JP2002334539A - Recording / reproducing array device and magnetic recording / reproducing array device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a backup device having high speed, large capacity, and redundancy. SOLUTION: In an array device having two or more recording / reproducing devices for simultaneously recording / reproducing to / from two or more portable recording media, when loading or unloading the recording / reproducing device, two or more portable recording media are used. Put in one container.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable array recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing digital data on a portable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic tape, an optical tape, a magneto-optical tape, and a semiconductor memory. About the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of storage on a network, FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional tape streamer device, and FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional streamer device.

In recent years, in order to move large-capacity, high-speed data between apparatuses, such as increasing the capacity of computer servers and transmitting high-definition digital images, large-scale storage using a magnetic disk array represented by the RAID apparatus 1 has been proposed. And high-speed communication networks 4 to 7 typified by Fiber Channel, Gigabit Ethernet (registered trademark), and the like. What is RAID? (Redundant Array of Inexpensive / I
ndependent Disks: Inexpensive / independent disk devices with redundant arrangement), a method that reduces the cost per bit, reduces cost, increases speed, and increases reliability by processing multiple easily available inexpensive hard disks in parallel. is there.

However, a magnetic disk (hard disk: H
DD) is a long term data due to the life of a disk motor rotating at a high speed, a disk crash caused by a collision between a magnetic head and a magnetic disk, a limitation of a device life caused by a decrease in output due to electromigration of an electromagnetic transducer inside a magnetic head, and the like. Safe storage of about 5 years or more) is unlikely, and backup and archive work must be performed using a magnetic tape device (hereinafter referred to as a streamer device) or an optical disk. A method of directly connecting the backup apparatus 101 to the server 2 via the fiber channel 5 or the like, or connecting the RAID apparatus 1 to the fiber channel 6 or the like has been proposed as a SAN (Storage Area Network). A method 7 for directly connecting the storage 101 to a high-speed communication network 4 for connecting servers and the like is based on NAS (Network Attached S
trage).

In general, a high-speed communication network such as a RAID device 1 composed of a large number of hard disks or semiconductor devices, a fiber channel 5, 6 or a Gigabit-bit 4 is used.
Can support speeds of 0 MB / s (800 Mbps) or higher,
It is expected that the transfer speed will continue to increase in the future.
On the other hand, the single tape streamer device 8 has a data transfer rate Tr of about 100 kB / s to about 24 MB / s even when using parallel recording using a large number of magnetic heads 110 and the like, and the time required for backup / archive work. Is a bottleneck. This means that even if the same magnetic recording is used, a magnetic tape device can record only about 8 channels in parallel at the maximum, whereas a hard disk device using RAID is composed of a combination of several to several thousand HDDs. This is because the HDD device can simultaneously perform recording and reproduction of one to a dozen or more channels.

Since the sending speed of the server 2 or the RAID device 1 corresponds to a high-speed communication network, the speed of portable recording media such as magnetic tapes and optical disks must be increased by using the array device 102 as a virtual storage device. Has been proposed (for example, JP-A-09-62462).

[0007] By performing the parallel recording in this manner, it is possible to perform recording at a higher speed than that of a single unit. This is RAID0
Corresponding to Further, data security can be improved by mirroring in which the same data is written to two or more devices. This corresponds to RAID1. Also, by writing an error correction signal and a parity signal with a specific recording device, the RAI
It has been proposed to improve data resiliency with less information than D1. This corresponds to a technology called RAID2 to RAID6.

The magnetic tape device writes information An from an external controller such as a server device into a buffer memory, loads a normal compression process and an error correction code, and then writes it on a magnetic tape through a recording amplifier. The written information is reproduced and reproduced and amplified by the reproducing head, error corrected, and compared (verified) with the written information. If the information is correctly written, the next information An + 1 is written. It has a read-after-write function of writing the information An again to ensure the accuracy of the information.

Normal information is compressed and recorded using various conversion methods, and is expanded after reproduction. If the compression ratio differs depending on the type of information, the amount of information sent is not proportional to the written area.

