Patent ID: 6336163
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: G06F,G11B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for protecting data in logical volumes in an automated virtual storage section of a cartridge retrieval library containing physical media volumes of data, the library having a library manager with a data base program, a plurality of library cells for storing said physical media volumes, each physical media volume having from none to a plurality of said logical volumes located thereon, at least one drive unit, at least one accessor for accessing said library cells and reading labels of said physical media volumes and for transporting said physical media volumes between said drive unit and said cells, a stored table of existing logical volume records and of existing physical volume records, and a connection to a host computer, the method conducted in response to a command for determining the import/export designation of logical volumes in the automated virtual storage section, the method comprising the steps of:determining whether the library includes a virtual tape system; determining whether the virtual tape system is capable of handling export/import volumes; setting the input/output station to the insert mode and ending the method steps if there is no virtual tape system in the library or the virtual tape system is not export/import capable; setting the input/output station to an import mode if the virtual tape system is in the library and is export/import capable or the virtual tape system capability is unknown; inserting a physical volume into the input/output station; moving said physical volume to a library cell; reading a label from the physical volume; determining whether the physical volume is a possible import volume; placing the physical volume into an unassigned category if it is determined to be a possible import volume; and setting the unassigned category physical volume to an import category if not selected for the insert category or for ejection from the library.