Patent ID: 7210058

Claim:
A method for peer-to-peer system recovery, wherein said peer-to-peer system comprises a plurality of virtual tape controllers in communication with a first virtual tape server and a second virtual tape server, comprising the steps of: generating a shutdown key regarding the status of said first virtual tape server; saving said shutdown key in each of said plurality of virtual tape controllers; taking said first virtual tape server out of operation at a first time; taking said second virtual tape server out of operation at a second time; placing said second virtual tape server in operation at a third time; determining if said first virtual tape is in operation at said third time; operative if said first virtual tape is not in operation at said third time: setting a VTC agreement threshold; determining by each virtual tape controller whether to place said second virtual tape server on-line; determining if the number of virtual tape controllers electing to place said second virtual tape server on-line is greater than said VTC agreement threshold; operative if the number of virtual tape controllers electing to place said second virtual tape server on-line is greater than said VTC agreement threshold, placing said peer-to-peer system on-line with only said second virtual tape server in operation.