Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes receiving a command to perform at least one of a refresh operation and a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; mounting the media cartridge in a tape drive; starting execution of the refresh and/or verification operation; aborting execution of the refresh and/or verification operation upon occurrence of a predetermined event. A method in another embodiment includes receiving an instruction to perform a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; unwrapping at least some of the tape from the spool; after the unwrapping, wrapping at least some of the tape back onto the spool; during at least one of the unwrapping and wrapping, performing a verification operation; terminating execution of the verification operation when a drive error is detected; outputting an indication of a media error when a media error is encountered.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes: deciding to perform a refresh operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; determining which drive of a plurality of drives is available to perform the refresh operation; causing the media cartridge to be mounted to the available drive; causing the drive to unwrap the tape from the spool of the media cartridge to about an end of the tape; and causing the drive to wrap the tape back onto the spool after the unwrapping, wherein at least some data on the tape is overwritten with new data, and a verification operation is performed using the new data.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes receiving an instruction to perform a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; unwrapping at least some of the tape from the spool of the media cartridge; after the unwrapping, wrapping at least some of the tape back onto the spool; during at least one of the unwrapping and wrapping (and preferably both, and possibly over several cycles of unwrapping and wrapping), performing a verification operation; generating a quality metric based on the verification operation; and outputting the quality metric or derivative thereof, such as a pass or fail indication; an instruction to set a pass/fail flag; a number, score or graphic illustrating to a user a general quality of the tape, etc. Additional methods and systems are also presented.

Abstract: A plurality of tape drives writes a plurality of indicators corresponding to a plurality of data units on a tape, wherein an indicator indicates which tape drive of the plurality of tape drives has written a corresponding data unit on the tape. Each of the plurality of tape drives generates an extent of read errors, in response to reading the plurality of data units written on the tape. The extent of read errors generated by each of the plurality of tape drives are aggregated at a computational device coupled to the plurality of tape drives. A determination is made at the computational device of a defective tape drive of the plurality of tape drives from the aggregated extent of read errors.

Abstract: Methods, magnetic tape data storage drives, data storage systems, and magnetic tape data storage cartridges. A system having at least one magnetic tape data storage drive is configured to handle a magnetic tape cartridge comprising a magnetic tape data storage media and accompanying cartridge memory. The magnetic tape media comprises a plurality of longitudinal servo bands, the servo bands separated by data bands. Two servo bands, each at opposite sides of a data band are sensed. In response to at least one servo detection error signal of one of the two servo bands, an edge stress signal is set to the cartridge memory of the magnetic tape cartridge. Then, for example, after reloading the cartridge, the cartridge memory is inspected for a set edge stress signal; and, if the edge stress signal is set, only read operations are allowed with respect to the inspected magnetic tape data storage cartridge.

Abstract: A method to write information to a tape storage medium by disposing a tape storage medium in a tape drive apparatus comprising a write head. The method moves the tape storage medium in a first direction, writes data from a buffer to the tape storage medium, and thereby empties the buffer while the tape storage medium is moving in the first direction. The method determines, while the tape storage medium is moving in the first direction, whether to enable a backhitchless write wherein the tape storage medium is not stopped and moved in a second and opposition direction, prior to writing new data to the tape storage medium. By not stopping the movement of the tape storage medium, and by not moving the tape storage medium in a reverse direction to reposition the write head, the method eliminates the time overhead required to stop the tape and reposition the tape head. Applicants' method achieves this time efficiency without adverse impact to the nominal storage capacity of the tape information medium.

Abstract: A plurality of tape drives writes a plurality of indicators corresponding to a plurality of data units on a tape, wherein an indicator indicates which tape drive of the plurality of tape drives has written a corresponding data unit on the tape. Each of the plurality of tape drives generates an extent of read errors, in response to reading the plurality of data units written on the tape. The extent of read errors generated by each of the plurality of tape drives are aggregated at a computational device coupled to the plurality of tape drives. A determination is made at the computational device of a defective tape drive of the plurality of tape drives from the aggregated extent of read errors.

Abstract: A plurality of tape drives writes a plurality of indicators corresponding to a plurality of data units on a tape, wherein an indicator indicates which tape drive of the plurality of tape drives has written a corresponding data unit on the tape. Each of the plurality of tape drives generates an extent of read errors, in response to reading the plurality of data units written on the tape. The extent of read errors generated by each of the plurality of tape drives are aggregated at a computational device coupled to the plurality of tape drives. A determination is made at the computational device of a defective tape drive of the plurality of tape drives from the aggregated extent of read errors.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving signals from multiple readers; and performing more error control processing on a signal from an outer reader than on a signal from an inner reader. A method according to one embodiment includes receiving signals from multiple readers; and performing different amounts of error control processing on signals from at least two of the readers. A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a tape head having an array of readers; and a processor coupled to the head for performing error control processing, wherein the processor performs more error control processing on a signal from the outer reader than on a signal from the inner reader.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture recovering remnant encrypted data on a removable storage media. An end of data (EOD) marker is detected on a removable storage media, wherein a first encryption key is associated with data preceding the EOD marker. Following the EOD marker, an identifier of a second encryption key associated with data following the EOD marker is read in response to detecting the EOD marker. The identifier is used to access the second encryption key and the second encryption key is used to decrypt the data following the EOD marker.

