Patent ID: 6839796

Claim:
A method to import a logical volume indicating explicit storage attribute specifications, comprising the steps of: providing a first virtual tape system comprising a first library inventory and a first information storage medium; maintaining a logical volume in said first information storage medium; assigning by said first virtual tape system (N) first storage attributes; writing an export list logical volume; providing a second virtual tape system, wherein said second virtual tape system comprises a second library inventory and a second information storage medium; defining in said second virtual tape system a plurality of second storage attributes; importing said logical volume and said (N) first storage attributes into said second virtual tape system; associating one or more construct overridden flags with said imported logical volume; determining if said import list logical volume specifies use of one or more of said second storage attributes; operative if said import list logical volume specifies use of one or more of said second storage attributes: assigning said one or more second storage attributes to said imported logical volume; setting one or more of said one or more construct overridden flags; saving in said second library said imported logical volume, said one or more assigned second storage attributes and said one or more construct overridden flags.