Method and apparatus for tape backshingling
By automatically monitoring and controlling the tape library's tape port status, automatic tape ejection is achieved, solving the problem of low efficiency in manual tape ejection in existing technologies, improving operation and maintenance efficiency, and saving manpower and communication costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
The existing tape library has limited storage capacity, and the manual tape removal process is cumbersome and costly to communicate, resulting in low operation and maintenance efficiency.
By monitoring the tape port status, the system automatically sends idle notifications, receives tape ejection requests from the data backup environment, executes tape ejection actions, and performs forced tape ejection in case of abnormalities. After completion, it sends idle notifications, thus achieving automatic tape ejection.
It improves the efficiency of maintenance and repair, saves manpower and communication costs, and reduces errors in manual comparison and communication with maintenance personnel.
Smart Images
Figure CN116597872B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of application development technology, and in particular to a method and apparatus for tape ejection. Background Technology
[0002] This section is intended to provide background or context for the embodiments of the invention set forth in the claims. The description herein is not an admission that it is prior art simply because it is included in this section.
[0003] Tape is an important backup medium in backup systems. As various industries place increasing emphasis on data security, the amount of backup content is gradually increasing, leading to a rise in tape consumption. Existing tape libraries have limited storage capacity, while there is a continuous need to store blank tapes. Therefore, software maintenance personnel manually eject full tapes in the data backup environment, while hardware maintenance personnel retrieve the tape from the tape port, observe the port status, and remotely communicate with software maintenance personnel about the tape ejection status. This process is cumbersome and has high communication costs.
[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method and device to automatically perform tape unloading in the software-side data backup environment, detect the number of tape ports and tape unloading status on the hardware side, improve tape maintenance efficiency, and save manpower and communication costs. Summary of the Invention
[0005] This invention provides a tape ejection method for tape libraries, enabling automatic tape ejection, improving tape ejection maintenance efficiency, and saving manpower and communication costs. The method includes:
[0006] Monitor the port status;
[0007] When the port status is detected as idle, a port idle notification is sent to the data backup environment;
[0008] Receive unload requests submitted by the data backup environment, wherein the unload requests are generated by the data backup environment based on the unload list in the database;
[0009] Perform a tape ejection action based on the tape ejection request. If a tape ejection error occurs during the execution of the tape ejection action, a forced tape ejection action will be performed.
[0010] After the tape unwinding action is completed, a tape port idle notification is sent to the data backup environment, waiting for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape unwinding request.
[0011] This invention also provides a magnetic tape ejection device for use in a magnetic tape library, which enables automatic tape ejection, improves tape ejection maintenance efficiency, and saves manpower and communication costs. The device includes:
[0012] The monitoring module is used to monitor the status of the port.
[0013] The notification module is used to send a port idle notification to the data backup environment when the port status is detected as idle.
[0014] The receiving module is used to receive unwind requests submitted by the data backup environment, wherein the unwind requests are generated by the data backup environment based on the unwind list in the database;
[0015] The tape ejection module is used to perform tape ejection actions based on tape ejection requests. If a tape ejection error occurs during the execution of the tape ejection action, a forced tape ejection action will be performed.
[0016] The notification module is also used to send a tape port idle notification to the data backup environment after the tape unwinding action is completed, and wait for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape unwinding request.
[0017] This invention also provides a computer device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the above-described tape ejection method.
[0018] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described magnetic tape ejection method.
[0019] This invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described tape ejection method.
[0020] Compared with the existing manual tape ejection method, the embodiments of the present invention monitor the tape port status; when the tape port status is detected to be idle, a tape port idle notification is sent to the data backup environment; a tape ejection request is received from the data backup environment, wherein the tape ejection request is generated by the data backup environment based on the tape ejection list in the database; the tape ejection action is executed according to the tape ejection request; if the tape ejection action is abnormal during the execution of the tape ejection action, a forced tape ejection action is executed; after the tape ejection action is completed, a tape port idle notification is sent to the data backup environment, and the system waits for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape ejection request. This enables automatic tape ejection, improves tape ejection maintenance efficiency, and saves manpower and communication costs. Attached Figure Description
[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:
[0022] Figure 1This is a flowchart of a conventional magnetic tape ejection method in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the magnetic tape ejection method in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the magnetic tape ejection method in this invention.
[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the magnetic tape ejection device in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a computer device in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention.
[0028] The acquisition, storage, use, and processing of data in this application all comply with the relevant provisions of national laws and regulations.
