Patent ID: 7308528
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A virtual tape library system comprising: a storage device system connected to a host computer, wherein the storage device system includes: wherein the plurality of logical disks includes plural first type logical disks, each of which is categorized in a first type group and controlled by the controller to emulate a magnetic tape and be thus provided to the host computer for access thereto as a magnetic tape, and plural second type logical disks, each of which is categorized in a second type group and not controlled by the controller to emulate a magnetic tape, wherein said controller is adapted to conduct different respective read/write procedures from/to said first and second type logical disks based on whether a storage device system access request received from the host computer is formatted for a magnetic tape or for a magnetic disk, said different respective read/write procedures including a first read/write procedure from/to one of said first type logical disks when a storage device system access request is a tape access request formatted for a magnetic tape, and a second read/write procedure from/to one of said second type logical disks when a storage device system access request is a disk access request formatted for a magnetic disk, wherein in conducting the first read/write procedure, the controller converts a tape access request into a disk access request and accesses, in disk format, a physical magnetic disk in the first type logical disks that emulates a tape device, and wherein in conducting the second read/write procedure, the controller accesses, in disk format, a physical magnetic disk in the second type logical disks that does not emulate a tape device.