Abstract: A computer program product for eliminating access to data within a writable storage media cartridge includes a computer readable medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to determine whether a first portion of data on the writable storage media cartridge is encrypted, and determine whether key shredding is enabled. In response to determining that key shredding is not enabled, the processing circuit causes performance of a long erase on at least the encrypted first portion of data, and causes shredding of an encryption key related to said encrypted first portion of data.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for accessing host data records stored in a virtual tape storage (VTS) system. The computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith. The computer readable program code includes computer readable program code configured to receive a mount request to access at least one host data record in a VTS system; computer readable program code configured to determine a starting logical block ID (SLBID) corresponding to the at least one requested host data record; computer readable program code configured to determine a physical block ID (PBID) that corresponds to the SLBID; computer readable program code configured to access a physical block on a magnetic tape medium corresponding to the PBID; and computer readable program code configured to output at least the physical block without outputting an entire logical volume that the physical block is stored to.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for accessing data stored in a virtual tape storage (VTS) system, according to one embodiment, include receiving a mount request to access at least one host data record in a VTS system, issuing a locate command to position the sequential access storage medium having the logical volume stored therein to about a position where the physical block having at least a portion of the requested at least one host data record therein is located; creating a partial virtual volume in a tape volume cache; and copying the physical block having the at least a portion of the requested at least one host data record therein from the sequential access storage medium to the partial virtual volume in the tape volume cache. An amount of data copied from the logical volume to the partial virtual volume is less than the amount of data in the logical volume.

Abstract: A computer program product for eliminating access to data within a writable storage media cartridge includes a computer readable medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to determine whether a first portion of data on the writable storage media cartridge is encrypted, and determine whether key shredding is enabled. In response to determining that key shredding is not enabled, the processing circuit causes performance of a long erase on at least the encrypted first portion of data, and causes shredding of an encryption key related to said encrypted first portion of data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a VTS system includes a tape volume cache, a storage drive for interacting with sequential access storage media; logic for receiving a mount request to access host data record(s) stored on a storage medium, the mount request including a virtual volume identifier of a logical volume and a logical block identifier of the first requested host data record therein; logic for issuing a locate command to position the sequential access storage medium to about a physical block in the logical volume having at least a portion of the requested host data record(s) therein based on the virtual volume identifier and the logical block identifier; logic for creating and supporting a partial virtual volume in the tape volume cache; and logic for copying at least the physical block to the partial virtual volume. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described, according to other embodiments.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for accessing data stored in a virtual tape storage (VTS) system, according to one embodiment, include receiving a mount request to access at least one host data record in a VTS system, issuing a locate command to position the sequential access storage medium having the logical volume stored therein to about a position where the physical block having at least a portion of the requested at least one host data record therein is located; creating a partial virtual volume in a tape volume cache; and copying the physical block having the at least a portion of the requested at least one host data record therein from the sequential access storage medium to the partial virtual volume in the tape volume cache. An amount of data copied from the logical volume to the partial virtual volume is less than the amount of data in the logical volume.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes selecting, by a processor, one of a WORM logical data object and a read-write logical data object for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data attributes bound to said selected logical data object until it is determined that said selected logical data object is available for reuse. At least one temporary data attribute is assigned to said selected logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected logical data object The selected logical data object is mounted and a write command to beginning of logical data object is received to bind at least one data attribute to said selected logical data object to replace data attributes and data associated with said selected logical data object to reuse said selected logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes selecting, by a processor, one of a WORM logical data object and a read-write logical data object for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data attributes bound to said selected logical data object until it is determined that said selected logical data object is available for reuse. At least one temporary data attribute is assigned to said selected logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected logical data object The selected logical data object is mounted and a write command to beginning of logical data object is received to bind at least one data attribute to said selected logical data object to replace data attributes and data associated with said selected logical data object to reuse said selected logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment for operating a virtual server supporting at least one Write Once Read Many (WORM) logical data object and at least one read-write logical object includes initializing a logical data object from a common pool of the logical data objects, the logical data object bound with a member of a media type group, the member of the media type group comprising a WORM logical data object and a read-write logical data object; and reusing one of the logical data objects as the member of the media type group without ejection and reinsertion by mounting the logical data object with a write from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to the member of the media type group to replace any previous attribute and data associated with the logical data object.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for accessing host data records stored in a virtual tape storage (VTS) system includes receiving a mount request to access a host data record, determining a starting logical block ID (SLBID) corresponding to the requested host data record, determining a physical block ID (PBID) that corresponds to the SLBID, accessing a physical block on a tape medium corresponding to the PBID, and outputting the physical block corresponding to the PBID without outputting an entire logical volume that the physical block is stored to. According to another embodiment, a VTS system includes random access storage, sequential access storage, support for a virtual volume, a storage manager having logic for determining a PBID that corresponds to a SLBID, and logic for copying a portion of a logical volume from the sequential access storage to the random access storage without copying the entire logical volume.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for accessing host data records stored on a VTS system includes receiving a mount request to access at least one host data record on a VTS system, determining a number of host compressed data records per physical block on a sequential access storage medium, determining a PBID that corresponds to the requested at least one host data record, accessing a physical block on the sequential access storage medium corresponding to the PBID, and outputting the physical block without outputting an entire logical volume that the physical block is stored to. In another embodiment, a VTS system includes random access storage, sequential access storage, support for at least one virtual volume, a storage manager having logic for determining a PBID that corresponds to a SLBID, and logic for performing the above described method. Other methods are also described.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to receive a mount request to access at least one host data record on a virtual tape storage (VTS) system; computer readable program code configured to determine a number of host compressed data records per physical block on a magnetic tape medium; computer readable program code configured to determine a physical block ID (PBID) that corresponds to the requested at least one host data record; computer readable program code configured to access a physical block on the magnetic tape medium corresponding to the PBID; and computer readable program code configured to output the physical block without outputting an entire logical volume from the magnetic tape medium that the physical block is stored to. Other systems and computer program products are also described.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for accessing host data records stored in a virtual tape storage (VTS) system. The computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith. The computer readable program code includes computer readable program code configured to receive a mount request to access at least one host data record in a VTS system; computer readable program code configured to determine a starting logical block ID (SLBID) corresponding to the at least one requested host data record; computer readable program code configured to determine a physical block ID (PBID) that corresponds to the SLBID; computer readable program code configured to access a physical block on a magnetic tape medium corresponding to the PBID; and computer readable program code configured to output at least the physical block without outputting an entire logical volume that the physical block is stored to.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for selective device access control in a data storage system are provided. A method includes initializing a plurality of access groups associated with logical devices used to access the data storage system, each of the plurality of access groups corresponding to a range of the logical devices, pursuant to a mount of a logical volume of the data storage system, and binding an access group name of one the plurality of access groups to at least one of a metadata of the logical volume at a volume creation and a volume header of the logical volume, wherein the logical volume, once bound to the access group name, is granted access by those of the logical devices in a range of the logical devices corresponding to the one of the plurality of access groups.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a virtual tape storage (VTS) system includes random access storage; sequential access storage; support for at least one virtual volume; a storage manager having logic for determining a physical block ID (PBID) that corresponds to a starting logical block ID (SLBID); and logic for copying a portion of a logical volume from the sequential access storage to the random access storage without copying the entire logical volume. Other embodiments are disclosed also.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for selective device access control in a data storage system are provided. A method includes initializing a plurality of access groups associated with logical devices used to access the data storage system, each of the plurality of access groups corresponding to a range of the logical devices, pursuant to a mount of a logical volume of the data storage system, and binding an access group name of one the plurality of access groups to at least one of a metadata of the logical volume at a volume creation and a volume header of the logical volume, wherein the logical volume, once bound to the access group name, is granted access by those of the logical devices in a range of the logical devices corresponding to the one of the plurality of access groups.

