Virtual Tape Volume Cache for High-Speed Data Reorganization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The processing speed of reorganization in virtual tape devices is reduced due to the operations of mounting, demounting, and accessing physical volumes in tape library devices that emulate physical tapes.
Innovation Solution
A storage device that emulates access to a physical tape by storing position information and receiving instructions to move data between physical tapes, allowing reorganization processing to be performed without actual physical tape operations, thereby increasing processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If physical tape operations (mounting, demounting, accessing) are performed in tape library devices, then data migration and reorganization can be executed, but processing speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical tape volumes in a cache storage device. Instead of performing actual physical tape operations, the system maintains virtual volume data (VVD) that replicates the structure and content of physical tapes. This allows reorganization and migration operations to be executed on the virtual copies at high speed without affecting physical tape operations, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining physical tape functionality and improving processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual tape volume cache as an intermediary layer between the host device and physical tape library. This cache stores virtual volume data that mediates between host I/O operations and actual physical tape operations. By performing data migration and reorganization on this intermediary virtual layer, the system achieves high-speed processing while physical tapes remain stationary, eliminating the time loss from mounting and demounting operations.
2Productivity
If virtual volume data is maintained in cache storage device, then processing speed increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the virtual tape volume cache to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a buffer for host I/O operations, a storage for virtual volume data during migration, and a target for reorganization operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high processing speed for data migration and reorganization.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device includes a first storage and a processor. The processor is configured to emulate an access to a physical tape with an access to a second storage. The processor is configured to store, in the first storage, first position information in which a first position in a first physical tape is associated with a storage position in the second storage. The processor is configured to receive an instruction to move data stored at the first position in the first physical tape to a second physical tape. The processor is configured to store, in the first storage, second position information in which a second position in the second physical tape is associated with the storage position.