Patent ID: 6922709

Claim:
A method for operating an automated data storage library including dual media accessors to transport portable data storage media among sites in the library, where each accessor is associated with an accessor controller and a metadata concerning library properties of prescribed types, and the library additionally contains a version code corresponding to each metadata, the method comprising operations of: operating both accessor controllers to perform the following management operations, in each case these operations being performed by a subject accessor controller in regard to an other accessor controller and an other version code corresponding to the metadata associated with the other accessor controller: the subject accessor controller advancing the version code corresponding to the associated metadata in accordance with changes to said metadata; responsive to predetermined input stimuli, performing operations comprising: the subject accessor controller retrieving the version code corresponding to the associated metadata; only if the retrieved version code does not match the other version code, performing operations comprising: if the retrieved version code is more advanced than the other version code, sending the subject accessor's associated metadata to the other accessor controller; if the other version code is more advanced than the retrieved version code, receiving the other accessor's associated metadata and utilizing said received metadata to update the subject accessor's associated metadata.