Patent ID: 8621124
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for operating an improved data storage system wherein the improved data storage system has: a physical drive with a host medium loaded therein; a controller of the data storage system, the controller enabled for maintaining status of the physical drive, and for exchanging information with a remote host server; the method comprising: the controller identifying to the host server a plurality of virtual storage slots and a plurality of virtual drives of the data storage system, wherein the virtual storage slots and virtual drives are adapted for being recognized by the host server as physical storage slots and physical drives; the host server initially commanding the controller to assign the host medium to a selected one of the virtual storage slots, said selected one of the virtual storage slots being recognized as the physical drive; the host server commanding the controller to move the host medium from the selected one of the virtual storage slots, to a selected one of the virtual drives, said selected one of the virtual drives being recognized as the physical drive; the controller confirming to the host server the move of the host medium from the selected one of the virtual storage slots, to the selected one of the virtual drives, said selected one of the virtual drives being recognized as the physical drive; the host server commanding the controller to execute at least one of a read, write, and erase actions on the host medium in the selected one of the virtual drives, said selected one of the virtual drives being recognized as the physical drive; the controller executing the at least one of said read, write, and erase actions on the host medium, and confirming said execution to the host server; the host server commanding the controller to move the host medium from the selected one of the virtual drives to a selected one of the virtual storage slots, said selected one of the virtual storage slots being recognized as the physical drive; the controller confirming to the host server the move of the host medium from the selected one of the virtual drives, to a selected one of the virtual storage slots, said selected one of the virtual storage slots being recognized as the physical drive, and assigning the host medium to the selected one of the virtual storage slots.