Dynamic reuse and reconfiguration of logical data objects in a virtual tape system

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention comprises a virtual tape system supporting at least one Write Once Read Many (WORM) logical tape and at least one read-write logical tape, comprising a processor configured to a first task and/or a second task. The first task initializes a new logical data object from a single pool of at least two logical data objects, with the new logical data object bound with a member of a media type group consisting of a WORM data object or a read-write data object. The second task reuses one of the logical data objects without manual ejection and reinsertion. The reuse may include the processor configured to cycle the logical data object through a scratch pool as a selected scratch logical data object and mount the selected scratch logical data object with a write from beginning of tape command to bind at least one data attribute to the WORM data object.

1 . A virtual server supporting at least one Write Once Read Many (WORM) logical data object and at least one read-write logical data object, the virtual server comprising:
 a processor configured to initialize a logical data object from a common pool of at least two logical data objects, said logical data object bound with a member of a media type group in response to a write command to beginning of logical data object to replace any information previously associated with said logical data object, said media type group members comprising a WORM logical data object and a read-write logical data object; and   said processor configured to reuse one of said logical data objects as said member of said media type group without ejection and reinsertion by mounting said logical data object with a write from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said member of said media type group to replace any previous attribute and data associated with said logical data object.   
     
     
         2 . The virtual server of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said processor configured to select one of said WORM logical data objects for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object until it is determined that said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse;   said processor assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object; and   said processor mounting said selected WORM logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object to replace data attributes and data associated with said selected WORM logical data object to reuse said selected WORM logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.   
     
     
         3 . The virtual server of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 said processor configured to select one of said WORM logical data objects for reuse as a new read-write logical data object, said processor maintaining data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object until it is determined that said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse;   said processor assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object; and   said processor mounting said selected WORM logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to remove data attributes and data associated with said selected WORM logical data object to reuse said selected WORM logical data object as said new read-write logical data object.   
     
     
         4 . The virtual server of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 said processor configured to select one of said read-write logical data objects for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data associated with said selected read-write logical data object until it is determined that said selected read-write logical data object is available for reuse;   said processor assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected read-write logical data object while maintaining said data associated with said selected read-write logical data object; and   said processor mounting said selected read-write logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said selected read-write logical data object to replace data associated with said selected read-write logical data object to reuse said selected read-write logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.   
     
     
         5 . The virtual server of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 said at least one temporary data attribute assigned to said selected WORM logical data object provided to said processor during said mounting of said selected WORM logical data object;   said processor determining if said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse as said new WORM logical data object by issuing said write command to beginning of logical data object; and   if said write command to beginning of logical data object is not issued, said data associated with said selected WORM logical data object and said data attributes bound to said WORM logical data object are retained and said temporary data attributes are discarded.   
     
     
         6 . The virtual server of  claim 1 , wherein said common pool comprises scratch logical data objects, said scratch logical data objects comprising at least one WORM logical data object and at least one read-write logical data object. 
     
     
         7 . The virtual server of  claim 6 , wherein reuse of said logical data object can only occur if said logical data object is selected from a pool of scratch said logical data objects or if said logical data object is a logical data object that is newly inserted in the virtual server. 
     
     
         8 . The virtual server of  claim 6 , wherein said processor is configured to cycle said WORM logical data object through said scratch pool as a selected scratch logical data object. 
     
     
         9 . The virtual server of  claim 7 , wherein reuse one of said scratch logical data object occurs only in response to said processor cycling said scratch logical data object through said scratch pool as a selected scratch logical data object. 
     
     
         10 . The virtual server of  claim 7 , wherein said scratch logical data object is moved to a said pool of scratch logical data objects only if said processor has determined that the data stored thereon has expired and said scratch logical data object is available for reuse. 
     
     
         11 . The virtual server of  claim 1 , wherein said processor further comprises:
 said processor configured to reuse one of said logical data objects as said member of said media type group without ejection and reinsertion.   
     
     
         12 . The virtual server of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured for storing instructions operable with said processor, said instructions comprising:
 operating said processor to operate said virtual server with said at least one WORM logical data object and at least one read-write logical data object;   initializing said logical data object from said common pool of said logical data objects, with said logical data object bound with said member of said media type group in response to said write command to said beginning of logical data object; and   reusing one of said logical data objects as said member of said media type group without ejection and reinsertion by mounting said logical data object with a write from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said member of said media type group to replace any previous attribute and data associated with said logical data object.   
     
