Patent ID: 7647448

Claim:
A backup and archiving system with tape cassettes for data processing systems, comprising: at least one Data Port for receiving data to be stored in memory; at least one Cassette Drive for tape cassettes; and an Interface Unit for connecting said at least one Data Port with said at least one Cassette Drive, said Interface Unit comprising: (a) a Disk Memory Subsystem with at least one Disk Memory Unit for temporary storage of data to be backed up and secured on the tape cassettes; (b) a second Function Unit adapted to perform at least one internal channel process to transfer data exclusively between said at least one Data Port and said Disk Memory Subsystem, wherein a first Component Computer comprising a microprocessor, a working storage, and a bus system is provided for said second Function Unit; (c) a third Function Unit adapted to perform at least one internal device process to transfer data exclusively between said Disk Memory Subsystem and said at least one Cassette Drive, wherein a second Component Computer comprising a microprocessor, a working storage, and a bus system is provided for said third Function Unit; (d) a first Function Unit adapted to perform at least one virtual library process to control said second and third Function Units in order to coordinate data flow between said at least one Data Port and said at least one Cassette Drive via said Disk Memory Subsystem, wherein said first Function Unit is set up on at least one of said first and second Component Computers provided for said second or third Function Unit, respectively; (e) a first interface element directly connecting the first and second Component Computers and configured to exchange data of said processes set up on the first and second Component Computers; and (f) a second interface element separate from the first interface element and directly connecting the first and second Component Computers and the Disk Memory Subsystem and configured to transfer data between the first and second Component Computers and the Disk Memory Subsystem.