JP2010027189A - Tape library system and inventory control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce inventory time of a tape library storing tape cartridges of a plurality of generations. <P>SOLUTION: A tape library system is provided with: a slot part 30 storing tape cartridges 40 of a plurality of standards; a plurality of tape drive parts 301 reading tape configuration information from the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge 40; and a robot mechanism part 303 for taking out an arbitrary tape cartridge from the slot part 30 and setting it to the tape drive part 301. Standard information of a tape cartridge stored in each slot is collected from a bar code attached on the tape cartridge 40. The tape configuration information stored in the magnetic tape of the same standard tape cartridge is read by the tape drive part 301 on the basis of the collected standard information. The read tape configuration information is stored in a tape constitution information storing part 101. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape library system and an inventory control method for storing a plurality of tape cartridges recording data, and more particularly to a tape library system and an inventory control method for storing tape cartridges according to a plurality of standards.

  As an external recording device of a recent large-capacity computer system, a tape library that stores a large number of tape cartridges to which identifiers by bar codes are attached by labeling or the like, and selectively records data sent from the host on the tape cartridge The system is adopted. The tape library system is configured to individually store a large number of tape cartridges, to which a plurality of slots individually assigned identifiers called slot numbers, a robot mechanism for selectively taking out and inserting a tape cartridge from the slots, and the robot mechanism The read / write mechanism for recording / reproducing data on / from the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge taken out by the above and the controller for controlling the mechanism.

  As tape storage standards for tape cartridges in the tape library system, the first generation (LTO1 standard: capacity 200 Gbytes / volume) and second generation (LTO2 standard: capacity 400 Gbytes / volume) of LTO (Linear Tape-Open) ), 3rd generation (LTO3 standard: capacity 800 Gbytes / volume), 4th generation (LTO4 standard: capacity 1.6 Tbytes / volume), and tape library systems use a mixture of various types of tape cartridges. .

For example, the following Patent Document 1 is cited as a document that describes the technology related to the tape library system. When a new tape cartridge is installed in the slot, the Patent Document 1 describes that the control unit is connected to the tape cartridge from the tape cartridge. A technique is described in which information such as a tape cartridge number and a manufacturing number is read from a memory affixed to the tape cartridge and stored in correspondence with the slot number.
JP 2005-149699 A

  Since the tape library system described above manages tape cartridge information (cartridge number, etc.) stored in a large number of slots, the inventory operation for reading and storing the tape configuration information recorded on all tape cartridges is performed periodically. To be done. This inventory operation is to know detailed information (tape configuration information) such as the actual LTO standard / backup history / last backup date / time of the magnetic tape only by the identifier by the barcode attached to the tape cartridge. In this operation, the tape cartridge stored in the slot is actually taken out of the slot, and the detailed information is acquired by reading the information on the magnetic tape.

  In the inventory (inventory) operation of the tape library system according to the prior art, the control unit takes out the tape cartridges in the slot number order by the robot mechanism and transports them to the read / write mechanism unit. This is done by collecting tape configuration information of stored tape cartridges.

  However, for example, in a library having two units, that is, a read / write mechanism unit A corresponding to the third generation and the fourth generation and a read / write mechanism unit B only corresponding to the third generation, the fourth generation and slot numbers are assigned to the slot numbers 1 to 3 stores the third generation tape cartridge, the tape cartridges are taken out in the order of the slot numbers, so that the read / write mechanism B is not read until the reading of the tape cartridge of the slot number 1 in the read / write mechanism A is completed. In spite of use, there was a problem that the tape cartridge of slot number 2 could not be read and a drive wait occurred. This waiting for drive depends on the storage order of the tape cartridges, and there is a problem that the inventory operation end time becomes redundant.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a tape library system and an inventory control method capable of reducing an inventory (inventory) operation time even when a plurality of generations of tape cartridges are stored.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a slot portion having a plurality of slots for storing tape cartridges to which generation-specific standard information is provided as a bar code, standard information recorded on the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge, and backup A plurality of tape drives that read tape configuration information including history information and last backup date / time information; and a reading unit that reads a barcode of the tape cartridge stored in the slot portion. A tape library including a robot mechanism set in the drive;
A tape configuration information storage unit that stores tape configuration information of a plurality of tape cartridges stored in a slot unit of the tape library; an inventory control unit that performs an inventory operation to acquire tape configuration information stored in the tape configuration information storage unit; A library control device comprising:
A tape library system comprising:
The inventory control unit of the library control device,
A first step of reading barcodes of a plurality of tape cartridges stored in the slot portion by the reading portion of the robot mechanism;
A second step of determining a slot number and standard information corresponding to the slot number based on the barcode reading position and the barcode read in the first step, and storing them in the tape configuration information storage unit;
A third step of extracting and setting predetermined standard information from the standard information stored in the second step, and reading a slot number of the set predetermined standard information;
A fourth step of taking out the tape cartridge from the slot of the slot number read out in the third step by the robot mechanism and setting the tape cartridge in the tape drive;
A fifth step of reading the tape configuration information from the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge set in the fourth step and storing the slot number and the tape configuration information in the tape configuration information storage unit correspondingly;
The predetermined standard information set in the third step is changed to other standard information, the slot number of the changed standard information is read, and the fourth and fifth steps are stored in the tape configuration information stored in the second step. The first feature is to execute a sixth step that is repeatedly executed up to the highest level of the included standards.

