Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for recalling a logical volume from a mountable media for use in a virtual tape server. The apparatus includes a receiving module, a queuing module, and an optimizer module. The receiving module receives recall requests for logical volumes stored in a mountable media such as a tape cartridge. The queuing module places the requests in a queue to be processed in turn. The optimizer module reorders the queue based on one or more optimization rules in order to process the recall requests more efficiently.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to increase the efficiency of copy operations in a data storage system. Multiple virtual storage controllers are each in communication with a host device and to two virtual storage servers. Both virtual storage servers are attached to a respective automated storage library. Each controller includes a copy queue. After directing that a volume of customer data be stored through one of the servers on media in the associated library, an initiating controller queues in a copy queue a request to copy the volume to the other library. If the request is not processed by the initiating controller within a very short period, the initiating controller broadcasts the copy request to the other controllers. Preferably, the copy request is transmitted first from the initiating controller to a routing device in one of the servers which broadcasts the request to each other controller. The copy request is queued in a copy queue of each other controller.

Abstract: A method to write information to two virtual tape servers. The method writes a file to a virtual host device disposed in a first virtual tape server, where the virtual host device comprises an adjustable bandwidth. The method queues a job to copy the file to a second virtual tape server, determines the age of the copy job, and copies that file to the second virtual tape server. The method sets an age threshold, and determines if the copy job age is greater than that age threshold. If the copy job age is greater than the age threshold, then the method decreases the adjustable bandwidth, if not, the method restores the adjustable bandwidth.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to write information to two geographically separated virtual tape servers, where a first virtual server includes a first adjustable host bandwidth, and where a second virtual tape server includes a second adjustable host bandwidth, and where the first virtual tape server and the second virtual tape server exchange information via a virtual tape controller. The method provides a file to the virtual tape controller, writes that file to the first virtual tape server, and queues a copy job for the file in the virtual tape controller. Subsequently, the method provides the file to the second virtual tape server. The method sets a throughput threshold, determines the actual VTC throughput, and determines if the actual VTC throughput exceeds the throughput threshold. The method sets an age threshold and determines if the copy job age is greater than that age threshold.