Network-Attachable, File-Accessible Storage Drive

Abstract

Storage drive logic and a standalone tape file structure are described. File transfer logic transfers file data to and from a network according to a first protocol. Media access logic accesses a sequential-access storage medium associated with the drive according to a second protocol. Media management logic translates file-based commands received from the network according to the first protocol into sequential-access device commands according to the second protocol. The device commands control accessing of data by the drive. The storage medium may be a magnetic tape including a data region for storing data in a file format, and a table of contents (TOC) region for storing a table of contents that indexes the locations of files within the data region.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method comprising:
 accessing a storage device comprising a magnetic tape;   storing metadata associated with a file in a first logical partition of the magnetic tape; and   storing the file in a second logical partition of the magnetic tape.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the first logical partition encompasses a first portion of a physical partition of the magnetic tape, and the second logical partition encompasses at least a second portion of the physical partition of the magnetic tape. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the physical partition is the first physical partition of the magnetic tape. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the metadata comprises one or more file attributes of the file. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the file attributes comprise a file name, a location of the file on the magnetic tape, a file size, a time stamp, or a logical location of the file in a folder tree. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the magnetic tape comprises a plurality of linear tracks. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the accessing the storage device is based on SCSI or Fiber Channel protocol. 
     
     
         47 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:
 access a storage device comprising a magnetic tape;   store metadata associated with a file in a first logical partition of the magnetic tape; and   store the file in a second logical partition of the magnetic tape.   
     
     
         48 . The media of  claim 47 , wherein the first logical partition encompasses a first portion of a physical partition of the magnetic tape, and the second logical partition encompasses at least a second portion of the physical partition of the magnetic tape. 
     
     
         49 . The media of  claim 48 , wherein the physical partition is the first physical partition of the magnetic tape. 
     
     
         50 . The media of  claim 47 , wherein the metadata comprises one or more file attributes of the file. 
     
     
         51 . The media of  claim 50 , wherein the file attributes comprise a file name, a location of the file on the magnetic tape, a file size, a time stamp, or a logical location of the file in a folder tree. 
     
     
         52 . The media of  claim 47 , wherein the magnetic tape comprises a plurality of linear tracks. 
     
     
         53 . The media of  claim 47 , wherein the logic is operable to access the storage device based on SCSI or Fiber Channel protocol. 
     
     
         54 . A tape drive comprising one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:
 access a storage device comprising a magnetic tape;   store metadata associated with a file in a first logical partition of the magnetic tape; and   store the file in a second logical partition of the magnetic tape.   
     
     
         55 . The tape drive of  claim 54 , wherein the first logical partition encompasses a first portion of a physical partition of the magnetic tape, and the second logical partition encompasses at least a second portion of the physical partition of the magnetic tape. 
     
     
         56 . The tape drive of  claim 55 , wherein the physical partition is the first physical partition of the magnetic tape. 
     
     
         57 . The tape drive of  claim 54 , wherein the metadata comprises one or more file attributes of the file. 
     
     
         58 . The tape drive of  claim 57 , wherein the file attributes comprise a file name, a location of the file on the magnetic tape, a file size, a time stamp, or a logical location of the file in a folder tree. 
     
     
         59 . The tape drive of  claim 54 , wherein the magnetic tape comprises a plurality of linear tracks.