Abstract: Various method, system, and computer program product embodiments for selective device access control in a data storage system are provided. In one such embodiment, a plurality of access groups associated with logical devices used to access the data storage system is initialized. Each of the plurality of access groups corresponds to a range of the logical devices. An access group name of one of the access groups is bound to a logical volume of the data storage system at a volume creation. The logical volume, once bound to the access group name, is granted access by those of the logical devices in a range of the logical devices corresponding to the one of the access groups.

Abstract: A data storage system stores logical data object(s), each identified by a logical identifier. A control is configured to assign a unique WORM (Write Once Read Many) identifier to the logical data object, and stores the unique WORM identifier as associated with the logical identifier, in a database maintained by the control so as to be persistent. Data storage is configured to write the logical data object with a header with the unique WORM identifier. The control, in order to allow the logical data object to be accessed externally to the control, requires matching the unique WORM identifier in the header of a logical data object to the unique WORM identifier of the persistent database for the logical object. The unique WORM identifier is formed of a checksum hash value related to nonce fields comprising at least the logical identifier of the logical data object, and an incrementing token.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment for operating a virtual server supporting at least one Write Once Read Many (WORM) logical data object and at least one read-write logical object includes initializing a logical data object from a common pool of the logical data objects, the logical data object bound with a member of a media type group, the member of the media type group comprising a WORM logical data object and a read-write logical data object; and reusing one of the logical data objects as the member of the media type group without ejection and reinsertion by mounting the logical data object with a write from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to the member of the media type group to replace any previous attribute and data associated with the logical data object.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for accessing host data records stored in a VTS system includes receiving a mount request to access at least one host data record, determining a SLBID corresponding to the requested host data records, determining a PBID that corresponds to the SLBID, accessing a physical block on a sequential access storage medium corresponding to the PBID, and outputting at least the physical block corresponding to the PBID without outputting an entire logical volume that the physical block is stored to. According to another embodiment, a VTS system includes random access storage, sequential access storage, support for at least one virtual volume, a storage manager having logic for determining a PBID that corresponds to a SLBID, and logic for copying a portion of a logical volume from the sequential access storage to the random access storage without copying the entire logical volume. Other embodiments are disclosed also.