Patent ID: 7698532

Claim:
A system comprising: a computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions executable to implement a virtual tape interface, wherein said virtual tape interface is configured to allow a primary storage device to be accessed using at least one operation that is substantially the same as that used to control a tape backup device, wherein said primary storage device is accessed using said at least one operation in response to a call received from a utility by said virtual device interface, said virtual tape interface is coupled to control said primary storage device and said tape backup device, said virtual tape interface comprises a virtual loader library, said virtual loader library is configured to create a directory corresponding to a virtual loader on said primary storage device, said virtual loader library is configured to create a file, within said directory, corresponding to a virtual tape that can be loaded within said virtual loader, said virtual tape interface is configured to store data written to said virtual tape in said file, said primary storage device comprises non-removable storage media and is configured to provide access to data stored on said non-removable storage media, and said tape backup device comprises removable storage media and is configured to permit access to data stored on said removable storage media.