For this reason, the physical position of the information to be written cannot be determined unless compression, writing, and verification are completed. Therefore, the physical position of this information can be stored in the host computer, added to the end of the information written sequentially, written back into the position information area mechanically by rewinding the tape, We had to take measures to store it in the system and store it there.

[0011]

However, even if data is simply written on a plurality of portable recording media by parallel processing, the written file information is stored on the recording device side. There is a problem that cannot be played.

Further, even when the file information is written on the medium itself, the file information of the medium is first read, and then each piece of information is read, so that it takes a lot of time to access and cannot cope with high-speed network processing. There is.

The position information recorded on each medium is R
Data related to the original information virtually stored by the AID, position information of the tape distributed and written on other tapes, and the like cannot be retained.

Further, if the combination of media is lost due to an accident or the like, there is a problem that these data cannot be restored.

The access speed Ta of the magnetic tape device is slow because the tape is mechanically fast-forwarded and rewound regardless of the linear type or the helical type. When recording on multiple media in parallel, if writing or playback is temporarily suspended to match the slowest device due to rewriting due to data error, difference in writing speed due to difference in compression ratio, etc., tape positioning work will be necessary to access again. As a result, the overall throughput is significantly reduced.

Further, if the tape length is increased to increase the storage capacity, the access time Ta becomes longer, so that a new cassette is required, and a mechanism for the streamer device is also required. There are problems such as an increase in cost and difficulty in tape compatibility. In addition, when the tape width is increased, a new format is produced, and there is a disadvantage that the apparatus price increases in order to maintain tracking accuracy.

The access time Ta defined here is an average time required for accessing information at an arbitrary position from the center of a stationary medium, performing tracking, and recording and reproducing data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by saving and restoring data safely and at high speed in an array device using a plurality of portable recording media.

[0019]

In order to achieve this object, a first recording apparatus of the present invention is an array having two or more recording / reproducing apparatuses for simultaneously recording and reproducing on two or more portable recording media. A recording / reproducing array device characterized in that two or more portable recording media are contained in one container when the recording / reproducing device is loaded or unloaded, and in particular, the portable recording media is a magnetic tape cassette, A reproducing apparatus is a magnetic recording apparatus, and a magnetic recording / reproducing array apparatus characterized in that two or more magnetic tapes are accommodated in one cassette holder when a tape cassette is loaded into or discharged from the apparatus.

Further, the second magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprises:
In a magnetic recording / reproducing array device having two or more helical scan type magnetic tape recording devices for simultaneously recording / reproducing on two or more tapes, when the tape is loaded into the device and the tape is ejected, the magnetic tape cassette without the cassette lid is used as one. A magnetic recording / reproducing array device which is housed in a closed cassette holder.

A third recording / reproducing array device according to the present invention is an array device having two or more recording / reproducing devices for simultaneously recording / reproducing data on / from two or more portable recording media. Sometimes, two or more portable recording media are contained in one container, and the container has at least one random access nonvolatile memory for storing the physical arrangement of data on the two or more portable recording media. The recording / reproducing array device is characterized in that the portable recording medium is a magnetic tape cassette, and the recording / reproducing device is a magnetic recording device. A magnetic recording / reproducing array device characterized in that the written random access nonvolatile memory is stored in one cassette holder.

[0022]

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiments of a magnetic head according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a magnetic tape array apparatus using a streamer apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an example, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a tape streamer device built in the magnetic tape array device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the magnetic tape array device.

The magnetic tape array device 11 of the present invention includes a server 2 having a large-scale memory such as a RAID device 1 and the like, a magnetic channel array device, a fiber channel,
It is composed of FDDI, Gigabit Ethernet, etc., has a high-speed communication line 5, and has a SAN (Storage Area Network).
Is composed.

The magnetic tape array device main body 11 is controlled by the server 2, and includes a pre-stage storage device 12 and a virtual magnetic tape driver (array controller) 1.
3 and n (n> 2) single built-in streamer devices 14
Consists of The cassette holder comprises a cassette holder 16 capable of loading and discharging the n magnetic tape cassettes 15 in one container, and n built-in magnetic tape cassettes 15. Embodiment 1 describes a case where n = 8. Here, the streamer device 14 is, for example, a DD.
S, data 8, VHS, D3, D5, DLT, QUIC
K and other commercially available inexpensive devices.

