Virtual integrated cartridge loader for virtual tape storage system

Claim 2

In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, the virtual cartridges representing magnetic tape cartridges.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, the virtual cartridges representing optical media cartridges.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, the step of selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database comprising the steps of: designating one of the virtual cartridges in the available cartridge database as being next; and selecting the next virtual cartridge.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, the DSD comprising at least one magnetic data storage drive.

Claim 8

In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a cache, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the cache with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 9

In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a cache, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the cache with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the cache; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7, the cache comprising a magnetic disk storage drive.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7, the cache comprising at least one solid state memory device.

Claim 13

In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said virtual cartridges having multiple different data formats, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each data format, selecting a virtual cartridge identifier of the corresponding data format from the available database and entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request for a virtual cartridge of a specified data format; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing from the pre-load map one of the cartridge identifiers having the specified data format; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 14

In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said virtual cartridges having multiple different data formats, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each data format, selecting a virtual cartridge identifier of the corresponding data format from the available database and entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request for a virtual cartridge of a specified data format; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing from the pre-load map one of the cartridge identifiers having the specified data format; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11, each data format representing a different data storage capacity.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11, each data format representing a different number of parallel data tracks provided by virtual cartridges having that data format.

Claim 18

The method of claim 1, each data format representing a different data storage pattern provided by virtual cartridges having that data format.

Claim 19

The method of claim 11, the DSD comprising at least one magnetic data storage drive.

Claim 20

In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said library also including multiple virtual drives, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each virtual drive, performing steps comprising: selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map associated with that drive; receiving from a host a scratch mount request and selection of one of the virtual drives to satisfy the mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive.

Claim 21

In a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said library also including multiple virtual drives, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each virtual drive, performing steps comprising: selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map associated with that drive; receiving from a host a scratch mount request and selection of one of the virtual drives to satisfy the mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 23

The method of claim 17, the DSD comprising at least one magnetic data storage drive.

Claim 24

An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges in a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said method steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 25

An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges in a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said method steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 26

The article of manufacture of claim 20, the method steps further comprising: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 27

The article of manufacture of claim 20, the virtual cartridges representing magnetic tape cartridges.

Claim 28

The article of manufacture of claim 20, the virtual cartridges representing optical media cartridges.

Claim 29

The article of manufacture of claim 20, the step of selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database comprising the steps of: designating one of the virtual cartridges in the available cartridge database as being next; and selecting the next virtual cartridge.

Claim 30

An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges in a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a cache, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said method steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the cache with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 31

An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges in a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a cache, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said method steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the cache with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 32

The article of manufacture of claim 25, the method steps further comprising: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the cache; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 33

The article of manufacture of claim 25, the cache comprising a magnetic disk storage drive.

Claim 34

The article of manufacture of claim 25, the cache comprising at least one solid state memory device.

Claim 35

An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges in a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said virtual cartridges having multiple different data formats, said method steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each data format, selecting a virtual cartridge identifier of the corresponding data format from the available database and entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request for a virtual cartridge of a specified data format; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing from the pre-load map one of the cartridge identifiers having the specified data format; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 36

An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges in a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said virtual cartridges having multiple different data formats, said method steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each data format, selecting a virtual cartridge identifier of the corresponding data format from the available database and entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request for a virtual cartridge of a specified data format; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing from the pre-load map one of the cartridge identifiers having the specified data format; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 37

The article of manufacture of claim 29, each data format representing a different data storage capacity.

Claim 38

The article of manufacture of claim 29, the method steps further comprising: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 39

The article of manufacture of claim 29, each data format representing a different number of parallel data tracks provided by virtual cartridges having that data format.

Claim 40

The article of manufacture of claim 29, each data format representing a different data storage pattern provided by virtual cartridges having that data format.

Claim 41

An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges in a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said library also including multiple virtual drives, said method steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each virtual drive, performing steps comprising: selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map associated with that drive; receiving from a host a scratch mount request and selection of one of the virtual drives to satisfy the mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive.

Claim 42

An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges in a data storage system that provides an interface between a host and a data storage device ("DSD"), said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said library also including multiple virtual drives, said method steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each virtual drive, performing steps comprising: selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map associated with that drive; receiving from a host a scratch mount request and selection of one of the virtual drives to satisfy the mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive.