     
         13 . A method 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, the method comprising the following steps:
 initializing a logical data object from a common pool of said logical data objects, said logical data object bound with a member of a media type group in response to a write command to beginning of logical data object to replace said any information previously associated with said logical data object, said member of said media type group comprising a WORM logical data object and a read-write logical data object; and   reusing one of said logical data objects as said member of said media type group without ejection and reinsertion by mounting said logical data object with a write from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said member of said media type group to replace any previous attribute and data associated with said logical data object.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 selecting a logical data object from said common pool;   determining if said selected logical data object is a WORM logical data object;   determining if said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse for reuse as a new WORM logical data object;   maintaining data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object until it is determined if said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse;   assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object; and   mounting said selected WORM logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object to replace data attributes and data associated with said selected WORM logical data object to reuse said selected WORM logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 if it is determined that said selected logical data object is a WORM logical data object then;   determining if said selected logical data object is a WORM logical data object for reuse as a new read-write logical data object;   maintaining data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object until it is determined that said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse;   assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object; and   mounting said selected WORM logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to remove data attributes and data associated with said selected WORM logical data object to reuse said selected WORM logical data object as said new read-write logical data object.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 if it is determined that said selected logical data object is a read-write logical data object then;   determining if said selected read-write logical data object is a read-write logical data object for reuse as a new WORM logical data object;   maintaining data associated with said selected read-write logical data object until it is determined that said selected read-write logical data object is available for reuse;   assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected read-write logical data object while maintaining said data associated with said selected read-write logical data object; and   mounting said selected read-write logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said selected read-write logical data object to replace data associated with said selected read-write logical data object to reuse said selected read-write logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing said at least one temporary data attribute assigned to said selected WORM logical data object to said processor during said mounting of said selected WORM logical data object;   determining if said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse as said new WORM logical data object by issuing said write command to beginning of logical data object; and   if said write command to beginning of logical data object is not issued, retaining said data associated with said selected WORM logical data object and said data attributes bound to said WORM logical data object and discarding said temporary data attributes.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said common pool comprises scratch logical data objects, said scratch logical data objects comprising at least one WORM logical data object and at least one read-write logical data object. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein reuse of said logical data object can only occur if said logical data object is selected from a pool of scratch said logical data objects or if said logical data object is a logical data object that is newly inserted in the virtual server. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein reuse one of said scratch logical data object occurs only in response to said processor cycling said scratch logical data object through said scratch pool as a selected scratch logical data object. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said scratch logical data object is moved to a said pool of scratch logical data objects only if said processor has determined that the data stored thereon has expired and said scratch logical data object is available for reuse. 
     
     
         22 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:   computer usable program code configured to operate a processor to operate a virtual server configured to support at least one Write Once Read Many (WORM) logical data object and at least one read-write logical data object;   computer usable program code configured to initialize said logical data object from said common pool of said logical data objects, said logical data object bound with a member of a media type group in response to said write to said beginning of said logical data object to replace said any information previously associated with said logical data object, said member of said media type group comprising a WORM data object and a read-write data object; and   computer usable program code configured to reuse one of said logical data objects as said member of said media type group without ejection and reinsertion by mounting said logical data object with a write from beginning of said logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said member of said media type group to replace any previous attribute and data associated with said logical data object   
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein said computer usable program code configured to initialize further comprises:
 computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to select one of said WORM logical data objects for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object until it is determined that said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse;   computer usable program code configured operate said processor to select one of said WORM logical data objects for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object until it is determined that said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse;   computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to assign at least one temporary data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected. WORM logical data object; and   computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to mount said selected WORM logical data object and receive a write command from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object to replace data attributes and data associated with said selected WORM logical data object to reuse said selected WORM logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.   
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to select one of said WORM logical data objects for reuse as a new read-write logical data object, said processor maintaining data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object until it is determined that said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse;   computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to assign at least one temporary data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object; and   computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to mount said selected WORM logical data object and receive a write command from beginning of logical data object to remove data attributes and data associated with said selected WORM logical data object to reuse said selected WORM logical data object as said new read-write logical data object.   
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to select one of said read-write logical data objects for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data associated with said selected read-write logical data object until it is determined that said selected read-write logical data object is available for reuse;   computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to assign at least one temporary data attribute to said selected read-write logical data object while maintaining said data associated with said selected read-write logical data object; and   computer usable program code configured to operate said processor to mount said selected read-write logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said selected read-write logical data object to replace data associated with said selected read-write logical data object to reuse said selected read-write logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.   
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to provide said at least one temporary data attribute assigned to said selected WORM logical data object to said processor during said mounting of said selected WORM logical data object;   computer usable program code to operate said processor to determine if said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse as said new WORM logical data object by issuing said write command to beginning of logical data object; and   if said write command to beginning of logical data object is not issued, said data associated with said selected WORM logical data object and said data attributes bound to said WORM logical data object are retained and said temporary data attributes are discarded.   
     
     
         27 . A virtual server supporting at least one Write Once Read Many (WORM) logical data object and at least one read-write logical data object, the virtual server comprising:
 a processor configured to select 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;   said processor assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected logical data object; and   said processor mounting said selected logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object 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.   
     
     
         28 . The virtual server of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 said processor selecting one of said WORM logical data objects for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object until it is determined that said selected WORM logical data object is available for reuse;   said processor assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object while maintaining said data attributes bound to said selected WORM logical data object; and   said processor mounting said selected WORM logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said selected WORM logical data object to replace data attributes and data associated with said selected WORM logical data object to reuse said selected WORM logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.   
     
     
         29 . The virtual server of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 said processor selecting one of said read-write logical data objects for reuse as a new WORM logical data object, said processor maintaining data associated with said selected read-write logical data object until it is determined that said selected read-write logical data object is available for reuse;   said processor assigning at least one temporary data attribute to said selected read-write logical data object while maintaining said data associated with said selected read-write logical data object; and   said processor mounting said selected read-write logical data object and receiving a write command from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to said selected read-write logical data object to replace data associated with said selected read-write logical data object to reuse said selected read-write logical data object as said new WORM logical data object.