Abstract: Methods, magnetic tape data storage drives, data storage systems, and magnetic tape data storage cartridges. A system having at least one magnetic tape data storage drive is configured to handle a magnetic tape cartridge comprising a magnetic tape data storage media and accompanying cartridge memory. The magnetic tape media comprises a plurality of longitudinal servo bands, the servo bands separated by data bands. Two servo bands, each at opposite sides of a data band are sensed. In response to at least one servo detection error signal of one of the two servo bands, an edge stress signal is set to the cartridge memory of the magnetic tape cartridge. Then, for example, after reloading the cartridge, the cartridge memory is inspected for a set edge stress signal; and, if the edge stress signal is set, only read operations are allowed with respect to the inspected magnetic tape data storage cartridge.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, removable storage cartridge, and article of manufacture for validating an encryption key file on a removable storage media. Copies of an encryption key file are written to multiple locations on a removable storage media, wherein data is encrypted and decrypted using an encryption key included in the encryption key file. A validation operation is performed on the copy of the encryption key file at one of the key locations, wherein the key locations comprise the locations on the removable storage media to which the encryption key files were written. In response to the copy of the encryption key file not validating, a command is sent to cause the data and valid copies of the encryption key file to be rewritten to a new storage media.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for determining a tape speed for a next sync operation. A sync command is received. An average transaction size and an average host transfer rate of a set of previous sync operations are calculated. The tape speed for the next sync operation is determined using the average transaction size, the average host transfer rate, and a backhitch time. Data is written to a tape cartridge using the determined tape speed.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving signals from multiple readers; and performing more error control processing on a signal from an outer reader than on a signal from an inner reader. A method according to one embodiment includes receiving signals from multiple readers; and performing different amounts of error control processing on signals from at least two of the readers. A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a tape head having an array of readers; and a processor coupled to the head for performing error control processing, wherein the processor performs more error control processing on a signal from the outer reader than on a signal from the inner reader.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes receiving an instruction to perform a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; unwrapping at least some of the tape from the spool of the media cartridge; after the unwrapping, wrapping at least some of the tape back onto the spool; during at least one of the unwrapping and wrapping (and preferably both, and possibly over several cycles of unwrapping and wrapping), performing a verification operation; generating a quality metric based on the verification operation; and outputting the quality metric or derivative thereof, such as a pass or fail indication; an instruction to set a pass/fail flag; a number, score or graphic illustrating to a user a general quality of the tape, etc. Additional methods and systems are also presented.

Abstract: A method, system, and a device have a data storage drive for an automated data storage library in which a data storage drive may have in one embodiment, both a host-drive interface port and a host-library interface port. In one aspect, drive commands from a host system are conducted primarily through the host-drive interface port and a host-drive interface path to a drive controller of the data storage drive. In addition, library commands from the host system to a library controller may be conducted primarily through the host-library interface port and a host-library interface path to a library communication port of the data storage drive. In one embodiment, the drive commands from a host system are conducted primarily through the host-drive interface port and the host-drive interface path to a drive controller of the data storage drive.

Abstract: A plurality of tape drives writes a plurality of indicators corresponding to a plurality of data units on a tape, wherein an indicator indicates which tape drive of the plurality of tape drives has written a corresponding data unit on the tape. Each of the plurality of tape drives generates an extent of read errors, in response to reading the plurality of data units written on the tape. The extent of read errors generated by each of the plurality of tape drives are aggregated at a computational device coupled to the plurality of tape drives. A determination is made at the computational device of a defective tape drive of the plurality of tape drives from the aggregated extent of read errors.

Abstract: A method to write information to a tape storage medium by disposing a tape storage medium in a tape drive apparatus comprising a write head. The method moves the tape storage medium in a first direction, writes data from a buffer to the tape storage medium, and thereby empties the buffer while the tape storage medium is moving in the first direction. The method determines, while the tape storage medium is moving in the first direction, whether to enable a backhitchless write wherein the tape storage medium is not stopped and moved in a second and opposition direction, prior to writing new data to the tape storage medium. By not stopping the movement of the tape storage medium, and by not moving the tape storage medium in a reverse direction to reposition the write head, the method eliminates the time overhead required to stop the tape and reposition the tape head. Applicants' method achieves this time efficiency without adverse impact to the nominal storage capacity of the tape information medium.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment comprises reading servo information from a tape; and positioning a head relative to the tape so that readers in an array are about aligned with selected data tracks on the tape, wherein the track width of an inner reader of the array is greater than a track width of at least some outer readers positioned on two opposite sides thereof and aligned therewith. A method according to another embodiment comprises forming an array of readers, wherein the track width of an inner reader of the array is greater than a track width of at least some outer readers positioned on two opposite sides thereof and aligned therewith.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for writing data in a tape medium having wraps. A layout of the tape is provided including at least one segment within a full length of first set of wraps for writing user data and at least one segment within a full length of a second set of wraps for writing a work copy of the user data. User data is received to write to the tape medium. Detection is made of whether data writing is occurring in a specified write mode. A work copy is written to available segments in the second set of wraps not having user data in response to the data writing occurring in the specified write mode.