  According to the present invention, in the tape library system according to the first feature, the inventory control unit sets the predetermined standard information set in the third step as the lowest standard information, and changes the standard information in the sixth step. Is changed from the lowest order to the higher order.

According to the present invention, in the tape library system according to the first feature, the inventory control unit sets the predetermined standard information set in the third step as the highest standard information, and changes the standard information in the sixth step. Is changed to the lower order in order from the highest level.
According to the present invention, in the tape library system according to any one of the above characteristics, the inventory control unit reads the slot number stored in the second step and the standard information corresponding to the slot number, and the tape cartridge having the same standard information A fourth feature is that a seventh step of rearranging the arrangement in the slot portion so that the storage positions of the two are consecutive is executed.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a slot portion having a plurality of slots for storing tape cartridges to which generation-specific standard information is assigned as a barcode, standard information recorded on the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge, backup history information, and final backup. A tape comprising: a plurality of tape drives for reading date / time information; and a robot mechanism for taking out an arbitrary tape cartridge and setting it in the tape drive, including a reading unit for reading a barcode of a tape cartridge stored in the slot unit. A library,
A tape configuration information storage unit that stores standard information, backup history information, and last backup date / time information of a plurality of tape cartridges stored in the slot portion of the tape library, and standard information stored in the tape configuration information storage unit is collected. An inventory control method for a tape library system comprising a library control device comprising an inventory control unit for controlling inventory operations to be performed,
In the inventory controller of the library controller,
A first step of reading the barcode label of the tape cartridge stored in the slot portion by the reading portion of the robot mechanism;
A second step of determining a slot number and standard information corresponding to the slot number based on the barcode reading position and the barcode read in the first step, and storing them in the tape configuration information storage unit;
A third step of extracting and setting predetermined standard information from the tape configuration information stored in the second step, and reading a slot number of the set predetermined standard information;
A fourth step of taking out the tape cartridge from the slot of the slot number read out in the third step by the robot mechanism and setting the tape cartridge in the tape drive;
A fifth step of reading standard information, backup history information, and last backup date / time information from the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge set in the fourth step, and storing them in the tape configuration information storage unit corresponding to the slot number;
The predetermined standard information set in the third step is changed to other standard information, the slot number of the changed standard information is read, and the fourth and fifth steps are stored in the tape configuration information stored in the second step. The fifth feature is that the sixth step is repeatedly executed up to the highest level of the included standard.

  According to the present invention, in the inventory control method of the fifth feature, in the inventory control unit, the standard control information set by the inventory control unit in the third step is the lowest standard information, and the sixth step The sixth feature is that the change of the standard information according to the above is changed from the lowest to the highest.

  According to the fifth aspect of the inventory control method of the present invention, the standard information set in the third step is set as the highest standard information in the inventory control unit, and the standard information is changed in the sixth step. Is changed to the lower order in order from the highest level.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the inventory control method according to any one of the above features, the inventory control unit reads the slot number stored in the second step and the standard information corresponding to the slot number, and the tape cartridge having the same standard information The eighth feature is that the seventh step of rearranging the arrangement in the slot portion so that the storage positions of the two are consecutive is executed.

  The tape library system and the inventory control method according to the present invention collect the standard information of the tape cartridge stored in each slot from the bar code affixed to the tape cartridge, and based on the collected standard information, The tape configuration information stored on the magnetic tape is read by the tape drive, and the read tape configuration information is stored in the tape configuration information storage unit, thereby reducing drive waits and storing multiple generations of tape cartridges. Inventory (inventory) operation time can be shortened. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to make the processing time required for the inventory processing constant and to easily predict the inventory processing time.

