Abstract: In order to design a data storage unit, comprising an archive storage means for data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit and a transfer unit, and further comprising a data storage control which controls the read/write unit and the transfer unit for storing data and which is in data interchange communication with a computer, with which access to data with the computer is as efficient as possible, it is suggested that the data storage unit have in addition to the archive storage means at least one hard disk memory, that the data storage control operate the hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, that the data storage control with the archive storage means and the at least one hard disk memory together form a device installable as one storage unit which communicates with the computer as a single storage unit.

Abstract: In order to improve a data carrier archiving system with a data carrier store comprising a plurality of storage compartments and at least one disk drive for data carriers and with a data carrier transport unit movable in the space in three different spatial directions by a handling unit for transporting the data carriers between different compartments of the data carrier store and/or the at least one drive, in such a manner that checking of the positioning of the data carrier transport unit is possible with measures which are as simple as possible it is suggested that the data carrier transport unit be provided with a position detection unit, by which scanning of a reference object can be carried out after random operational phases for the exact determination of a position the data carrier transport unit in at least one of three different spatial directions.

Abstract: In order to make available a method for storing data in the form of a plurality of data sequences on a plurality of data carriers, which makes possible a restoration of data which is as reliable and simple to carry out as possible, it is suggested that a defined number from the plurality of data sequences be combined to form a respective data group, that a test data sequence be generated for the data sequences of the data group which allows the reconstruction of data in that the test data sequence and the other data sequences are combined with one another, that the test data sequence be generated by allocating a preliminary test data sequence to one of the data sequences, and that the preliminary test data sequence, by taking into account this and an additional data sequence from the data group, be extended to this additional data sequence and that the preliminary test data sequence be extended to additional data sequences of the data group for such a time until this comprises all the data sequences of the da