual tape volumes is unloaded and a next one of the virtual tape volumes is loaded in response to an eject command from the server.

Abstract: A tape storage emulator has a disk storage, a tape storage, a server interface, a data path control, a virtual tape management and a personality logic. The server interface is in communications with a server so as to receive and transmit tape storage commands and tape formatted data compatible with the tape storage. The data path control is in communications with the server interface and the disk storage so as to transfer the tape formatted data between the disk storage and the server interface. The virtual tape management is in communication with the disk storage so as to store the tape formatted data on the disk storage. The personality logic is at least temporarily in communications with the tape storage so as to capture and store tape storage responses. The stored tape storage responses allow the virtual tape management to emulate the tape storage to the server using the disk storage.

Abstract: A tape storage emulator provides response data corresponding to a tape storage device and receives a non-media command from a server. The response data is sent to the server in response to the non-media command. A media command is received from the server. The media command is applied to a virtual tape volume configured on a disk storage device.

Abstract: One or more servers are adapted to execute tape application programs. A controller provides communications between the one or more servers and a random access storage device. The controller is configured so that the application programs can concurrently access the random access storage device as a sequential access tape storage device.