[0029] Figure 1 The flowchart below illustrates an existing tape ejection method in this embodiment of the invention. The existing tape ejection method for the data backup environment and tape library is shown in Figure 1. System maintenance personnel submit tape ejection commands to the data backup environment in batches according to the tape ejection list, while simultaneously informing equipment maintenance personnel. The data backup environment then sends a tape ejection request to the tape library, which ejects the tape to the tape port. Equipment maintenance personnel collect the tape at the tape port and notify the system maintenance personnel of the ejected tape number. After the tape port is cleared, the system maintenance personnel are notified to submit more tape ejection commands. System personnel need to compare the tape ejection information provided by equipment maintenance personnel with the target tape ejection information to check for discrepancies. If any abnormalities are found, they need to be investigated and addressed. The existing tape ejection method is cumbersome, has high communication costs, and manual comparison leads to a high tape ejection error rate.
[0030] This invention proposes a tape ejection method and apparatus based on a data backup environment and tape library. According to the tape ejection list, system maintenance personnel input the list into a database. When the data backup environment receives tape port idle information monitored by the tape library, it submits tape ejection requests to the tape library sequentially. When the tape arrives at the tape port, the tape library sends the tape port information to the database for data comparison. This avoids manual comparison and reduces communication between maintenance personnel at the ECC (Enterprise Command Center) and the data center, making it widely applicable.
[0031] Figure 2The flowchart of the magnetic tape ejection method in this embodiment of the invention includes:
[0032] Step 101: Monitor the port status;
[0033] Step 102: When the port status is detected as idle, send a port idle notification to the data backup environment;
[0034] Step 103: Receive a tape rollback request submitted by the data backup environment, wherein the tape rollback request is generated by the data backup environment based on the tape rollback list in the database;
[0035] Step 104: Perform the tape ejection action according to the tape ejection request. If the tape ejection is abnormal during the execution of the tape ejection action, perform a forced tape ejection action.
[0036] Step 105: After the tape unwinding action is completed, send a tape port idle notification to the data backup environment and wait for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape unwinding request.
[0037] In one embodiment, the tape ejection method further includes generating an ejection list after the tape ejection action is completed.
[0038] In one embodiment, the tape ejection method further includes providing an ejection list to a database so that the database can compare the ejection list with the ejection list.
[0039] In one embodiment, the data backup environment and the tape library communicate via an Application Programming Interface (API). In this embodiment, automatic tape ejection can be achieved using programming languages such as Python and shell, as well as a database, through the API provided by the data backup environment and the tape library.
[0040] In one embodiment, tape ejection requests are generated in batches by the data backup environment based on the tape ejection list in the database, and submitted to the tape library sequentially.
[0041] In one embodiment, tape ejection malfunction includes: robotic arm tape jamming malfunction.
[0042] Figure 3 The flowchart below shows a specific example of the magnetic tape ejection method in this invention. Figure 3As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a backup and recovery interface program API through a data backup environment, using programming languages such as Python and shell, as well as a database, to automate data tape ejection. System maintenance personnel import the tape ejection list into the database, and the database sequentially outputs the tape ejection list to the data backup environment. The data backup environment submits a tape ejection request to the tape library based on the tape ejection list. The tape library ejects the tape to the tape port, and the equipment maintenance personnel can then retrieve the tape from the tape port without needing to report the tape ejection and tape port status to the system maintenance personnel.
[0043] During this period, the tape library periodically checks for abnormalities such as tape jamming by the robotic arm and performs forced tape ejection. When the tape port is idle, the tape library issues a command to the data backup environment, which continues to eject tapes. After the maintenance personnel retrieve the tape, the tape library sends the tape ejection list to the database. The database compares the tape ejection list with the tape ejection list, and if any abnormalities are found, it reports them to the system maintenance personnel for troubleshooting.
[0044] In summary, the method proposed in this embodiment of the invention monitors the tape port status; when the tape port status is detected to be idle, a tape port idle notification is sent to the data backup environment; a tape ejection request is received from the data backup environment, wherein the tape ejection request is generated by the data backup environment based on the tape ejection list in the database; a tape ejection action is executed according to the tape ejection request, and if a tape ejection error occurs during the execution of the tape ejection action, a forced tape ejection action is executed; after the tape ejection action is completed, a tape port idle notification is sent to the data backup environment, and the system waits for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape ejection request. This enables automatic tape ejection, improves tape ejection maintenance efficiency, and saves manpower and communication costs.
[0045] This invention also provides a magnetic tape ejection device applied to a magnetic tape library, as described in the following embodiments. Since the principle by which this device solves the problem is similar to that of the magnetic tape ejection method, the implementation of this device can be referred to the implementation of the magnetic tape ejection method, and repeated details will not be elaborated further.
