Virtual Tape Drive Name Transfer for Scalable Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for data storage poses challenges in managing storage infrastructure costs and scalability, as existing tape libraries require reconfiguration of the SAN fabric when additional tape drives are added, leading to increased costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A storage management system that allows for non-disruptive addition of storage devices by reallocating unique names from virtual to physical tape drives, eliminating the need for reconfiguration of the SAN fabric, and enabling flexible partitioning to meet current and future storage demands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If additional tape drives are added to the tape library, then storage capacity and data throughput are improved, but reconfiguration of the SAN fabric is required which increases system complexity and costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidSAN fabric reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a name translation layer that acts as an intermediary between the SAN fabric and tape drives. This translation layer maps SAN fabric addresses to tape drive identities without requiring changes to the SAN fabric itself, enabling addition of tape drives without reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual representation of tape drives that copies their identity information. This virtual copy allows the system to manage tape drives through name translation rather than direct SAN fabric integration, eliminating the need for SAN fabric reconfiguration when adding drives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If the SAN fabric is reconfigured to accommodate additional tape drives, then storage scalability is improved, but configuration costs and operational disruption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage scalabilityVSAvoidconfiguration costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-establishes a name translation mechanism before tape drives are added to the system. This preliminary setup creates a flexible addressing system that can accommodate future tape drives without requiring subsequent reconfiguration or additional costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If tape drives are added to meet increasing storage demand, then storage capacity is improved, but system reconfiguration requirements increase complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidsystem reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The name translation layer serves as an intermediary that decouples storage capacity expansion from system reconfiguration. By translating SAN fabric addresses to tape drive identities, it allows straightforward addition of tape drives without complex reconfiguration operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10496305B2Transfer of a unique name to a tape drive

Publication Date: 2019.12.03 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

Storage management is performed by detecting installation of at least one new physical tape drive in a storage system. The storage system may include a plurality of tape drives. The plurality of tape drives include physical tape drives and virtual tape drives. Based on the detection, a unique name of at least one virtual tape drive is transferred to the at least one new physical tape drive.