Patent ID: 7664910

Claim:
A data management method for a hierarchical virtual storage system which virtually uses a library apparatus having a plurality of recording media as a portion of a hard disk apparatus, comprising: managing loading of the recording media to the library apparatus and unloading of the recording media from the library apparatus in a database in units of a set that is formed by a plurality of recording media; and forming a logical volume, which is a recording unit of a data file with respect to the library apparatus, by a plurality of recording media, and managing the logical volume in the database in correspondence with the set, wherein information managed in the database includes logical volume information that is managed in units of the logical volume, media information that is managed in units of the recording medium, and library information that is managed in units of the library apparatus, wherein: the logical volume information includes a logical volume ID which is a consecutive number for management that is assigned to each logical volume when newly creating a logical volume, a logical volume number that takes a value of the logical volume number immediately prior to the unloading the logical volume when unloading a recording medium of the logical volume, a logical volume capacity indicating a capacity of the logical volume, a date and time of creation of the logical volume, and storage information including a flag that indicates whether or not the logical volume is unloaded from the library apparatus and the recording medium of the logical volume is in a stored state; the media information includes a media ID which is a consecutive number for management that is assigned to each recording medium when newly loading the recording medium into the library apparatus, label information indicating a label name of a label adhered to the recording medium, a stored library ID indicating an ID of the library apparatus in which the recording medium is loaded, load information including a flag that indicates whether or not the recording medium is loaded into the library apparatus, logical volume allocation information including a flag that indicates whether or not the recording medium is used as the logical volume, a logical volume ID which is a consecutive number for management that is assigned to each logical volume when newly creating a logical volume, a logical volume constituent number that indicates a constituent number of the recording medium within the set forming the logical volume, and a loaded date and time when each recording medium is newly loaded into the library apparatus; and the library information includes a library ID which is a consecutive number for management that is assigned to the library apparatus when registering the library apparatus with respect to the hierarchical virtual storage system, and a library apparatus name including an apparatus name of the library apparatus.