[0046] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a magnetic tape ejection device in an embodiment of the present invention, comprising:
[0047] Monitoring module 401 is used to monitor the status of the tape port;
[0048] Notification module 402 is used to send a port idle notification to the data backup environment when the port status is detected to be idle;
[0049] The receiving module 403 is used to receive a tape rejection request submitted by the data backup environment, wherein the tape rejection request is generated by the data backup environment based on the tape rejection list in the database;
[0050] The tape ejection module 404 is used to perform a tape ejection action according to the tape ejection request. If a tape ejection error occurs during the execution of the tape ejection action, a forced tape ejection action is performed.
[0051] The notification module 402 is also used to send a tape port idle notification to the data backup environment after the tape unwinding action is completed, and wait for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape unwinding request.
[0052] In one embodiment, the tape ejection device further includes a generation module for generating a tape ejection list after the tape ejection action is completed.
[0053] In one embodiment, the tape ejection device further includes: a tape output module for providing a tape output list to a database so that the database can compare the tape output list with the tape ejection list.
[0054] In one embodiment, the data backup environment communicates with the tape library via an interface program API.
[0055] In one embodiment, tape ejection requests are generated in batches by the data backup environment based on the tape ejection list in the database, and submitted to the tape library sequentially.
[0056] In one embodiment, tape ejection abnormality includes: robotic arm tape jamming abnormality.
[0057] In summary, in the device proposed in this embodiment of the invention, the monitoring module is used to monitor the tape port status; the first notification module is used to send a tape port idle notification to the data backup environment when the tape port status is detected to be idle; the receiving module is used to receive a tape ejection request submitted by the data backup environment, wherein the tape ejection request is generated by the data backup environment based on the tape ejection list in the database; the tape ejection module is used to execute a tape ejection action according to the tape ejection request, and if a tape ejection error occurs during the execution of the tape ejection action, a forced tape ejection action is executed; the second notification module is used to send a tape port idle notification to the data backup environment after the tape ejection action is completed, and wait for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape ejection request, which can realize automatic tape ejection, improve tape ejection maintenance efficiency, and save manpower and communication costs.
[0058] This invention also provides a computer device. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a computer device in an embodiment of the present invention. The computer device 500 includes a memory 510, a processor 520, and a computer program 530 stored in the memory 510 and executable on the processor 520. When the processor 520 executes the computer program 530, it implements the above-described tape ejection method.
[0059] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described magnetic tape ejection method.
[0060] This invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described tape ejection method.
[0061] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention are as follows:
[0062] 1. The system automatically detects the difference between the actual tape removal and the tape removal requirement, avoiding errors from manual comparison and saving time.
[0063] 2. The system automatically monitors the cable port status and automatically unloads the cable in a timely manner, eliminating the need for communication between system and equipment maintenance personnel and manual cable unloading operations, thus improving work efficiency.
[0064] 3. The tape library automatically detects abnormalities such as tape jams, eliminating the need for manual troubleshooting by maintenance personnel.
[0065] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of the present invention can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present invention can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.
[0066] This invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.
[0067] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.
[0068] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.
[0069] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for unwinding a magnetic tape, characterized in that, Applied to tape libraries, including: Monitor the port status; When the port status is detected as idle, a port idle notification is sent to the data backup environment; Receive a rollback request submitted by the data backup environment, wherein the rollback request is generated by the data backup environment based on the rollback list in the database, and the rollback list is obtained by importing the database; Perform a tape ejection action based on the tape ejection request. If a tape ejection error occurs during the execution of the tape ejection action, a forced tape ejection action will be performed. After the tape unwinding action is completed, a tape port idle notification is sent to the data backup environment, waiting for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape unwinding request.
2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: After the tape unwinding action is completed, a tape list is generated.
3. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: The outgoing tape list is provided to the database so that the database can compare the outgoing tape list with the returning tape list.
4. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The data backup environment communicates with the tape library via an interface program API.
5. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Tape return requests are generated in batches by the data backup environment based on the tape return list in the database, and then submitted to the tape library in sequence.
6. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The tape retraction abnormality includes: tape jamming abnormality of the robotic arm.
7. A magnetic tape ejection device, characterized in that, Applied to tape libraries, including: The monitoring module is used to monitor the status of the port. The notification module is used to send a port idle notification to the data backup environment when the port status is detected as idle. The receiving module is used to receive a rollback request submitted by the data backup environment, wherein the rollback request is generated by the data backup environment based on the rollback list in the database, and the rollback list is obtained by importing the database; The tape ejection module is used to perform tape ejection actions based on tape ejection requests. If a tape ejection error occurs during the execution of the tape ejection action, a forced tape ejection action will be performed. The notification module is also used to send a tape port idle notification to the data backup environment after the tape unwinding action is completed, and wait for the data backup environment to initiate the next tape unwinding request.
8. A computer device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.
9. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.
10. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.