Claim 43

The article of manufacture of claim 34, the method steps further comprising: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 44

A virtual cartridge data storage system, comprising: a data storage device ("DSD"); an interface interposed between the DSD and a host, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said interface being programmed to virtually pre-load virtual cartridges by performing steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 45

A virtual cartridge data storage system, comprising: a data storage device ("DSD"); an interface interposed between the DSD and a host, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said interface being programmed to virtually pre-load virtual cartridges by performing steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 46

The virtual cartridge data storage system of claim 36, the interface being further programmed to perform steps comprising: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a physical tape storage library coupled to the interface.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 36, the virtual cartridges representing magnetic tape cartridges.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 36, the virtual cartridges representing optical media cartridges.

Claim 50

The apparatus of claim 36, the step of selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database comprising the steps of: designating one of the virtual cartridges in the available cartridge database as being next; and selecting the next virtual cartridge.

Claim 51

The apparatus of claim 36, the DSD comprising at least one magnetic data storage device.

Claim 52

The apparatus of claim 36, the DSD comprising random access memory.

Claim 53

A virtual cartridge data storage system, comprising: a cache memory; an interface interconnected between the cache and a host, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said interface being programmed to virtually pre-load virtual cartridges by performing steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the cache with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 54

A virtual cartridge data storage system, comprising: a cache memory; an interface interconnected between the cache and a host, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said interface being programmed to virtually pre-load virtual cartridges by performing steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the cache with one of the virtual cartridges; selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 55

The virtual cartridge data storage system of claim 44, the interface being further programmed to perform steps comprising: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the cache; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 56

The apparatus of claim 44, the cache comprising a magnetic disk storage drive.

Claim 57

The apparatus of claim 44, the cache comprising at least one solid state memory device.

Claim 58

A virtual cartridge data storage system, comprising: a data storage device ("DSD"); an interface providing an interface between the DSD and a host, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said virtual cartridges having multiple different data formats, said interface being programmed to virtually pre-load virtual cartridges by performing steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each data format, selecting a virtual cartridge identifier of the corresponding data format from the available database and entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request for a virtual cartridge of a specified data format; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing from the pre-load map one of the cartridge identifiers having the specified data format; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 59

A virtual cartridge data storage system, comprising: a data storage device ("DSD"); an interface providing an interface between the DSD and a host, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said virtual cartridges having multiple different data formats, said interface being programmed to virtually pre-load virtual cartridges by performing steps comprising: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each data format, selecting a virtual cartridge identifier of the corresponding data format from the available database and entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map; receiving from a host a scratch mount request for a virtual cartridge of a specified data format; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing from the pre-load map one of the cartridge identifiers having the specified data format; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map.

Claim 60

The virtual cartridge data storage system of claim 48, the interface being further programmed to perform steps comprising: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.

Claim 61

The apparatus of claim 48, each data format representing a different data storage capacity.

Claim 62

The apparatus of claim 48, each data format representing a different number of parallel data tracks provided by virtual cartridges having that data format.

Claim 63

The apparatus of claim 48, each data format representing a different data storage pattern provided by virtual cartridges having that data format.

Claim 64

The apparatus of claim 48, the DSD comprising at least one magnetic data storage device.

Claim 65

The apparatus of claim 48, the DSD comprising random access memory.

Claim 66

A virtual cartridge data storage system, comprising: a data storage device ("DSD"); an interface coupled between a host and the DSD, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said library also including multiple virtual drives, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each virtual drive, performing steps comprising: selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map associated with that drive; receiving from a host a scratch mount request and selection of one of the virtual drives to satisfy the mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive.

Claim 67

A virtual cartridge data storage system, comprising: a data storage device ("DSD"); an interface coupled between a host and the DSD, said interface emulating a virtual cartridge data storage library in communicating with the host, said virtual cartridge data storage library including a plurality of virtual cartridges, said library also including multiple virtual drives, a method for virtually pre-loading virtual cartridges comprising the steps of: maintaining an available cartridge database containing a list of virtual cartridges, each virtual cartridge identified in the available cartridge database by a virtual cartridge identifier; maintaining an active cartridge map cross-referencing each item of data stored on the DSD with one of the virtual cartridges; for each virtual drive, performing steps comprising: selecting a virtual cartridge identifier from the available database; entering the selected virtual cartridge identifier in a pre-load map associated with that drive; receiving from a host a scratch mount request and selection of one of the virtual drives to satisfy the mount request; and satisfying the scratch mount request by performing steps comprising: choosing one of the cartridge identifiers from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive; and removing the chosen virtual cartridge identifier from the pre-load map associated with the selected virtual drive.

Claim 68

The virtual cartridge data storage system of claim 55, the interface being further programmed to perform steps comprising: receiving from the host write data corresponding to the scratch mount request; storing the write data in the DSD; and updating the active cartridge map to cross-reference the write data with the chosen virtual cartridge.