The recording operation of the magnetic tape array device 11 will be described. A cassette holder 16 having eight magnetic tape cassettes 15 is prepared (STEP 30). The cassette holder may be touched by an external person or accidentally
It is effective in data storage to provide a safety device so that no data is taken out.

The cassette holder 16 is loaded into the magnetic tape array device 11 (STEP 31). This loading may be manual or mechanical.

The magnetic tape cassette 15 is taken out of the cassette holder 16 and automatically distributed and loaded into eight streamer devices 14 therein (STEP 32). The virtual tape driver 13 notifies the server 2 that the backup preparation is completed.

Information sent from the RAID device 1 or another server or the like is temporarily stored in the preceding storage device (buffer) 12 through the high-speed network line 5 (S).
TEP33). The preceding storage device 12 has at least n built-in streamer devices 14 and a data write or reproduction speed Tr · MB /
s, the maximum access time Ta · s of each streamer needs to be larger than Tr × Ta × n (1). By doing so, the server 2 can send data to the tape array device 11 without waiting for access preparation of the individual streamer devices 14, and it is possible to eliminate loss of access time. Further, when the storage capacity is larger than (1), the recording capacity can be apparently increased by collating data in file units and recording only one identical data. This is effective in reducing duplicate data when storing data of a large number of clients on a network. The front-end storage device 12 stores data sent from the server 2 through the network 5 in a FIFO (First-In First-Out).
Are sequentially transferred to the virtual tape driver 13. The preceding storage device of k is constituted by a semiconductor memory or a hard disk drive. The transfer speed of the pre-stage storage device needs to be Tr × n × 2 (2) because the recording operation and the reproducing operation are performed in parallel.

The virtual tape driver 13 divides the transmitted data into, for example, eight data strings of 512 bytes each and transfers them to each of the eight streamer devices 14 (STE).
P34). At this time, mirroring, shuffling, and addition of redundant data are performed.

The data is subjected to a compression process 21 and an error correction code addition 22 as required in each streamer device 14,
The data is recorded on the magnetic tape 29 through the recording amplifier and the magnetic head 23 (STEP 35).

For read-after-write processing, the recorded signal is immediately reproduced and amplified by a reproducing head and a reproducing amplifier 24, and then subjected to error compounding processing 25 to be collated 26 with the original recorded signal to be verified ( (STEP 36). If there is an error, write again, and if there is no error, write the next data. This verification may be performed before or after signal compression.

When the verification is completed, write physical information 2 indicating where data has been written on the tape.
8 is sent to the virtual tape driver 13 (STEP 3).
7). This write physical information is stored in the server as tape management information. After the recording process is completed, the physical information to be written on the individual tapes may be written on the leading end or the last part of the tape, or on a semiconductor memory or the like built in each tape.

When a discharge command is received from the tape array device or the server system, the eight magnetic tape cassettes 15 loaded in each built-in streamer 14 are returned to one cassette holder 16 (STEP 38).

Then, it is discharged (STEP 39). By handling the cassette tape with one cassette holder, the tape can be prevented from being dissipated.

The case of n = 8 streamers has been described, but if n> 2 (3) and n <Tt / Tr (4), the streamer is idle time. Without this, data can be written and reproduced continuously.

During reproduction, the signal flow is reversed. A cassette holder 16 having eight magnetic tape cassettes 15 to be reproduced is prepared. The cassette holder 16 is loaded into the tape array device 11. The magnetic tape cassette 15 is taken out of the cassette holder 16 and automatically distributed and loaded into eight streamer devices 14 inside. The virtual tape driver 13 notifies the server 2 that the backup preparation is completed. The server 2 sees the write physical information recorded on the tape, and instructs the tape array device 11 to access the necessary data, such as physical position information. The virtual tape driver 13 sends access information to each tape streamer device 14, and the tape streamer 14 starts signal reproduction. The reproduced and amplified signal 24 performs an error correction process 25 and is sent to the virtual tape driver 13. The virtual tape driver 13 restores the information sent from the eight tape streamers 14 to return to the original data sequence, and
To the server 2 through the server.

