Shared library in a data storage system

Abstract

The library server according to certain aspects can manage the use of tape drives according to the data requirements of different storage operation cells. The library server according to certain aspects can also facilitate automatic management of tape media in a tape library by allocating the tapes and slots to different cells. For instance, the library server can manage the positioning and placement of the tapes into appropriate slots within the tape library.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of administering access to a tape data storage library that is shared amongst a plurality of data storage cells to manage copies of primary data, the method comprising:
 using one or more computing devices comprising computer hardware:
 assigning for each respective data storage cell of a plurality of data storage cells, a subset of a plurality of tapes in a tape data storage library for use by the respective data storage cell, the tape data storage library residing in a secondary storage subsystem and including a plurality of tape drives and a plurality of tape slots configured to hold the plurality of tapes, 
 wherein access to the tape data storage library is shared by the data storage cells and each of the data storage cells comprises one or more client computing devices residing in a primary storage subsystem; 
 receiving from a first data storage cell of the plurality of data storage cells a first request to access the subset of tapes assigned to the first data storage cell for performing a first storage operation, the first storage operation to move data between the primary storage subsystem and the tape data storage library, the first request including priority information associated with the first request; 
 receiving from a second data storage cell of the plurality of data storage cells a second request to access the subset of tapes assigned to the second data storage cell for performing a second storage operation, the second storage operation to move data between the primary storage subsystem and the tape data storage library, the second request including priority information associated with the second request; and 
 in response to determining that the first request has a higher priority than the second request, assigning at least some of the plurality of tapes drives to the first data storage cell for providing temporary access to the subset of tapes assigned to the first data storage cell. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising extending use of at least one of the tape drives assigned to the first data storage cell in response to determining that the first storage operation associated with the first request is not complete. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising interrupting use of at least one of the tapes drives assigned to the first data storage cell in response to:
 receiving from a third data storage cell of the plurality of data storage cells a third request to access the subset of tapes assigned to the third data storage cell for performing a third storage operation, the third storage operation to move data between the primary storage subsystem and the tape data storage library, the third request including priority information associated with the third request; and   determining that the third request has a higher priority than the first request.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subset of tapes for the respective data storage cell is dedicated for use by that data storage cell and not by others of the plurality of data storage cells. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determination that the first request has a higher priority than the second request includes determining that a priority associated with the first storage operation is higher than a priority associated with the second storage operation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the priority associated with the first storage operation is based on a type of the first storage operation and the priority associated with the second storage operation is based on a type of the second storage operation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first storage operation is for retrieving data from the tape data storage library and the second storage operation is for writing data to the tape data storage library. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determination that the first request has a higher priority than the second request includes determining that the first request is from the first data storage cell and that the second request is from the second data storage cell, wherein requests from the first data storage cell have priority over requests from the second data storage cell. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determination that the first request has a higher priority than the second request is based on one or more of: respective type of storage operation associated with the first and second requests, respective type of data associated with the first and second requests, or respective identity of data storage cells associated with the first and second requests. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of tapes has a barcode, and wherein said assigning for each respective data storage cell, the subset of the plurality of tapes comprises assigning a barcode range associated with the subset of the plurality of tapes. 
     
     
         12 . A data storage system configured to administer access to a tape data storage library that is shared amongst a plurality of data storage cells to manage copies of primary data, comprising:
 one or more computing devices comprising computer hardware and configured to:
 assign for each respective data storage cell of a plurality of data storage cells, a subset of a plurality of tapes in a tape data storage library for use by the respective data storage cell the tape data storage library residing in a secondary storage subsystem and including a plurality of tape drives and a plurality of tape slots configured to hold the plurality of tapes, 
 wherein access to the tape data storage library is shared by the data storage cells and each of the data storage cells comprises one or more client computing devices residing in a primary storage subsystem; 
 receive from a first data storage cell of the plurality of data storage cells a first request to access the subset of tapes assigned to the first data storage cell for performing a first storage operation, the first storage operation to move data between the primary storage subsystem and the tape data storage library, the first request including priority information associated with the first request; 
 receive from a second data storage cell of the plurality of data storage cells a second request to access the subset of tapes assigned to the second data storage cell for performing a second storage operation, the second storage operation to move data between the primary storage subsystem and the tape data storage library, the second request including priority information associated with the second request; and 
 in response to determining that the first request has a higher priority than the second request, assign at least some of the plurality of tapes drives to the first data storage cell for providing temporary access to the subset of tapes assigned to the first data storage cell. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to extend use of at least one of the tape drives assigned to the first data storage cell in response to determining that the first storage operation associated with the first request is not complete. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to interrupt use of at least one of the tapes drives assigned to the first data storage cell in response to:
 receiving from a third data storage cell of the plurality of data storage cells a third request to access the subset of tapes assigned to the third data storage cell for performing a third storage operation, the third storage operation to move data between the primary storage subsystem and the tape data storage library, the third request including priority information associated with the third request; and   determining that the third request has a higher priority than the first request.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the subset of tapes for the respective data storage cell is dedicated for use by that data storage cell and not by others of the plurality of data storage cells. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the determination that the first request has a higher priority than the second request includes determining that a priority associated with the first storage operation is higher than a priority associated with the second storage operation. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the priority associated with the first storage operation is based on a type of the first storage operation and the priority associated with the second storage operation is based on a type of the second storage operation. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first storage operation is for retrieving data from the tape data storage library and the second storage operation is for writing data to the tape data storage library. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the determination that the first request has a higher priority than the second request includes determining that the first request is from the first data storage cell and that the second request is from the second data storage cell, wherein requests from the first data storage cell have priority over requests from the second data storage cell. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the determination that the first request has a higher priority than the second request is based on one or more of: respective type of storage operation associated with the first and second requests, respective type of data associated with the first and second requests, or respective identity of data storage cells associated with the first and second requests. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of tapes has a barcode, and wherein the assigning, for each respective data storage cell, of the subset of the plurality of tapes comprises assigning a barcode range associated with the subset of the plurality of tapes.