Abstract: Systems and methods for active link verification for failover operations in a storage network are disclosed. An exemplary method includes issuing a command from a first port of a storage device to a local network device in the storage network. The method also includes receiving a response to the command at the first port of the storage device from the local network device in the storage network. The storage device fails over to a second port of the storage device if no response is received at the first port of the storage device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for active link verification for failover operations in a storage network are disclosed. An exemplary method includes issuing a command from a first port of a storage device to a local network device in the storage network. The method also includes receiving a response to the command at the first port of the storage device from the local network device in the storage network. The storage device fails over to a second port of the storage device if no response is received at the first port of the storage device.

Abstract: A tape drive apparatus includes a data transfer apparatus for transferring data to and from a tape media loaded in the tape drive apparatus, a first port for communicating with the data transfer apparatus in a tape drive mode, a second port for communicating with the data transfer apparatus in an optical storage device mode, and an emulation apparatus for permanently emulating an optical storage device at the second port for enabling an external device to access the data transfer apparatus, via the second fort, in the optical storage device mode.

Abstract: A library for storing and retrieving removable information storage elements such as tape cartridges that uses unique identifiers of the removable information storage elements stored in non-volatile memory in order to generate a cartridge map.

Abstract: A tape library has a library controller that directs an accessor and a tape drive unit to perform the operations required for storage in a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge of bar code label information that has been optically read from a tape cartridge bar code label. The non-volatile memory can be for example, a predefined storage location on the tape itself or the cartridge memory. One advantage is that bar code label information can be recovered in case the bar code label becomes unreadable or is lost.

Abstract: First and second ports of a storage switch are respectively coupled to a data source and a first port of a first data sink having a second port coupled to a first port coupled to a first port of a second data sink. The first data sink has a first component for determining whether a data packet received at the first port of the first and second data sink is addressed to the first data sink and a second component for forwarding the data packet from the second port of the first data sink to the first port of the second data sink if the data packet is not addressed to the first data sink.

Abstract: A tape drive apparatus comprising: a data transfer apparatus for transferring bootable data between a loaded tape media and the tape drive apparatus, an emulation apparatus for emulating an optical storage device, a first port for communicating with the tape drive apparatus in a tape drive mode, a second port for communicating with the tape drive apparatus in an optical storage device mode, the second port enabling an external device to access the emulation apparatus.

Abstract: A method of sequentially transferring boot-image data comprising: causing first boot-image data to be transferred to a tape medium starting at a first offset, causing second boot-image data to be transferred to the tape medium starting at a second offset, causing data relating to the first and second offsets to be transferred to a non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An automated storage apparatus moves digital data storage units relative to at least one digital data transfer device by recognizing a designated one of the digital data storage units as a reference unit for diagnostic use. The unit has at least one storage portion. A record of data transfer operation occurrences performed relative to the or each storage portion is used to limit the number of data transfer operations performed on the storage portion(s).

Abstract: An automated storage apparatus having a data transfer device transfers data to and from data storage units. A robotic device moves the data storage units. An area holds the data storage units for which no data is presently required to be transferred thereto or therefrom. A reference data storage unit is in the holding area. In response to information indicating an excessive error level in transferring data between one data transfer device and a respective data storage unit: one data transfer device inserted in the data storage unit is removed; and a reference unit is inserted in the data transfer device for a reference transfer operation.