Abstract: Storage management is performed by detecting installation of at least one new physical tape drive in a storage system. The storage system may include a plurality of tape drives. The plurality of tape drives include physical tape drives and virtual tape drives. Based on the detection, a unique name of at least one virtual tape drive is transferred to the at least one new physical tape drive.

Abstract: A described read request may be received. An object and a descriptor may be returned in response to the described read request. The object may be retrieved from a volume. The object may be analyzed to generate the descriptor, which may indicate whether the object is a tape mark or a data record.

Abstract: Techniques for associating a session key with a communication path are provided. A host may provide a session key to a library controller over a first communications path. The library controller may associate the communications path with the session key. In one aspect, commands received over the first communications path are associated with the session key. In another aspect, the session key may be associated with a second communications path when the communications path is to be changed.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for presenting unique Serial Attached Small computer system interface (SAS) target devices through a single target device. The method includes embedding a SAS protocol chip within an initiator-connectable device, the SAS protocol chip having storage for at least two SAS addresses and configured to select a single address, loading two or more SAS addresses into the SAS protocol chip, and mapping a respective SAS address to one of the unique target devices. The system includes a SAS protocol chip having storage for at least two SAS addresses and a method for selecting a single SAS address, and a processor unit connected to the SAS protocol chip by an interface bus, the processor configured to load two or more identifier addresses into the SAS protocol chip. The computer readable medium contains instructions that cause a processor to perform the described methods.

Abstract: Storage apparatus and related methods for managing removable media. A controller is configured to manage the removable media. A user interface is coupled to the controller for displaying errors. When an error displayed on the user interface is selected, the controller causes the user interface to display additional information related to the error from an event log. For example, when the error is selected, a complete error log for an individual error or a screen display showing all current errors, if there are multiple ones, is displayed.

Abstract: A command is communicated by a computer and received by a sequential storage access device. The command includes a sequence indicator. The sequential storage access device uses the sequence indicator, in a communication path failure recovery operation, to at least determine whether a command has been confirmed by the device driver as being processed by the sequential access storage device.

Abstract: A system including a tape library and a tape drive. The tape library identifies which tapes in the tape library include one or more migrated tapes. The tape drive provides access to each migrated tape of the one or more migrated tapes by an original application.

Abstract: Storage apparatus and related methods for inventorying removable media. A controller is configured to robotically manage the removable media and to inventory the media after power-up using a default inventory method. An operator control panel is coupled to the controller and is configurable to solicit one of a number of alternate inventory methods from a user during power-up. Various user interfaces may be provided including a graphical user interface, a web interface and a command line interface. Password security may be provided that is a function of the risk an operator is required to assume when choosing a particular mode.

Abstract: Backup storage apparatus and related methods that are operative to transmit error logs to a support organization. A controller controls and monitors a robotics assembly that loads and unloads storage media into and from storage devices. An operator control panel coupled to the controller controls functions of and displays information regarding the apparatus. An interface component communicates between the controller and a support organization. An algorithm displays a menu item for requesting that error logs be sent to the support organization, and transmits a request to the component to query the storage devices to generate a support ticket comprising error logs associated with the storage devices, combine the support tickets into a single composite file for transmission, and transmit the composite file to the support organization.

Abstract: Techniques for associating a session key with a communication path are provided. A host may provide a session key to a library controller over a first communications path. The library controller may associate the communications path with the session key. In one aspect, commands received over the first communications path are associated with the session key. In another aspect, the session key may be associated with a second communications path when the communications path is to be changed.

Abstract: A system including a tape library and a tape drive. The tape library identifies which tapes in the tape library include one or more migrated tapes. The tape drive provides access to each migrated tape of the one or more migrated tapes by an original application.

Abstract: A command is communicated by a computer and received by a sequential storage access device. The command includes a sequence indicator. The sequential storage access device uses the sequence indicator, in a communication path failure recovery operation, to at least determine whether a command has been confirmed by the device driver as being processed by the sequential access storage device.

Abstract: Storage apparatus and related methods wherein an operator control panel that controls functions and displays information regarding the storage apparatus and its storage devices is configured to have or display a selectable thumbtack function. The operator control panel is configurable to show a number of operational screens for managing the storage apparatus, show a default screen after a period of inactivity at the operator control panel, receive a designation that an operational screen should replace the default screen, and if designated, show the designated operational screen instead of the default screen after a period of inactivity.

Abstract: Techniques to send and receive access commands are provided. The access commands may include an expected media position. The expected media position may be compared to an actual media position.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for presenting unique Serial Attached Small computer system interface (SAS) target devices through a single target device. The method includes embedding a SAS protocol chip within an initiator-connectable device, the SAS protocol chip having storage for at least two SAS addresses and configured to select a single address, loading two or more SAS addresses into the SAS protocol chip, and mapping a respective SAS address to one of the unique target devices. The system includes a SAS protocol chip having storage for at least two SAS addresses and a method for selecting a single SAS address, and a processor unit connected to the SAS protocol chip by an interface bus, the processor configured to load two or more identifier addresses into the SAS protocol chip. The computer readable medium contains instructions that cause a processor to perform the described methods.

Abstract: In a method for displaying menus on a storage automation library, a user's input to the library is processed and, in response thereto, either 1) a menu derived from a local menu structure is displayed, or 2) a remote menu mode is activated. Between activation and deactivation of the remote menu mode, the library waits for a remote host to return remote menu data. A method by which a remote host retrieves the status of such an indicator, and apparatus for implementing these and other related methods, are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of diagnosing an error in a cartridge drive, comprises detecting an occurrence of a defined event in a cartridge drive, in response to the defined event, initiating an analysis routine of at least one event log from the cartridge drive, and invoking an intervention routine when the analysis indicates that the defined event represents a failure threat.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cartridge library, comprises a management component comprising a first processor module and a memory medium communicatively connected to the first processor module, an interface controller comprising a second processor module and a memory medium communicatively connected to the second processor module, wherein the interface controller comprises logic instructions stored on a computer readable medium which, when executed, cause the second processor module to, record, in a memory medium coupled to the cartridge library, at least one access control parameter, wherein the access control parameter identifies at least one of a user, a server, a command, or a time, receive, in an interface controller coupled to the cartridge library, a request for at least one resource of the cartridge library, and implement an access control routine in the interface controller to use the access control parameter to determine whether to limit a user's ability to perform at least one command on at least one resou

Abstract: Backup storage apparatus and related methods wherein communication capabilities are provided that allow information to be shared between devices installed in the apparatus to extend the functionality of the apparatus. A controller comprising a communication link is coupled to an operator control panel that controls functions of and displays information regarding the apparatus. An installable component that is operable to extend the functionality of the apparatus when coupled to the communication link, and is operable to discover services that are sharable between the controller and the component. When communications are established, the operator control panel via the shared services is also capable of controlling functions of and displaying information regarding the component.

Abstract: Backup storage apparatus and related methods having a controller for controlling and monitoring a robotics assembly that loads and unloads storage media into and from storage devices and an operator control panel coupled to the controller for controlling functions of and displaying information regarding the apparatus. A user interface that is displayable on the operator control panel is operative to allow input of a storage media characteristic, locate media using the input storage media characteristic, and retrieve the location of the desired storage media corresponding to the characteristic that was input.