When an ejection command is received from the tape array device 11 or the server system 2, each of the built-in streamers 14
The eight magnetic tape cassettes 15 loaded in are returned to one cassette holder 16 and ejected.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the user can be aware of the storage of each combination of cassette tapes, and can achieve a tape capacity of eight times or less and a speed of eight times or less (redundancy addition). Tape device).

By performing such parallel processing, it is possible to provide an inexpensive magnetic tape streamer apparatus having a larger capacity and a shorter access time than before, without using a new format in which the tape length is increased or the tape width is increased. can do. Further, since the tape length does not need to be increased, the access time can be kept shorter as compared with a recordable tape streamer device having the same area.

Also, the server may simply transfer data virtually to the tape array device, and it is possible to provide a storage device that does not need to consider the access of the tape streamer.

SA where server and backup device are connected
Although the N configuration has been described, it goes without saying that the SAN configuration in which the RAID device and the backup device are directly connected reduces the load on the server, thereby maintaining the same high-speed performance as in the first embodiment. The configuration of the SAN has been described.
It goes without saying that the same can be achieved with an AS (Network Attache Storage) configuration.

The helical scan type streamer device in which a plurality of tape cassettes are placed in a cassette holder has been described. However, even if a linear type magnetic tape device for recording serial data, a CD-R, or a CD-RW is used, It goes without saying that a high-speed and inexpensive array device can be created.

A magnetic disk such as a portable hard disk or a floppy disk for recording random data,
Even when used for an optical disk such as a VD or a magneto-optical disk such as an MO, data management can be easily performed.

(Embodiment 2) Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an overhead view of the magnetic tape cassette holder of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the operation of a magnetic tape cassette in a conventional cassette case.

The magnetic tape array device is the first type shown in FIG.
Is used.

In the case of a helical scan type VTR, it is general to take measures against dust using the cassette case 121 so that dust does not adhere to the tape. In the case of the linear type, it is sufficient to simply pull out the tape end. In the case of the helical scan type, it is necessary to pull out the tape over a large area using an openable lid 122 as shown in FIG. . There is a disadvantage that the volume of the tape device cannot be reduced due to the volume of opening the lid, and when a large number of magnetic tape devices are arranged in parallel as in the first embodiment, the volume occupied by the streamer device 14 increases.
There is a disadvantage that the magnetic tape array device 11 becomes large.

In the present invention, by using the closed cassette holder 46 as shown in FIG. 4, there is no problem in dustproofness even if the lid of the tape cassette 45 inside is omitted. The loading and unloading of the tape array device 11 is performed by the cassette holder 4.
In step 6, the magnetic tape is exposed only inside the array device. The recording and reproducing operations are the same as in the first embodiment.

By eliminating the cassette lid of each tape cassette 45, the cassette upper lid 1 of each streamer device 14 can be removed.
22, opening and closing mechanism, upper space for opening the cassette lid,
A space or the like for avoiding interference between the cassette lid and the rotating drum is not required, and the streamer device 14 can be provided with a small volume and a thin tape traveling mechanism. Since the built-in streamer device 14 can be reduced in size and thickness, the tape array device 11
Also, a thin and large-scale backup device can be provided.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is an overhead view showing an example of the configuration of a magnetic tape array device using a streamer to which the present invention of a third embodiment is applied.

The tape array device 51 of the present invention comprises an FDD that connects a server 2 including a large-scale memory 1 such as a RAID device and a plurality of clients or other servers or a client or another server 3 around the tape array device.
I, high-speed communication network 4 such as Gigabit Ethernet, and
A NAS (Network Attached) having a high-speed communication line 7 composed of a fiber channel, FDDI, gigabit Ethernet or the like connecting the high-speed communication network 4 and the tape array device 51
Storage).

The tape array device main body 51 of the present invention comprises a pre-stage storage device 52, a virtual magnetic tape driver 53, a tape physical information controller 58 for inputting / outputting information from a semiconductor nonvolatile memory 57 on a cassette holder, and n units. Single streamer 54 and cassette holder 56
Consists of

The cassette holder 56 of the present invention comprises a cassette holder 56 capable of loading / unloading a semiconductor memory 57 such as a flash memory, an EEPROM, a FERAM, an MRAM, etc., in which the n magnetic tape cassettes 55 are formed into one container, and And eight magnetic tape cassettes 55. In the third embodiment, a case where n = 8 will be described.

