Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090164714 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING A MASS DATA STORAGE DEVICE, SUCH AS FOR TROUBLESHOOTING A CARTRIDGE TAPE DRIVE - Method and apparatus for analyzing a mass data storage device, such as for troubleshooting a cartridge tape drive device. In one embodiment, the method comprises: physically associating non-volatile memory with a removable media storage device, storing information in the non-volatile memory regarding characteristics of the removable media storage device, and providing the non-volatile memory and the removable media storage device for service. Information stored in the non-volatile memory is available for use by a service technician. This information includes at least a first data structure associated with a state of the removable media storage device before servicing and at least a second data structure associated with historical information regarding operation of the removable media storage device. | 06-25-2009 |
20090254609 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED THROUGHPUT PERFORMANCE IN A DISTRIBUTED DATA DE-DUPLICATION ENVIRONMENT - In accordance with some embodiments, of the systems and methods described here a data storage system that may include data de-duplication may receive a stream of data and parse the stream of data into a block at a local client node. Additionally, in some embodiments, a code that represents the block of data might be determined at the local client node. This code, representing the block of data, may be sent to a server. In accordance with various embodiments, the server may determine if a block is unique, for example, based on the code received at the server. In various embodiments, the server might write a unique block to a file at the local client node; and update metadata. | 10-08-2009 |
20090259701 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SPACE MANAGEMENT IN DATA DE-DUPLICATION - The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for data de-duplication. More particularly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides systems and methods for data de-duplication that may utilize storage reclamation. In various embodiments, data de-duplication may be performed using data storage reclamation by reconciling a list of all active tags against a list of all tags present within the object store itself. Any tags found to be in the object store that have no corresponding active usage may then be deleted. In some embodiments additional steps may be taken to avoid race conditions in deleting tags that are needed by incoming data. In some embodiments the object store may request the lists. In other embodiments, a runtime list, in which each new tag is entered as they are returned from the object store. In another embodiment the object store may maintain this list directly. | 10-15-2009 |
20100014179 | Media library system and method for monitoring changes in inventory of media cartridges - A method for monitoring changes in an inventory of media cartridges in a media library includes the steps of determining with a controller that the inventory of media cartridges in the media library has changed, and asynchronously reporting with the controller the specific change in inventory of media cartridges that has occurred in the media library. The method can also include the step of determining whether the change in inventory included an increase or a decrease in the quantity of media cartridges within the media library, or whether the change in inventory did not include an increase or decrease in the quantity of media cartridges within the media library. Further, the method can also include the step of determining whether the change in inventory of media cartridges is required to be reported. A media library system includes a media library having a plurality of media cartridges, and a controller that determines a change in an inventory of media cartridges in the media library. In certain embodiments, the controller asynchronously and selectively reports a specific change in the inventory of media cartridges in the media library. | 01-21-2010 |
20100086135 | GENERATING UNIQUE ALIASES FOR KEYS USED WITH TAPE LIBRARIES - Unique key aliases are generated for tape libraries. According to one embodiment, a first library identifier associated with a first tape library, which does not conflict with a second library identifier associated with a second tape library, is generated. One library identifier is associated with each of the tape libraries. A unique key alias, which does not conflict with any key aliases associated with the first tape library and does not conflict with any key aliases associated with the second tape library, is generated based on the first library identifier. Tape data is encrypted based on a data key that is identified with the unique key alias as a part of writing the tape data to the first tape library. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088486 | CREATING A SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE OUTPUT FILE - Various embodiments provide for creating a self-contained portable output file that includes a de-duplicated version of data. According to one embodiment, data, which includes a selected group of files, is partitioned into subblocks. A de-duplicated version of the data is created by eliminating a second subblock from the data and using a first subblock to represent the second subblock, if the second subblock is a duplicate of the first subblock. A self-contained portable output file, which includes the de-duplicated version of the data, is created. | 04-08-2010 |
