Patent ID: 7747816
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A virtual tape stacker comprising: a server interface adapted to communicate with a server; a random access data storage device; a data path adapted to communicate with the random access data storage device; and a controller configured to transfer data between the server interface and the random access data storage device via the data path; wherein the controller manages the data on the random access data storage device as a plurality of virtual tape volumes, wherein the controller defines a virtual tape drive for transferring data between the server and the virtual tape volumes, wherein the controller defines a sequential order for loading the virtual tape volumes into the virtual tape drive, and wherein, in response to an eject command from the server, the controller unloads one of the virtual tape volumes from the virtual tape drive and loads a next consecutive one of the virtual tape volumes into the virtual tape drive according to the sequential order.