After the eight magnetic tape cassettes 55 placed in the cassette holder 56 are loaded into the tape array device 51, they are distributed and loaded into eight internal streamers.

The physical information controller 58 can read the contents of data recorded so far, physical position information, compression information, and the like from the semiconductor nonvolatile memory 57 on the cassette holder 56. The data communication between the semiconductor nonvolatile memory 57 and the physical information controller 58 can use a contact method, a radio communication method, an infrared communication method, or the like.
While the contact method is inexpensive, in a cart machine using a large number of data cassettes, an electric wave communication or an infrared communication method that enables communication even outside the tape array device 51 is advantageous. A semiconductor nonvolatile memory is a typical random access memory, and has an extremely high access speed to a sequential memory such as a magnetic tape.

Information sent from the RAID device 1 or another server 3 is temporarily stored in the preceding storage device 52 through the high-speed network line 7. This pre-stage storage device 52 has n built-in streamer devices, and the data write or reproduction speed Tr · MB /
s, the product of the longest access time Ta · s of each streamer, Tr × Ta × n (4) It is necessary that the data is larger than (4), and the data sent from the server is stored in FIFO (First-InFirst-Out). ), The data is sequentially transferred to the virtual tape driver 53.

The virtual tape driver 53 divides the data into eight data strings and transfers them to each streamer 54. After the data is subjected to compression processing in each streamer 54 as necessary, recording and verification are performed. The physical position information on the tape determined here is recorded in the semiconductor non-volatile memory 57 together with data contents, compression information, and the like.

The eight tape cassettes 55 loaded in the tape array device 51 are returned to one cassette holder 56 and then discharged when receiving a discharge command from a device or a system.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, a new format in which the tape length is increased or the tape width is increased without the user being aware of the storage of each combination of the magnetic tape cassettes. , And an inexpensive magnetic tape streamer device having a larger capacity and a shorter access time than before can be provided.

Further, there is an effect that the server can provide a storage device that simply transfers data virtually to the tape array device.

Further, since the physical position information is incorporated in the cassette holder and can be read out at a high speed, the data can be accessed at a high speed during the reproducing operation, and the information in the semiconductor nonvolatile memory 57 can be quickly read from another magnetic tape array device. The original data can be easily restored.

Although the NAS configuration has been described, it goes without saying that the same can be achieved with the SAN configuration.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 6 is a bird's-eye view showing a configuration of an example of a magnetic tape array device using a streamer to which the present invention of a fourth embodiment is applied.

The tape array device main body 61 of the present invention comprises a portable storage device 52, a virtual magnetic tape driver 53, and a portable hard disk drive 69 for inputting and outputting information from a portable hard disk (removable hard disk) 67 on a cassette holder. And a tape physical information controller 58, four unitary streamers 54 and a cassette holder 66.

The cassette holder of the present invention comprises a cassette holder 66 capable of loading and discharging the n magnetic tape cassettes 55 into one container and having a built-in portable hard disk 67.
And n magnetic tape cassettes 55 and a portable hard disk 67. Embodiment 4 describes a case where n = 4.

After the four tape cassettes 55 placed in the cassette holder 66 are loaded into the tape array device 61, the portable hard disk 67 is distributed and loaded into the four internal streamers, and the portable hard disk 67 is loaded into the portable hard disk drive 69. Is done. From the portable hard disk 67, the contents of data recorded up to that time, physical position information, compression information, and the like can be read.

The virtual tape driver 53 divides the data into four data strings and transfers them to each streamer 54. After the data is subjected to compression processing in each streamer 54 as necessary, recording and verification are performed. The physical position information on the tape determined here is recorded on the portable hard disk 67 on the portable hard disk drive 69 together with the data content, compression information, and the like.