  Hereinafter, a tape library system and an inventory control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a tape library system according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating provisional tape configuration information according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating deterministic tape configuration information according to the present embodiment. 4 is a diagram showing the overall operation of inventory processing according to the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the overall operation of slot information updating processing according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a detailed operation of tape information updating processing according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detailed operation of the tape information reading process according to the present embodiment.

[Constitution]
As shown in FIG. 1, the tape library system according to the present embodiment stores a plurality of tape cartridges 40 and records and reproduces data, and a library that controls the tape library 300 via a fiber channel switch 200. And the control device 100.

  The tape library 300 includes a slot unit 30 for storing a plurality of tape cartridges 40 in a plurality of slots, and a read / write mechanism for recording / reproducing data with respect to the magnetic tape of the interface (I / F) circuit 5 / tape cartridge 40. Section 7 / hardware control section 6 for controlling them, tape drive section 301 for recording and reproducing tape cartridge data of the fourth generation and below, and interface (I / F) circuit 5 / read / write as well The mechanism unit 7 / hardware control unit 6 includes a tape drive unit 302 for recording and reproducing tape cartridge data of the third generation and below, and an interface (I / F) circuit 3 / arbitrary slot unit 30. The tape cartridge 40 is removed from the slot, and the tape drive unit 302 or 30 Consisting of a robot mechanism unit 303 consisting of hardware control unit 4 for controlling the robot arm 8 / circuit portion for conveying the. A bar code reader is attached to the tip of the robot arm unit 8, and the robot arm unit 8 is configured to read the bar code when the bar code reader approaches the case part of the tape cartridge. Yes.

  The library control device 100 includes a pair of interface (I / F) circuits 105 that are connected to the tape library 300 via the fiber channel switch 200 and a robot control that controls the robot mechanism unit 303 via the interface circuit 105. Unit 103, similarly, a tape drive control unit 104 that controls driving of the tape drive units 301 and 302 via the interface circuit 105, an inventory control unit 102 that controls inventory (inventory) of the tape cartridge, The tape configuration information storage unit 101 stores configuration information (LTO standard / backup history / last backup date / time, etc.).

[Operation]
The tape library system configured as described above controls the inventory operation of the tape cartridge 40 stored in each slot of the tape library 300 by the library controller 100. Details of this inventory operation will be described below.

  The overall operation of the library controller 100 of the tape library system according to the present embodiment is as follows. As shown in FIG. 4, the robot mechanism 303 starts from a bar code (label) attached to a number of tape cartridges 40 stored in the slot 30. In step S402, where the barcode is read and provisional tape configuration information such as which tape cartridge is stored in which slot is acquired, the robot mechanism unit 303 then stores the tape cartridge 40 stored in the slot unit 30. It operates so as to execute step S403 of reading magnetic tape data and acquiring detailed tape configuration information.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the acquisition operation of the tape configuration information in step S <b> 402 is performed by moving the robot arm unit 8 of the robot mechanism unit 303 to the storage position of the tape cartridge 40 stored in the slot unit 30. The provided barcode reader reads the barcode label affixed to the tape cartridge 40 and sequentially reads it from all the tape cartridges 40 to obtain the tape configuration information, and the provisional information obtained in this step S502. The operation is performed to execute step S503 in which the tape configuration information is stored in the tape configuration information storage unit 101.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tape configuration information obtained by this operation includes the slot number of each slot in the slot section 30, the barcode number read from the tape cartridge stored in the slot, and the barcode number. Based on a plurality of pieces of information stored in each column of the provisional tape standard of LOT set in advance, for example, a tape cartridge with a barcode number “TP000L3” is stored in a slot with a slot number “0000”. The tape standard is “LTO3 (3rd generation)”, and the slot with the slot number “0001” accommodates the tape cartridge with the barcode number “TP0486L4”. The tape standard is “LTO4 (4th generation). Generation)), and the slot with slot number “0002” contains a tape cartridge. Razz the slot of the slot number "0003", the bar code number is tape cartridges "000045L2" stored, information of the tape standard is "LTO2 (second generation)" is stored. In the tape standard, the bar code number of the tape cartridge is preliminarily defined in conformity with the standard (for example, “L3” at the end of the number is “LTO3”, “L4” is “LTO4”, and “L2” is “LTO2”). The provisional determination is based on the barcode number.

