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:
 allocating, 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 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; 
 receiving from a first data storage cell of the plurality of data storage cells a first tape drive lease request to lease one or more tape drives for accessing the subset of tapes assigned to the first data storage cell; 
 granting a first lease of one or more tape drives of the plurality of tape drives to the first data storage cell for providing temporary access to the subset of tapes assigned to the first data storage cell, the first lease associated with a lease duration for which the first data storage cell is allowed to use the one or more tape drives under the first lease; 
 determining drive usage of the one or more tape drives by the first data storage cell; and 
 based on the drive usage of the one or more tape drives by the first data storage cell, performing one of (i) terminating the first lease such that the one or more tape drives become available for use by another data storage cell, and (ii) extending the first lease such that the first data storage cell is allowed to use the one or more tape drives for more than the lease duration. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates a number of tape drives requested to be leased. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates the lease duration for which the tape drives are requested to be leased. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates data-storage-cell-specific priority, which is based on a type of data that the first data storage cell is configured to generate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates lease-request-specific priority, which is based on a type of data to be moved to or from the tape data storage library using the one or more tape drives to be leased. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates lease-request-specific priority, which is based on a type of storage operation to be performed using the one or more tape drives to be leased. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the drive usage comprises directly monitoring usage of the one or more tape drives without querying the first data storage cell. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the drive usage comprises querying the first data storage cell whether the first data storage cell is still using the one or more tape drives leased under the first lease. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving, in response to the query, an extension request from the first data storage cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving, in response to the query, an indication from the first data storage cell that the first data storage cell is no longer using the one or more tape drives leased under the first lease. 
     
     
         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:
 allocate, 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 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; 
 receive from a first data storage cell of the plurality of data storage cells a first tape drive lease request to lease one or more tape drives for accessing the subset of tapes assigned to the first data storage cell; 
 grant a first lease of one or more tape drives of the plurality of tape drives to the first data storage cell for providing temporary access to the subset of tapes assigned to the first data storage cell, the first lease associated with a lease duration for which the first data storage cell is allowed to use the one or more tape drives under the first lease; 
 determine drive usage of the one or more tape drives by the first data storage cell; and 
 based on the drive usage of the one or more tape drives by the first data storage cell, perform one of (i) terminating the first lease such that the one or more tape drives become available for use by another data storage cell, and (ii) extending the first lease such that the first data storage cell is allowed to use the one or more tape drives for more than the lease duration. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates a number of tape drives requested to be leased. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates the lease duration for which the tape drives are requested to be leased. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates data-storage-cell-specific priority, which is based on a type of data that the first data storage cell is configured to generate. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates lease-request-specific priority, which is based on a type of data to be moved to or from the tape data storage library using the one or more tape drives to be leased. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first tape drive lease request indicates lease-request-specific priority, which is based on a type of storage operation to be performed using the one or more tape drives to be leased. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein determining the drive usage comprises directly monitoring usage of the one or more tape drives without querying the first data storage cell. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein determining the drive usage comprises querying the first data storage cell whether the first data storage cell is still using the one or more tape drives leased under the first lease. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to receive, in response to the query, an extension request from the first data storage cell. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to receive, in response to the query, an indication from the first data storage cell that the first data storage cell is no longer using the one or more tape drives leased under the first lease.