Abstract: An apparatus, for connection to a storage device, comprising: a module for communication with a software application and operable to receive instructions to copy data to the storage device; a chunking and identifier generation module operable to receive the data, to process the data into chunks, to generate a first chunk identifier, representative of the identity of a first of the chunks of data and, upon processing of the data, to initiate the issuance of a confirmation signal to the software application indicating that the data has been copied to the storage device; and an interface for communication with the storage device, wherein the interface is operable to send the first chunk identifier to the storage device, and to send the first chunk of data to the storage device upon receipt of a transfer instruction from the storage device.

Abstract: There is described a computer system to provide a filesystem, and to export a consumer directory of the filesystem for access by a consumer application over a network. The system has a protected directory. Protection controls restrict performance of file management activities on file entities of the protected directory by the consumer application.

Abstract: Apparatus (1010) comprises a deduplication engine (1064) operable to select at least two chunks of data for deduplication and deduplicate the selected at least two chunks of data; a first store (1072) operable to store the deduplicated chunks of data in a sequential manner; and a second store (1074) operable to store at least a portion of at least one chunk of the deduplicated data in a manner to allow random access, wherein data is accessed via the first and/or second store (1072, 1074).

Abstract: Data is selectively deduplicated such that portions of data suitable for deduplication are passed to a deduplication engine (1064) and stored in a first store (1072).

Abstract: A virtual tape library including a module which is operable to issue input and output commands to a tape drive connected to the virtual tape library, wherein an input command is a command to write data to a tape connected to the tape drive and an output command is a command to read data from a tape connected to the tape drive.

Abstract: A data storage system comprising a server computer and a data storage medium. The server computer includes an interface, such as an iSCSI interface, for communicating with a host computer. In response to receiving data from the host computer, the server computer determines whether or not the host computer has access to a virtual data storage device. If the host computer does not have access to a virtual data storage device, the server computer provides a virtual data storage device for access by the host computer, the virtual data storage device employing at least a portion of the data storage medium such that data stored to the virtual data storage device are stored to the portion of the data storage medium.

Abstract: A controller, system, method and computer program for emulating one or more tape-based storage devices using non-tape based physical data storage media. The controller is adapted to generate a data set for indicating an available capacity of the one or more emulated tape-based storage devices, the data set includes capacity data for indicating a respective available capacity of the one or more emulated tape-based storage devices based on an available capacity of the non-tape-based physical data storage media. The controller is also adapted to provide access to data stored on the non-tape based physical data storage medium using tape-based media command and the data set, and to dynamically update the capacity data of the data set in response to a change in the available capacity of the non-tape-based physical data storage media.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a virtual tape library apparatus providing a plurality of emulated tape storage elements. The apparatus comprises local, non-tape based storage, a store storing a data structure which associates the emulated tape storage elements with the local or a remote storage, a first interface to provide access to the local storage, in response to tape library commands identifying emulated tape storage elements associated with the local storage, a second interface to provide access to the remote storage, in response to tape library commands identifying emulated tape storage elements associated with the remote storage, and a command processor, which receives tape library commands relating to emulated storage elements, and generates respective commands for the remote storage when received library commands relate to the remote storage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of restoring a client device following failure of the client device, the client being connectable to a network comprising a server device. The method comprises saving to the server device a configuration state of the client device, the saved configuration state comprising client network interface configuration information, and a file of the client device. The method further comprises, following failure of the client computer, recording on a medium bootable on the client device program instructions for configuring the client device according to the saved configuration state, booting the client device from the bootable medium, configuring a network interface of the client device in accordance with the program instructions and the saved configuration state and restoring the file to the client device by copying over the network.

Abstract: An apparatus, for connection to a storage device, comprising: a module for communication with a software application and operable to receive instructions to copy data to the storage device; a chunking and identifier generation module operable to receive the data, to process the data into one or more chunks, to generate a first chunk identifier, representative of the identity of a first of the or each chunk of data and, upon processing of the data, to initiate the issuance of a confirmation signal to the software application indicating that the data has been copied to the storage device; and an interface for communication with the storage device, wherein the interface is operable to send the first chunk identifier to the storage device, and to send the first chunk of data to the storage device upon receipt of a transfer instruction from the storage device.