  The tape configuration information reading operation in step S403 of FIG. 4 reads the tape configuration information stored in the tape configuration information storage unit 101 and obtains the tape standard information stored in each slot, as shown in FIG. Step S601, a step S602 for substituting the lowest level standard information (for example, LTO2) into the variable of the tape information acquisition standard, a step S604 for substituting “0” for the target slot number, A step of determining whether or not the tape standard in the corresponding slot (here, slot “0”) of the tape configuration information is equal to the tape information acquisition standard (variable), and when not equal to step S608 described later S606, and the tape standard in the slot and the tape information acquisition standard (changed in step S606). ) Are equal to each other (here, when the standard of the tape cartridge stored in the slot “0” is determined to be LTO2), the information of the tape cartridge in the target slot is read in step S607, and the target slot number is set. Counting up one and executing steps S608 and 605 to repeat steps S606 and 607 until the slot end (number) is reached, thereby counting only the lowest-order standard (LTO2) tape cartridge while counting up the slot number. It operates to read the data.

  Next, the system counts up the tape information acquisition target standard by one (for example, counts up to LTO3) when the slot number reaches the end in step S605, and the counted tape information acquisition target standard. Step S607 is initialized by substituting “0” for the slot number in the above-described step S604, and reading the data of the tape cartridge of the next tape information acquisition target standard (LTO3) from the slot number “0”. By executing steps S611 and 603 that repeat to the standard, the tape cartridge data is read in order from the lowest standard. In this embodiment, the example in which data is read from the lowest standard has been described. However, the data may be read from the highest standard.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the robot arm unit 8 of the robot mechanism unit 303 takes out the tape cartridge from the slot with the target slot number and transfers it to the tape drive unit 301 or 302 as shown in FIG. Step S701 for inserting (setting), step S702 for reading data stored in the inserted tape cartridge by the tape drive unit 301 or 302, and registering (reflecting) the data read in step S702 in the tape configuration information storage unit 101 ) Step S703 and step S704 for returning the data to the slot based on the tape cartridge that has been read in step S702 are sequentially executed, so that the LTO standard is based on the data recorded on the actual tape cartridge. / Reads information of backup history / last backup date time, may be stored in the tape construction information storage unit 101.

  In particular, since the tape library system according to the present embodiment continuously reads data of tape cartridges of the same standard, the waiting time of the tape drive unit can be reduced and the inventory operation time can be shortened. For example, the second generation (LTO2) tape cartridge is read in advance by two tape drive units 301 and 302 in parallel, then the third generation (LTO3) tape cartridge is read, and finally the fourth generation (LTO4) is read. By operating to read the tape cartridge, the tape drive waiting time can be reduced, so that the inventory operation time can be shortened and the inventory processing time can be made constant. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, backup time operation management and system maintenance management can be facilitated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the standard of the tape cartridge is determined based on the barcode attached to the barcode label attached to the tape cartridge first is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The standard may be determined from a non-contact memory such as an RFID tag attached to the tape cartridge. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the robot mechanism sequentially takes out tape cartridges of the same standard has been described. However, after determining the standard of the tape cartridge at the beginning, the order of taking out the tape cartridge of the determined standard is the same standard. The position of the tape cartridge storage in the slot portion is rearranged so as to be continuous, and the operation of the robot arm is performed by executing the inventory operation after step S602 shown in FIG. 6 based on the rearranged tape configuration information. You may comprise so that a flow line may be shortened.

The figure for demonstrating the structure of the tape library system by one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the temporary tape structure information by this embodiment. The figure which shows the definite tape structure information by this embodiment. The figure which shows the whole inventory process operation | movement by this embodiment. The figure which shows the whole operation | movement of the slot information update process by this embodiment. The figure which shows the detailed operation | movement of the tape information update process by this embodiment. The figure which shows the detailed operation | movement of the tape information reading process by this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  3 and 5: interface circuit, 4 and 6: hardware control unit, 7: read / write mechanism unit, 8: robot arm unit, 30: slot unit, 40: tape cartridge, 100: library controller, 101: tape configuration information storage 102: Inventory control unit 103: Robot control unit 104: Tape drive control unit 105: Interface circuit 200: Fiber channel switch 300: Tape library 301 and 302: Tape drive unit 303: Robot mechanism unit .

