Patent ID: 8577043

Claim:
An encryption command communications appliance for an automated data storage library, the appliance comprising: a first interface coupled with an encryption key manager (EKM); a first library-drive interface (LDI) coupled with a data storage library controller, the library controller comprising a first host interface coupled to a host device; a second LDI coupled with an encryption-capable data storage device, the encryption-capable storage device comprising a second host interface coupled to the host device and having no interface coupled to the library controller; and a controller coupled to the first interface and the first second LDIs to permit the encryption-capable data storage device to communicate with the EKM without communicating with the library controller; the appliance being operable to: intercept encryption commands and data from the encryption-capable data storage device and forward the requests to the EKM through the second LDI the first interface; intercept encryption commands and data from the EKM and forward the requests to the encryption-capable data storage device through the first interface and the second LDI; and forward communications between the library controller and the encryption-capable data storage device through first and second LDIs.