The four magnetic tape cassettes 55 and the portable hard disk 67 loaded in the tape array device 61
When a discharge command is received from a device or a system, it is returned to one cassette holder 66 and then discharged.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, a new format in which the tape length is increased or the tape width is increased without the user being aware of the storage of the combination of each magnetic tape cassette. Without using the same, it is possible to provide an inexpensive magnetic tape streamer apparatus having a larger capacity and a shorter access time than before, and a server can provide a storage apparatus that simply transfers data virtually to the tape array apparatus.

Since the hard disk device has a short access time and a large capacity, for example, by writing a part of video data on the hard disk 67 and reproducing information until reproduction from the magnetic tape 55 becomes accessible,
It is possible to provide a portable large-scale information system with a short access time.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 7 is a bird's-eye view showing a configuration of an example of a magnetic tape array device using a streamer to which the present invention of a fifth embodiment is applied.

The tape array device main body 71 of the present invention comprises a front storage device 52, a virtual magnetic tape driver 53, and a floppy disk (FD) 77 on a cassette holder.
Disk drive (F) for inputting and outputting information from
DD) 79, a tape physical information controller 58, and four unitary built-in streamers 54 and a cassette holder 76.

The container according to the present invention comprises a cassette holder 76 capable of loading and discharging the four magnetic tape cassettes 55 into one container and having a built-in floppy disk 77 and the four magnetic tape cassettes 55 and the floppy disk 77. Become.

After the four magnetic tape cassettes 55 and the floppy disk 77 placed in the cassette holder 76 are loaded into the tape array device 71, the magnetic tape cassette 55 is transferred to four internal streamers 54 and the floppy disk 77. Are distributed and loaded into the floppy disk drive 79, respectively. From the floppy disk 77, it is possible to read the contents of data recorded so far, physical position information, compression information, and the like.

The virtual tape driver 53 divides the data into four data strings and transfers them to each streamer 54. After the data is subjected to compression processing in each streamer 54 as necessary, recording and verification are performed. The physical position information on the tape determined here is recorded on the floppy disk 77 on the floppy disk drive 79 together with data contents, compression information and the like.

The four magnetic tape cassettes 55 and the floppy disk 77 loaded in the tape array device 71
When a discharge command is received from a device or a system, it is returned to one cassette holder 76 and then discharged.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, a new format in which the tape length is increased or the tape width is increased without the user being conscious of storing the combination of each magnetic tape cassette. Without using the same, it is possible to provide an inexpensive magnetic tape streamer apparatus having a larger capacity and a shorter access time than before, and a server can provide a storage apparatus that simply transfers data virtually to the tape array apparatus.

Further, since the floppy disk device is inexpensive and stable, the floppy disk can withstand longer-term storage than the hard disk.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 8 is a bird's-eye view showing a configuration of an example of a magnetic tape array device using a streamer to which the present invention of a fourth embodiment is applied.

The tape array device main body 81 of the present invention comprises a pre-storage device 52, a virtual magnetic tape driver 53, an optical disk drive 89 capable of recording and reproducing information from an optical disk 87 on a cassette holder, and
It comprises a tape physical information controller 58, six single streamers 54 and a cassette holder 86.

The container according to the present invention comprises six magnetic tape cassettes 55 as one container, a cassette holder 86 having a built-in optical disc 87 and capable of being loaded and ejected, six magnetic tape cassettes 55 and an optical disc 87. .

After the six magnetic tape cassettes 55 and the optical disk 87 placed in the cassette holder 86 are loaded into the tape array device 81, the magnetic tape cassette 55 is stored in six internal streamers, and the optical disk 87 is stored in the optical disk drive. The devices 89 are respectively distributed and loaded. The contents of data recorded so far from the optical disc 87,
It can read physical position information, compression information, and the like.

The virtual tape driver 53 divides the data into six data strings and transfers them to each streamer 54. After the data is subjected to compression processing in each streamer 54 as necessary, recording and verification are performed. The physical position information on the tape determined here is recorded on the optical disk 87 on the optical disk device 89 together with data contents, compression information, and the like.

