US Patent 7404184 Efficient firmware update for hierarchical data storage systems

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to shutdown a library manager while the library system remains in a partially online state. A message module is included to send a suspend message to a host such that the host stops sending library manager commands, a shutdown module is included to shutdown a library manager while a data storage device remains coupled to the host in an online state, a startup module is included to restart the library manager in response to a completed library manager maintenance operation, and a resume module is included to send a resume message to the host that the library manager is available for library manager commands.