20100142071 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAPE DRIVE DATA LOGGING - Method and apparatus for logging of data within a data storage system, such as a tape drive library. The tape drive library includes a central storage (memory) providing storage space assigned to each tape drive in the tape drive library and allowing each tape drive to directly store data there, that is to log data files. The logging of the data files is at the instigation of each tape drive and not via polling, so as to perform logging synchronous with tape drive events. In one version, the tape drives are coupled to the central storage via an Ethernet network and the log files conform to a standard file protocol, such as a network file system. | 06-10-2010 |
20100195242 | IMPLEMENTING POWER SAVINGS IN AN AUTOMATED STORAGE SYSTEM - In a method of implementing power savings in an automated storage system, a power savings mode authorization is sent from a library controller to a tape drive, such that the tape drive is authorized to enter an extended power savings mode that maintains an operational host interface in the tape drive for communicating with a host system. A media move command is received at a tape library of the automated storage system. The media move command comprises a command from the host system for the tape library to move a tape cartridge to the tape drive. In response to receiving the media move command, an instruction is issued to the tape drive to transition from the extended power savings mode to an active power mode. The instruction is issued prior to notifying the host system of completion of the media move command. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198797 | CLASSIFYING DATA FOR DEDUPLICATION AND STORAGE - In a method of classifying data for deduplication, data to be classified is accessed. The data is classified into a deduplication classification in accordance with a data content aware data classification policy such that classified data is created. The data classification policy includes a plurality of deduplication classifications. | 08-05-2010 |
20110022760 | SATISFYING A REQUEST FOR A PHYSICAL IMPORT/EXPORT SLOT WITH A SLOT THAT IS NOT A PHYSICAL IMPORT/EXPORT SLOT - A request for a physical import/export (I/E) slot is satisfied using a tape library slot that is not a physical I/E slot. According to one embodiment, the request for the physical I/E slot, that is associated with the tape library, is received. A different slot, which is not any of the physical I/E slots associated with the tape library, is used to satisfy the request. | 01-27-2011 |
20110154052 | MEDIA-FOLLOWING ENCRYPTION POLICY CONTROL - Example articles of manufacture, methods, and systems facilitate having encryption policy follow an article of manufacture like a tape cartridge. One example article of manufacture includes a media portion (e.g., tape) and a non-media portion (e.g., housing). The media portion is configured to store machine readable information. The article of manufacture could be a tape, a disk, a memory, and other computer readable media. The article of manufacture also includes an encryption policy information indicator. The encryption policy information indicator can be configured to store information that controls an encryption policy associated with the article of manufacture. Therefore, encryption policy can, for example, follow a tape cartridge rather than be resident solely in a controlling application (e.g., tape library). | 06-23-2011 |
20120047324 | SEQUENTIAL ACCESS STORAGE AND DATA DE-DUPLICATION - An example method includes determining a configuration of two or more partitions for a sequential access medium. At least one partition stores data de-duplication data structures while at least one other partition stores a repository of unique data blocks associated with the data structures. The method also includes controlling a data de-duplication computer to configure the sequential access medium according to the configuration. The method includes producing an output sequence for writing the data structures and a set of unique data blocks associated with the set of data structures to the sequential access medium as configured with the two or more partitions. One embodiment includes controlling a data de-duplication computer to write the data de-duplication data structures and the set of unique data blocks to the sequential access medium according to the output sequence. | 02-23-2012 |
20120102288 | METHOD FOR MEDIA ALLOCATION IN A PARTITIONED REMOVABLE MEDIA STORAGE LIBRARY - An open systems based media storage library system ( | 04-26-2012 |
20120239630 | FILE REPAIR - Example methods, and apparatus concern file repair. One example method includes storing a file in a file store and also parsing the file into a set of constituent data blocks. The method includes selectively storing, in a data store, unique data blocks from the set of constituent data blocks. The method includes maintaining, in a combination of the file store and the data store, a threshold number of copies of data blocks. The method also includes maintaining a data structure that stores data for locating the file in the file store and that stores data for recreating the file from data blocks. The method also includes maintaining a data structure that stores data for locating multiple copies of data found in members of the set of constituent data blocks. Files can be repaired using data blocks parsed from stored files or using data blocks stored as data blocks. | 09-20-2012 |
