Assigning a physical address to a data storage device
View Patent ↗A method of assigning a physical address to a tape-based data storage device is provided. The method includes receiving a first initialization signal from a system controller at an input port associated with a first tape-based data storage device and prohibiting communication at an output port associated with the first tape-based data storage device. The method further includes providing a first confirmation signal to the system controller in response to receiving the first initialization signal and receiving an instruction from the system controller to enable communication at the output port associated with the first tape-based data storage device in response to the first confirmation signal. The method also includes determining a physical address associated with said first tape-based data storage device based on the instruction from the system controller, the physical address enabling communication at the output port of the first tape-based storage device.
1. A method of assigning a physical address to a tape-based data storage device, said method comprising:
receiving a first initialization signal from a system controller at an input port associated with a first tape-based data storage device;
prohibiting communication at an output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device;
providing a first confirmation signal to said system controller in response to receiving said first initialization signal;
receiving an instruction from said system controller to enable communication at said output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device in response to said first confirmation signal; and
determining a physical address associated with said first tape-based data storage device based on said instruction from said system controller, said physical address enabling communication at said output port of said first tape-based storage device.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
disabling said output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device as a default setting.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a second initialization signal from said system controller at said input port associated with said first tape-based data storage device;
providing said second initialization signal at said output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device; and
receiving said second initialization signal at said second tape-based storage device.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
prohibiting communication at an output port associated with said second tape-based data storage device;
providing a first confirmation signal to said system controller in response to receiving said second initialization signal;
receiving an instruction from said system controller to enable communication at said output port associated with said second tape-based data storage device in response to said first confirmation signal; and
determining a physical address associated with said second tape-based data storage device based on said instruction from said system controller to enable communication at said output port of said second tape-based storage device.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
receiving a signal at said system controller from said output port of said second tape-based storage device;
determining initialization is complete; and
generating a mapping of said first and second tape-based storage devices based on said addresses.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
configuring a robot motion profile based on said mapping.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining a plurality of tape drive addresses based on said physical address associated with said first tape-based data storage device.
8. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method of assigning a physical address to a tape-based data storage device, said method comprising:
receiving a first initialization signal from a system controller at an input port associated with a first tape-based data storage device;
prohibiting communication at an output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device;
providing a first confirmation signal to said system controller in response to receiving said first initialization signal;
receiving an instruction from said system controller to enable communication at said output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device in response to said first confirmation signal; and
determining a physical address associated with said first tape-based data storage device based on said instruction from said system controller.
9. The computer implemented method of claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:
disabling said output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device as a default setting.
10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:
receiving a second initialization signal from said system controller at said input port associated with said first tape-based data storage device;
providing said second initialization signal at said output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device; and
receiving said second initialization signal at said second tape-based storage device.
11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein said method further comprising:
prohibiting communication at an output port associated with said second tape-based data storage device;
providing a first confirmation signal to said system controller in response to receiving said second initialization signal;
receiving an instruction from said system controller to enable communication at said output port associated with said second tape-based data storage device in response to said first confirmation signal; and
determining a physical address associated with said second tape-based data storage device based on said instruction from said system controller to enable communication at said output port of said second tape-based storage device.
12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:
receiving a signal at said system controller from said output port of said second tape-based storage device;
determining initialization is complete; and
generating a mapping of said first and second tape-based storage devices based on said addresses.
13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein said method further comprises:
configuring a robot motion profile based on said mapping.
14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:
determining a plurality of tape drive addresses based on said physical address associated with said first tape-based data storage device.
15. A system for assigning a physical address to a tape-based data storage device comprising:
an input port associated with a first tape-based data storage device configured to receive a first initialization signal from a system controller;
a port controller configured to block communication at an output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device;
a confirmation signal generator for providing a first confirmation signal to said system controller in response to said first initialization signal;
in response to receiving an instruction from said system controller, said port controller further configured to enable communication at said output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device; and
an address determiner configured for determining a physical address associated with said first tape-based data storage device based on said instruction from said system controller, said address enabling communication at said output port of said first tape-based storage device.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein said output port is coupled to a second tape-based data storage device.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein communication at said output port associated with said first tape-based data storage device is blocked as a default setting.
18. The system of claim 15 wherein said input port or said output port is an Ethernet port.
19. The system of claim 15 wherein said first tape-based data storage device comprises a plurality of tape drives.
20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
a device mapper for generating a device map indicating a location of said first tape based storage device based on said physical address.