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 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: A tape head according to one embodiment includes an array of readers, each of the readers having a track width, wherein the track width of an inner reader of the array is greater than a track width of an outer reader relative thereto. A tape head according to another embodiment includes an array of readers, each of the readers having a track width, wherein the track widths of at least some of the readers progressively decrease in a direction along the array from a middle of the array towards an end of the array.

Abstract: A tape head according to one embodiment includes an array of readers, each of the readers having a track width, wherein the track width of an inner reader of the array is greater than a track width of an outer reader relative thereto. A tape head according to another embodiment includes an array of readers, each of the readers having a track width, wherein the track width of at least some of the readers progressively decrease in a direction along the array from a middle of the array towards an end of the array.

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: 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 a method, system, and program for writing data in a tape medium having wraps. A layout of the tape is provided including at least one segment within a full available length of a 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 and detecting is performed as to whether the data being written is occurring in a specified write mode. If the data writing is not occurring in the specified write mode, then writing the received user data to one segment in the first set of wraps. If the data writing is occurring in the specified write mode, then writing a work copy to available full length wraps not having user data.

Abstract: Synchronized data is written to magnetic tape while reducing the number of backhitches. A controller detects a pattern of synchronizing events for received data records to be written to tape; writes each transaction of data records to the magnetic; tape; accumulates the synchronized transactions in a buffer; and subsequently recursively writes the accumulated transactions of data records from the buffer to the magnetic tape in a sequence. A single backhitch may be employed to place the recursively written accumulated data records following the preceding data, maximizing performance and capacity.

Abstract: A plastic cartridge holder for restraining and protecting data tape cartridges during shipping has individual cartridge slots with corrugated padding between adjacent slots and on the sides of the slots to decouple the cartridges from virtually any shock event. The cartridges do not separate or fall apart from each other when the external bundling material or shrink-wrapping is removed. The corrugations and slots hold the cartridges in place with a retention force that is firm yet comfortable for the user to overcome. The slots on the beveled corners allow individual cartridge actuation of access doors for inspection of the tape leader pins before the cartridges are removed. The opposite side of the holder has a full, cartridge-length access to the individual slots. The holder also has an access slot to allow the user to manually push all of the cartridges out of the holder simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing, in an automated data storage system having a plurality of removable data storage devices, independent memory devices associated with and physically attached to respective removable data storage devices for storing volume identification, RAID bundle information where applicable, and other drive specific information about their respective removable data storage devices. The removable data storage devices are typically hard disk drives, and the independent memory devices are preferably serial electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”) solid state memory devices. The EEPROM operates independently of the operation of its respective removable hard disk drive, does not require that the hard disk drive be powered up, and continues to operate in the presence of a catastrophic failure of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: A data storage cartridge having an data storage device, such as an encased magnetic disk drive assembly, is, in one embodiment, of generally an exterior dimensional form factor of a tape cartridge having a leader block with a hole therethrough for engagement by a threading pin. To distinguish the cartridge from a tape cartridge, the cartridge shell comprises a blocking portion at the location of the leader block hole. A transfer station both identifies the cartridge and indicates the presence of the cartridge at an end of travel in a cartridge receiver, employing an optical source and an opposed sensor directed toward the leader block hole when a cartridge is at the end of travel. In another embodiment, an encased magnetic disk drive assembly is supported and mounted in a cartridge shell by a shock mount.

Abstract: Synchronized data is written to magnetic tape while reducing the number of backhitches. A controller detects a pattern of synchronizing events for received data records to be written to tape; writes each transaction of data records to the magnetic tape; accumulates the synchronized transactions in a buffer; and subsequently recursively writes the accumulated transactions of data records from the buffer to the magnetic tape in a sequence. A single backhitch may be employed to place the recursively written accumulated data records following the preceding data, maximizing performance and capacity.

Abstract: An electrical connection releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface of a flex cable termination mounted on a backing plate. A matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship, and is mounted on a compression element with protruding compression members. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members. A loader exerts a normal force to the cartridge to compress the compression element and create non-wiping contact between the facing electrical contacts.

Abstract: A data storage magnetic tape uses a volume control region (VCR) that contains all of the control information for the tape. There is a large span of blank tape after the VCR region before the actual data storage region of the tape. When a tape drive spools the tape between the VCR and data storage region, the tape motion is continued past the VCR region, after the VCR region is updated, into the region of tape where there is no data of any kind. Just before reaching the data storage region, the motion of the tape is reversed and the tape is rewound into the cartridge. The portion of the tape that experiences the motion reversal is prone to be thrown such that it protrudes from the other layers of uniformly layered tape. Even if these thrown wraps are damaged, this portion of the tape has no stored data, which increases the overall reliability of the information stored on the tape.

Abstract: An electrical connection releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface of a flex cable mounted on a backing plate. A matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship, and is mounted on a compression element with protruding compression members. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members. A loader exerts a normal force to the cartridge to compress the compression element and create non-wiping contact between the facing electrical contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and storage library for storing data. A data storage cartridge includes a data storage device and the data storage device includes a storage medium and a power supply. A transfer station includes an interface capable of mating with the data storage cartridge to perform data transfer operations with respect to the storage medium in the data storage device. A gripper assembly includes an interface capable of engaging the data storage cartridge and supplying power to the data storage device power supply. The gripper assembly further includes movement electronics for moving the data storage cartridge to the transfer station and inserting the data storage cartridge in the transfer station.

Abstract: Dynamic tension control for tape transported along a tape path between supply and take-up reels, driven by supply and take-up motors, and having tachometers for determining linear speed of the tape. A controller accelerates the tape toward a target speed, initially operating the motors in static acceleration tension control; and if the linear speed of the tape is within a predetermined range of the target tape speed, operating the motors in composite tension control employing static tension control and delta velocity control.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, apparatus and software for detecting mechanical faults in tape drives. The invention is especially suited to detecting collisions against a read/write head in a tape drive that occurs during tape threading operation. According to embodiments of the invention the read/write head is located at a predetermined position with a predetermined effective holding force, and an independent position sensor that senses the position of the read/write head is used to detect collisions against the read/write head. According to embodiment of the invention the relative frequency with which mechanical faults are detected over the course of multiple tape threading operations is evaluated to determine if there is a mechanical fault in a particular tape drive.