Abstract: A virtual tape library including a module which is operable to issue input and output commands to a tape drive connected to the virtual tape library, wherein an input command is a command to write data to a tape connected to the tape drive and an output command is a command to read data from a tape connected to the tape drive.

Abstract: A controller, system, method and computer program for emulating one or more tape-based storage devices using non-tape based physical data storage media. The controller is adapted to generate a data set for indicating an available capacity of the one or more emulated tape-based storage devices, the data set includes capacity data for indicating a respective available capacity of the one or more emulated tape-based storage devices based on an available capacity of the non-tape-based physical data storage media. The controller is also adapted to provide access to data stored on the non-tape based physical data storage medium using tape-based media command and the data set, and to dynamically update the capacity data of the data set in response to a change in the available capacity of the non-tape-based physical data storage media.

Abstract: A system for managing data transfer using an operating system address space, the address space comprising a user space and a kernel space, the system comprising a data buffer in the kernel space and a control module for the data buffer in the user space, the system further comprising a network protocol handling module that receives an I/O request in the kernel space for performing an I/O operation on the data buffer. The network protocol handling module notifies the control module of the I/O request via an upper level protocol handling module. The control module maintains address pointers in the data buffer and informs the network protocol handling module of the buffer address at which the I/O operation is to be performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of restoring a client device following failure of the client device, the client being connectable to a network comprising a server device. The method comprises saving to the server device a configuration state of the client device, the saved configuration state comprising client network interface configuration information, and a file of the client device. The method further comprises, following failure of the client computer, recording on a medium bootable on the client device program instructions for configuring the client device according to the saved configuration state, booting the client device from the bootable medium, configuring a network interface of the client device in accordance with the program instructions and the saved configuration state and restoring the file to the client device by copying over the network.

Abstract: A system, method and a computer program product for emulating a tape-based storage system to provide data storage. The system includes a data storage medium storing a data set which represents the data layout of the emulated tape-based medium, and an interface for providing access to a non-tape-based data storage medium, using tape-based media commands and using the data set. The first data set includes filemark location data and block number data for mapping between filemark locations and block numbers of the emulated tape-based storage medium and the non-tape-based data storage medium.

Abstract: A tape drive for exchanging data with a tape cartridge, which has tape media and auxiliary memory that is not tape media, is operable, in response to a boot request from a computer apparatus that is bootable from a kind of initial program load device that is not a tape drive, to read boot data stored on the auxiliary memory and to output the boot data for booting the computer apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in controlling access to at least one data storage device. One method includes obtaining data describing at least one data access relationship, the data access relationship specifying whether access to a data storage device by a data processing device is allowed or not allowed during at least one user defined time period, and controlling access to the data storage device in accordance with the data access relationship described by the data.

Abstract: A data library (110) has a plurality of media data transfer drives (204) and a plurality of media locations (212). The library transfers data to/from a data storage system comprising a plurality of other data storage components (103). The data library is configured to determine possible causes affecting performance of the data storage system and comprises: means for obtaining characteristics of data being transferred in the data storage system and/or obtaining characteristics of data transfer in the data storage system; means for processing the obtained data to produce an indication of whether a possible cause affecting data storage system performance relates to one or more said storage system components and/or characteristics of the data being transferred, and means for producing an output relating to at least some of the results of the processing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods involving a tape drive apparatus. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of a tape drive apparatus, among others, can be implemented as follows. The tape drive apparatus comprises an interface for coupling at least first and second requesters to the tape drive apparatus, the interface being adapted to receive media control requests from the requestors and identifiers of the requesters; and logic circuitry for generating log entries and writing the log entries to a log. Each log entry indicates at least a type of one of the media control requests and the identifier of the respective requestor, the logic circuitry being adapted for identification of potentially conflicting ones of the media control requests received from different ones of the at least first and second requestors. Other apparatuses and methods are also included.

Abstract: A validity time interval for backup data of a data backup operation is determined. The validity time interval is limited, e.g., by an expiration date and/or an activation date. Validity date indicating the validity time interval is stored in non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge, such as a cartridge memory, when the backup data is written to the tape cartridge by the tape drive. Recovery of the backup data from the tape drive is only possible if recovery is performed within the validity time interval, to provide an efficient way to assure tape rotation.