Abstract: Non-invasive recalibration is performed for an accessor in a data storage library. The library includes an accessor along with multiple targets such as fiducials, media storage cells, and one or more media drives. A storage unit contains stored coordinates aligning the accessor with the targets. One of the fiducials is predefined as a master fiducial. When recalibrating, the accessor is used to determine new master coordinates currently defining the master fiducial. A positional difference is derived between the new master coordinates and the stored coordinates of the master fiducial. Coordinate update values are determined for each cell and drive according to the positional difference. The coordinate update value of each target may be the derived positional difference, or the target's new coordinate. The coordinate update values are finally stored for use to position the accessor during subsequent operation of the library.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for maintaining states of an operator interface, such as an operator panel and convenience input/output station, of a dual library manager/dual controller system in the event of a failure to one controller during an operation. The invention allows control of the operator panel and convenience input/output station status lights and the states themselves by more than one controller without reinitializing at a default condition by detecting a failure during an operation, switching control to a second accessor controller and establishing a correct state for the operator interface via the second accessor controller. A correct state for a station is established by first establishing a fake empty status for the station and then locking the station, if necessary.

Abstract: Disclosed are an automated data storage library and a method for operating the library. The library includes two pickers arranged on a common guideway; a plurality of media storage slots arranged in a plurality of regions alongside the guideway; a plurality of read/write stations arranged in regions alongside the guideway. Commands are received for jobs to move media amongst the storage slots and the read/write stations, and a controller queues the received commands and allocates the queued commands to the pickers and in an order of jobs which will allow the pickers to independently access and move the media so as to avoid interference in the same region, or in regions which are behind the other picker. The media storage slots may be arranged in row sets and regions alongside the guideway, each row set including one or more storage slots and each region including one or more columns, with the regions narrower than the pickers.

Abstract: In a data storage subsystem a virtual removable media server (VRMS) handles host audit requests, whether directed to a physical volume or a virtual volume physically stored in cache or in a removable physical media item. The subsystem includes a storage interface between the host and data storage facilities including a cache and a physical media library. To the host, the storage interface emulates a virtual library including a plurality of virtual media items, each containing a logical volume of data. The library may also maintain physical media items each storing one logical volume, as in a traditional library. To verify presence of a specified logical volume of the virtual library, the host sends an audit request. Responsively, the subsystem cross-references the specified logical volume in a first list to identify physical locations of underlying data. This physical location may be an address in the cache and/or a physical volume corresponding to a physical media item in the library.

Abstract: An automated data storage library for storing and accessing a plurality of data storage media stored in a plurality of storage slots. A plurality of accessors access the data storage media between the storage slots and data recording device(s), an operator interface allows an operator to designate one of the accessors as active, and a library manager is interconnected with the accessors and with the operator interface to set operation modes of the accessors.

Abstract: A method and system for reclaiming stacked volumes within a peripheral data storage subsystem is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a database is interrogated to determine whether or not an opportunistic reclaim threshold of a stacked volume has been reached after a service request from a host computer has been performed on a stacked volume and while the stacked volume is still mounted. If the opportunistic reclaim threshold of the stacked volume has not been reached, the stacked volume is released and dismounted. However, if the reclaim threshold of the stacked volume has been reached, another determination is made as to whether or not a service request for the host computer is pending. If the host computer requires service, the stacked volume is again released and dismounted. Otherwise, if the host computer does not require service, at least one data set from the mounted stacked volume is opportunistically reclaimed while the stacked volume is still mounted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Input/Output station of an automated storage and retrieval system, or library, which uses an elevator mechanism to vertically translate a cartridge or a magazine containing a plurality of cartridges from a maximum vertical position above the top surface of the library to a minimum vertical position beneath the top surface and internal to the library. The Input/Output station is aligned with the other components of the library such that the vertical path of the elevator mechanism does not interfere with the path of the accessor. The operation of the Input/Output station does not pause the accessor and thus, does not interfere with the operation of the other automated processes within the library. Cartridges can be added to or removed from the library using the Input/Output station while the accessor is moving a different cartridge from a storage cell in the storage array to a drive.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Input/Output station of an automated storage and retrieval system, or library, which uses an elevator mechanism to vertically translate a cartridge or a magazine containing a plurality of cartridges from a maximum vertical position above the top surface of the library to a minimum vertical position beneath the top surface and internal to the library. The Input/Output station is aligned with the other components of the library such that the vertical path of the elevator mechanism does not interfere with the path of the accessor. The operation of the Input/Output station does not pause the accessor and thus, does not interfere with the operation of the other automated processes within the library. Cartridges can be added to or removed from the library using the Input/Output station while the accessor is moving a different cartridge from a storage cell in the storage array to a drive.