Claims (8)

From a slot portion having a plurality of slots for storing tape cartridges to which generation-specific standard information is assigned as a bar code, standard information recorded on the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge, backup history information, and last backup date / time information A tape comprising: a plurality of tape drives that read tape configuration information; and a robot mechanism that takes out an arbitrary tape cartridge and sets it in the tape drive, including a reading unit that reads a barcode of a tape cartridge stored in the slot unit. A library,
A tape configuration information storage unit that stores tape configuration information of a plurality of tape cartridges stored in a slot unit of the tape library; an inventory control unit that performs an inventory operation to acquire tape configuration information stored in the tape configuration information storage unit; A library control device comprising:
A tape library system comprising:
The inventory control unit of the library control device,
A first step of reading barcodes of a plurality of tape cartridges stored in the slot portion by the reading portion of the robot mechanism;
A second step of determining a slot number and standard information corresponding to the slot number based on the barcode reading position and the barcode read in the first step, and storing them in the tape configuration information storage unit;
A third step of extracting and setting predetermined standard information from the standard information stored in the second step, and reading a slot number of the set predetermined standard information;
A fourth step of taking out the tape cartridge from the slot of the slot number read out in the third step by the robot mechanism and setting the tape cartridge in the tape drive;
A fifth step of reading the tape configuration information from the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge set in the fourth step and storing the slot number and the tape configuration information in the tape configuration information storage unit correspondingly;
The predetermined standard information set in the third step is changed to other standard information, the slot number of the changed standard information is read, and the fourth and fifth steps are stored in the tape configuration information stored in the second step. A tape library system that executes a sixth step that is repeatedly executed up to the highest level of the included standards.   The tape according to claim 1, wherein the inventory control unit sets the predetermined standard information set in the third step as the lowest-order standard information, and changes the standard information in the sixth step from the lowest to the highest. Library system.   The tape according to claim 1, wherein the inventory control unit sets the predetermined standard information set in the third step as the highest standard information, and changes the change of the standard information in the sixth step from the highest to the lower order. Library system.   The inventory control unit reads the slot number stored in the second step and the standard information corresponding to the slot number, and rearranges the arrangement in the slot unit so that the storage positions of the tape cartridges of the same standard information are continuous. 4. The tape library system according to claim 1, wherein the seventh step is executed. A slot portion having a plurality of slots for storing tape cartridges to which generation-specific standard information is assigned as a barcode, standard information recorded on the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge, backup history information, and last backup date / time information A tape library comprising a plurality of tape drives to be read and a robot mechanism for taking out an arbitrary tape cartridge and setting it in the tape drive, including a reading unit for reading a barcode of the tape cartridge stored in the slot unit;
A tape configuration information storage unit that stores standard information, backup history information, and last backup date / time information of a plurality of tape cartridges stored in the slot portion of the tape library, and standard information stored in the tape configuration information storage unit is collected. An inventory control method for a tape library system comprising a library control device comprising an inventory control unit for controlling inventory operations to be performed,
In the inventory controller of the library controller,
A first step of reading the barcode label of the tape cartridge stored in the slot portion by the reading portion of the robot mechanism;
A second step of determining a slot number and standard information corresponding to the slot number based on the barcode reading position and the barcode read in the first step, and storing them in the tape configuration information storage unit;
A third step of extracting and setting predetermined standard information from the tape configuration information stored in the second step, and reading a slot number of the set predetermined standard information;
A fourth step of taking out the tape cartridge from the slot of the slot number read out in the third step by the robot mechanism and setting the tape cartridge in the tape drive;
A fifth step of reading standard information, backup history information, and last backup date / time information from the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge set in the fourth step, and storing them in the tape configuration information storage unit corresponding to the slot number;
The predetermined standard information set in the third step is changed to other standard information, the slot number of the changed standard information is read, and the fourth and fifth steps are stored in the tape configuration information stored in the second step. An inventory control method for executing a sixth step that is repeatedly executed up to the highest level of the included standards.   The inventory control unit causes the inventory control unit to set predetermined standard information set in the third step as the lowest standard information, and change the change of the standard information in the sixth step from the lowest to the higher in order. Item 4. The inventory control method according to Item 4.   6. The inventory according to claim 5, wherein the inventory control unit causes the predetermined standard information set in the third step to be the highest standard information, and changes in the standard information in the sixth step are sequentially changed from the highest to the lower order. Control method.   The inventory control unit reads the slot number stored in the second step and the standard information corresponding to the slot number, and rearranges the arrangement in the slot unit so that the storage positions of the tape cartridges of the same standard information are continuous. The inventory control method according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the seventh step is executed.

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