Recalling files stored on a tape

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9830085-B1
Application number	US-201715407277-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 17, 2017
Priority date	Aug 24, 2016
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

The time required for recalling the file is reduced when the file is written in a mounted plurality of tapes in comparison to recalling the file when written in a non-mounted plurality of tapes. In the non-mounted state, criteria does not typically exist in order to recall the written file within the plurality of tapes. Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recalling files based on criteria which considers: the mounted state of a tape; the type of tape; the type of available tape drive; the number of files included in a tape; and the location of the written file in a tape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for recalling a file, comprising:
recording, by one or more processors, a file within a plurality of storage media containing at least one component;
calculating, by one or more processors, an expected reading time to read the file for each component within the plurality of storage media in which the file is recorded, wherein the expected reading time includes a time required for mounting each component loaded in a drive, wherein calculating the expected reading time comprises:
determining, by one or more processors, a time required to load each component, characteristics associated with the drive, a first time required for seeking a recording location of the file on each component, a second time required for reading the file based on: a position in a vertical direction of the file and a position in a longitudinal direction of the file, wherein the position in the vertical direction of the file and the longitudinal direction of the file indicate a position within the component;
responsive to migrating a file from a primary storage to a component within the plurality of storage media, associating, by one or more processors, the vertical direction of the file and the longitudinal direction of the file with an identified component to be utilized for reading the file, wherein the identified component has a lowest expected reading time among the plurality of storage media;
recording, by one or more processors, the vertical direction of the file and the longitudinal direction of the file associated with the identification in the primary storage;
dynamically counting, by one or more processors, a number of files and directories stored in each component, wherein the dynamically counted number of files is used at least in part to calculate the time required for mounting each component; and
utilizing, by one or more processors, a component for reading the file, wherein the utilized component has the lowest expected reading time within the plurality of storage media and contains the identification of the component associated with the vertical direction of the file and the longitudinal direction of the file.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Hasegawa Tohru
• Itagaki Hiroshi
• Matsui Sosuke
• Mitsuma Shinsuke
• Miyamura Tsuyoshi
• Yamamoto Noriko

Classifications

• G06F3/0686

  Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox · CPC title

• G06F3/0611 Primary

  in relation to response time · CPC title

• G06F3/0643

  Management of files · CPC title

• G06F3/0619

  in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors · CPC title

• G06F3/0659

  Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling · CPC title