Patent · US Expired

Network attached virtual tape data storage subsystem

US6529996B1 · kind B1 · utility

63Cited by
46References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 1999
Grant dateMar 4, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/067
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The network attached virtual tape storage subsystem interconnects a plurality of tape devices with a plurality of data processors via a high bandwidth switching network to implement a virtual, distributed tape data storage subsystem. The virtual, distributed tape data storage system realizes multiple virtual devices, which are available to any of the data processors and the bandwidth of the system is scalable and can be changed on demand. The virtual tape storage subsystem is managed by a system controller which contains a plurality of software elements including: resource allocation, resource configuration, and resource management. The use of a networked storage manager enables the tape devices to be managed as a pool and yet attach the tape devices directly to the network as individual resources. The networked storage manager must provide the mechanism for the enterprise management to control tape device allocation and configuration as well as other functions, such as tape cartridge movement and data migration.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.