When the six magnetic tape cassettes 55 and the optical disk 87 loaded in the tape array device 81 receive an ejection command from a device or a system, they are returned to one cassette holder 86 and then ejected.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to increase the length of the tape without making the user aware of the storage of the combination of each cassette tape.
It is possible to provide an inexpensive magnetic tape streamer with a larger capacity and shorter access time than before, without using a new format with a larger tape width, and the server can simply transfer data virtually to the tape array. Can be provided.

Since the optical disk device has a short access time and a large capacity, for example, a part of the video data is transferred to the optical disk 8.
By writing the data on the disk 7 and reproducing the information until the reproduction from the magnetic tape 55 becomes accessible, a portable large-scale information system with a short access time can be provided. In addition, the optical disc is capable of stable recording and holding even for long-term storage. Although the optical disk has been described, the same applies to the magneto-optical disk device.

(Embodiment 7) FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an example of a magnetic tape array device using a streamer to which the present invention of a seventh embodiment is applied. In the present embodiment, a case where n = 2 in the tape device will be described.

The periphery of the tape array device 91 of the present invention
It comprises a server 2 and a communication line 94 connecting the server 3 such as FDDI, Gigabit Ethernet, IDE bus and SCSI bus.

The tape array device main body 91 of the present invention comprises a tape physical information controller for inputting and outputting information from the preceding storage device 12, the compression device 92, the virtual magnetic tape driver 13, and the semiconductor nonvolatile memory 97 on the cassette holder. 98 and two single built-in streamers.

The container according to the present invention uses two magnetic tape cassettes 15 as one container to form a flash memory or an EEPROM.
Semiconductor non-volatile memory 97 such as M, FERAM, MRAM, etc.
And a cassette holder 96 capable of loading and discharging, and
It consists of two built-in magnetic tape cassettes 15.

After the two magnetic tape cassettes 15 placed in the cassette holder 96 are loaded into the tape array device 91, they are distributed and loaded into two internal streamers.
From the semiconductor nonvolatile memory 97 on the cassette holder 96,
The content of data recorded up to that point, physical location information,
Compressed information and the like can be read.

The information sent from the server is transmitted to the communication line 9
4 and is temporarily stored in a preceding storage device (buffer) 12. The data is sent from the pre-stage storage device 12 to the compression device 92 and is compressed. Data compression methods include LZ transformation (Lempei-Ziv method), block sort compression method, digital geometry compression method, statistical compression method, Huffman method, dynamic Huffman method, adaptive Huffman method, run-length method, BS
The TW method (Bentle-Sleater-Tarjan-Wei method) or a combination thereof (for example, the LZH method) is used. In addition, JPEG method which is lossy encoding and MPE
The G method can be used, and an efficient backup device can be created by selecting these methods.

These compression operations may be performed by software or firmware.

The compressed data is sequentially transferred to the virtual tape driver 13. The virtual tape driver 13
The data is divided into two data strings and transferred to each streamer 95. After the error correction code is added, recording and verification are performed. The physical position information on the tape determined here is sent to the physical information controller together with the contents of the data, the above-mentioned compression information, and the like.
7 recorded.

When the two magnetic tape cassettes 15 loaded in the tape array device 91 receive a discharge command from the device or the system, they are returned to one cassette holder 96 and then discharged.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, a new format in which the tape length is increased or the tape width is increased without the user being aware of the storage of the combination of each magnetic tape cassette. Without using the conventional technology, it is possible to provide an inexpensive magnetic tape streamer apparatus having a larger capacity and a shorter access time than before, and it is also possible to provide a storage apparatus in which a server can simply transfer data virtually to a tape array apparatus. There is.

Further, since the compression processing is performed before sending data to the virtual tape streamer, there is no speed difference due to the compression and decompression of the two tape streamers, and the stream length is limited due to the compressed signal. There is an effect that the processing need not be performed by the device and the processing can be performed at high speed. Since the compression method can be selected at the same time, a large-capacity tape archive device having a high degree of compression can be configured.