20130003222 | TAPE LIBRARY INITIATED ACTIONS - Example apparatus and methods concern a tape library that can initiate an action. One example method may include controlling a tape library to perform a media scanning operation associated with an extended data life management policy. The extended data life management operation may be associated with an application representation of tape drives, slots, and tapes on the tape library. The method may include determining a result of the media scanning operation and selectively controlling the tape library to either provide status or to issue a command based on the result. In one example, conventional status may be returned when a media scan operation result (e.g., tape scan) indicates the tape is fine while a command may be issued when the result indicates the tape may need to be fixed, copied, or replaced. | 01-03-2013 |
20130046832 | MESSAGING POLICY CONTROLLED EMAIL DE-DUPLICATION - Example methods and apparatus associated with a messaging policy controlled email deduplication are provided. In one example a messaging policy is accessed. It is determined whether a received message complies with the policy based on rules of the messaging policy. If a message complies with the messaging policy, the message is displayed. If the message does not comply with the messaging policy, it is determined whether the message is duplicative. If the message is deemed duplicative it is not displayed. Conversely, if the message is not deemed duplicative it is displayed. | 02-21-2013 |
20130159261 | DE-DUPLICATION REFERENCE TAG RECONCILIATION - Example apparatus and methods concern de-duplication reference tag reconciliation associated with garbage collection and/or reference health checking. One example method may include accessing data associated with members of a set of references to blocks of data stored by a data de-duplication system. The method may process the first data to manipulate a Bloom filter into a state from which membership in the set of references can be assessed. The method may also include accessing a block identifier identified with a member of the set of blocks of data stored by the data de-duplication system and assessing membership in the set of references for the block identifier by querying the Bloom filter with the block identifier. If the block is not referenced, as determined by querying the Bloom filter, then the method may include performing a block reclamation action on the unreferenced block. | 06-20-2013 |
20130290261 | File System Based Exchange Between Disk-Based Network Attached Storage and Tape - Example apparatus and methods concern a file system based interface between a disk-based network attached storage device and a linear tape open (LTO) linear tape file system tape. One example method may include controlling a device (e.g., backup server) to read a file from the NAS device using a shared file system (e.g., NFS, CIFS) and controlling the device to write the file to the LTO tape device using the LTFS. Since the NAS device and the LTO device may have different information or metadata requirements, and since the shared file system and the LTFS may have different information or metadata requirements, the method may include controlling the device to remove from the file information specific to the NAS and the shared file system. Additionally, the method may include controlling the device to add to the file information specific to the LTFS or the LTO device. | 10-31-2013 |
20130339598 | Intelligent Active Vault Operation - Example apparatus, methods, and other embodiments concern a tape library controller (TLC) configured to examine import and export commands to provide more intelligent active vault support. One example method may include receiving a command in a TLC associated with a tape library that is configured with an active archive and an active vault. The example method may include determining that the command can be satisfied by one of, an operation involving the active vault, and an operation involving an external vault. The example method may then control the TLC to provide a request that seeks the vault destination to be used to satisfy the command. The example method may also include receiving an identifier of the vault destination in the TLC and controlling the tape library to move a tape to or from the active vault or the external vault based on the vault destination identifier. | 12-19-2013 |
20150081819 | Messaging Policy Controlled Email De-Duplication - Example methods and apparatus associated with a messaging policy controlled email deduplication are provided. In one example a messaging policy is accessed. It is determined whether a received message complies with the policy based on rules of the messaging policy. If a message complies with the messaging policy, the message is displayed. If the message does not comply with the messaging policy, it is determined whether the message is duplicative. If the message is deemed duplicative it is not displayed. Conversely, if the message is not deemed duplicative it is displayed. | 03-19-2015 |