Patent ID: 7974830
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A tape management method for using a plurality of files contained in a virtual tape on a disk apparatus from programs in a system virtually emulating a magnetic tape apparatus by said disk apparatus, wherein: a host for managing said disk apparatus is equipped with a storage unit having virtual tape management information including a first file name of a file contained in said virtual tape, a volume name to which said file belongs, attribute information for identifying permission of simultaneous use when the use of said virtual tape exists from a plurality of programs, and exclusive condition information for identifying whether or not said virtual tape is in use; wherein said tape management method comprising the steps of: setting said exclusive condition of the virtual tape management information to “in use” when receiving a use request of the file of said virtual tape; judging whether or not said attribute information is permitted when receiving further a use request of the file of said virtual tape when said file is in use; adding to said virtual tape management information, when said attribute information is permitted, another virtual tape management information including a second file name of the file contained in said virtual tape, wherein the second file name is different from the first file name, the volume name to which said file belongs, the attribute information for identifying permission of simultaneous use, and the exclusive condition information for identifying whether or not said virtual tape is in use, setting the exclusive condition information of said another virtual tape management information to “in use”, executing input/output processing for the further use request of the file of said virtual tape; and releasing and deleting the allocation of said another virtual tape management information when said input/output processing is completed.