[0098]

According to the present invention, a user can provide an inexpensive magnetic tape streamer with a large capacity and a short access time by simply using backup devices in parallel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic tape array device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a tape streamer device built in the magnetic tape array device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of data processing of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic tape array device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic tape array device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic tape array device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic tape array device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic tape array device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic tape array device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an overhead view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional tape streamer device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional tape cassette having a lid.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Large-scale RAID device 2 Server 3 Server or client 4 Network network 5, 6, 7 Network, bus 8, 14, 54 Streamer device 9, 15, 55, 121 Magnetic tape cassette 11, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91 , 101 Tape array device 12, 52 Pre-stage storage device 13, 53, 102 Virtual tape driver 16, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86, 96 Cassette holder 21, 28 Compression / expansion circuit 22 Error correction addition circuit 23 Recording amplifier, magnetic Head 24 Reproduction head, reproduction amplifier 25 Error correction circuit 26 Verify circuit 43 Cassette lid 45 Tape cassette without lid 57, 97 Semiconductor nonvolatile memory 58, 98 Physical information controller 67 Portable hard disk 69 Hard disk drive 77 Floppy disk 9 floppy disk drive 87 the optical disk 89 optical disc drive device 92 compressing and expanding circuit 110 Multi magnetic head 122 cassettes cover 123 rotating drum

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B018 GA04 HA04 MA11 5B065 BA08 CA40 CC08 CE11 CH03 ZA04 5D110 AA04 AA13 AA17 AA21 AA27 AA29 DA01 DA11 DA14 DB10 DC15

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An array device having two or more recording / reproducing devices for simultaneously recording / reproducing on / from two or more portable recording media, wherein when loading / unloading the recording / reproducing device, two or more portable recording media are loaded. A recording / reproducing array device which is housed in one container. 2. The portable recording medium is a magnetic tape cassette.
2. The recording / reproducing apparatus is a magnetic recording apparatus, wherein two or more magnetic tapes are accommodated in one cassette holder when a tape cassette is loaded into or ejected from the apparatus.
The recording / reproducing array device according to claim 1. 3. A magnetic recording / reproducing array device having two or more helical scan type magnetic tape recording devices for simultaneously recording and reproducing data on two or more tapes. A magnetic recording / reproducing array device, wherein a tape cassette is housed in one closed cassette holder. 4. An array device having two or more recording / reproducing devices for simultaneously recording / reproducing on / from two or more portable recording media, wherein two or more portable recording media are loaded / unloaded into / from the recording / reproducing device. A recording / reproducing array device, wherein the recording / reproducing array device has at least one random access type nonvolatile memory which is stored in one container and stores the physical arrangement of data on two or more portable recording media in the container. 5. The portable recording medium is a magnetic tape cassette,
The recording / reproducing apparatus is a magnetic recording apparatus, and when loading and unloading a tape from the apparatus, the magnetic tape cassette and a random access type nonvolatile memory in which data information on the tape is written are stored in one cassette holder. 1 to
5. The magnetic recording / reproducing array device according to 4. 6. A recording / reproducing apparatus which simultaneously performs recording and reproduction on n magnetic tapes.
In a magnetic tape array device that has a magnetic recording device with a transfer speed Tr and an access time Ta of at least one (n> 1) and records and reproduces information via a communication network, n tapes are loaded or unloaded when a tape cassette is loaded into or discharged from the device. A magnetic recording / reproducing array device comprising a magnetic tape and a nonvolatile memory in which data information on the tape is written in one cassette holder, and a built-in pre-storage device having a capacity of n × Tr × Ta. 7. Recording and reproduction simultaneously on n windings of a magnetic tape
In a magnetic tape array device that has a magnetic recording device with a transfer speed Tr and an access time Ta of at least one (n> 1) and records and reproduces information via a communication network, when a tape is loaded into and removed from the device, n windings of magnetic tape are used. A tape and a non-volatile memory in which data information on the tape is written are stored in a single cassette holder.
A magnetic recording / reproducing array device which sends data to a virtual storage device after data compression on a preceding storage device. 8. The magnetic recording array device according to claim 4, wherein said nonvolatile memory is a semiconductor memory. 9. The magnetic recording array device according to claim 4, wherein said nonvolatile memory is a hard disk. 10. The magnetic recording array device according to claim 4, wherein said nonvolatile memory is a floppy disk. 11. The magnetic recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said nonvolatile memory is an optical disk.