Patent ID: 8595430
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system for managing a virtual tape library (VTL) domain capable of being coupled to a host, comprising: a plurality of VTL nodes configured to store a plurality of scratch erased volumes and capable of being coupled to the host, wherein each VTL node comprises: a processor configured to be coupled to the host, wherein each processor is configured to: receive a request from the host to de-mount a volume in one of the plurality of VTL nodes; transfer the volume to a scratch category in response to receiving the request; erase data stored in the volume and categorize the volume as a scratch erased volume; compare a number of scratch erased volumes owned by each VTL node with a predetermined threshold number of scratch erased volumes; determine a frequency at which the host requests use of scratch erased volumes in each of the plurality of VTL nodes; determine a ratio of a number of scratch erased volumes owned by each VTL node with respect to the frequency; and provide ownership of the scratch erased volume to a VTL node which owns a least amount of scratch erased volumes relative to other VTL nodes in the plurality of VTL nodes based on the comparison or the ratio.