Patent ID: 8320569

Claim:
A method of generating unique aliases for keys used with tape libraries, the method comprising: accessing a first library identifier associated with a first tape library that does not conflict with a second library identifier associated with a second tape library; generating a unique key alias that does not conflict with key aliases associated with the first tape library and does not conflict with key aliases associated with the second tape library based, at least in part, on the first library identifier; and encrypting tape data based on a data key that is identified with the unique key alias, where generating the unique key alias comprises: creating a unique identifier prefix by appending a first portion of the first library identifier onto a second portion of the first library identifier, and concatenating the unique identifier prefix with a range value, where the first library identifier is a World Wide Name (WWN) identifier, where the unique identifier prefix is shorter in length than the WWN identifier, where the first portion is a manufacturing assigned portion of the VVWN identifier, and where the second portion is an Organizational Unique Identifier (OUI) of the WWN identifier.