In one embodiment, a method is provided for copying data in a virtual sequential access volume (VSAV) among at least two computers. The method of the present invention includes the operations of: writing first data in a first VSAV, into a first storage device of a first computer; updating version information on the first VSAV, and storing the updated version information and information on a write start position of the first data, into the first storage device; transmitting the information on the write start position of the first data to a second computer; writing the first data into a second storage device of the second computer, from the write start position of the first data; and updating version information on the first VSAV, and storing the updated version information and the received information on the write start position of the first data, into the second storage device.

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to position a magnetic tape volume to a position corresponding to an end of a last data set stored to the magnetic tape volume, and read an existing tape volume access block (TVAB) from the magnetic tape volume in response to a determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume. The logic is also configured to write one or more data sets to the magnetic tape volume subsequent to reading the existing TVAB in response to the determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and update the existing TVAB with the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to produce an updated TVAB.

A method, computer program product, and system for dividing a file and writing the file to a plurality of tapes in a tape library system comprising a plurality of tape apparatuses. A request to write a file to a plurality of tapes is received. The file comprises data. A number of available tapes is predicted with respect to a number of drives available at a time when the file requested to be written is written to the plurality of tapes. The data of the file is divided into a predetermined number of segments to reduce a time period for reading the file. The predetermined number of segments is based on the predicted number of tape drives. The data segments are written to the available tape drives.

In one embodiment, a method includes determining a size of a file associated with each job in a job queue of files to be migrated to one of a plurality of drives that includes at least one of each of the following: a faster drive and a relatively slower drive. The availability of a faster drive is determined. The file associated with the job in the job queue having a file size larger than a threshold is sent to the faster drive.

In an embodiment, a method includes, responsive to a user request for a virtual tape from a first library operatively coupled to a first plurality of virtual tape storage devices sent to a second library operatively coupled to a second plurality of virtual tape storage devices, copying a virtual tape from the second plurality of virtual tape storage devices of the second library to the first plurality of virtual tape storage devices of the first library.

In some examples, a computer receives a command to transport a storage cartridge in a storage system from a physical storage slot to a storage drive, and determines whether the storage cartridge is associated with a restricted transport indication set by a configuration operation in the storage system. In response to determining that the storage cartridge is associated with the restricted transport indication, the computer checks for an indication of receipt of an access secret information, and denies processing of the command to transport the storage cartridge if the indication of receipt of the access secret information is not present.

A method is used in applying XAM processes. A set of content is received via any of a file system interface, a block based interface, an object based interface to an object addressable data storage system. An object derived from the set of content and having an object identifier is stored in the object addressable data storage system. The object is made available for retrieval via the object based interface using the object identifier.

A flash-based storage warehouse system includes flash memory devices and reader/writer devices that are moveable to different locations in a structure. Each of the flash memory devices are at one of the different locations in the structure. Each of the reader/writer devices includes a locomotion apparatus configured to move the corresponding one of the reader/writer devices to a different location in the structure and a processor coupled to a memory and the locomotion apparatus that is configured to execute machine executable code to: engage the locomotion apparatus to adjustably position one of reader/writer devices to one of the locations in the structure in response to a received operation; couple power via the corresponding one of the reader/writer devices to one of the flash memory devices at the one of the locations in the structure; and execute the operation on the flash memory device at the location in the structure.

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, is for integrating magnetic tape storage with a distributed disk file system. The computer-implemented method includes: registering for a subset of data operations that are recorded at a central location, where the central location is coupled to a plurality of distributed accessor nodes. A subset of available resources in one or more magnetic tape libraries that are coupled to the plurality of distributed accessor nodes are registered for and further managed. Moreover, a performance of the subset of data operations using the registered subset of available resources is scheduled. Supplemental data operations which correspond to the subset of data operations are also automatically received from the central location.

A data storage system that moves and transfers components (e.g., the data storage cartridges, data storage magazines, etc.) utilizing drone systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one data storage library for storing, reading, and writing of data to or on a plurality of data storage cartridges and at least one drone vehicle. The system also includes a processing device and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to cause the processing device to receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location, and by the drone vehicle, perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location. In accordance with another embodiment, a drone vehicle for transferring data storage components is disclosed. According to yet another embodiment, a method of transferring data storage components within a data storage system utilizing drones is disclosed.