Abstract: In one embodiment, a product includes a magnetic medium having written thereon data in a data track. The data includes encrypted data written over unencrypted data. An indicator of a physical position on the magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of the encrypted data is stored on the product. A product according to another embodiment includes a magnetic medium having written thereon data in a data track. The data includes encrypted data written over unencrypted data. A portion of the unencrypted data is located before the encrypted data on the medium. An indicator of a physical position on the magnetic medium that corresponds to a beginning of the encrypted data is stored on the product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to position a magnetic tape volume to a position corresponding to an end of a last data set stored to the magnetic tape volume, and read an existing tape volume access block (TVAB) from the magnetic tape volume in response to a determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume. The logic is also configured to write one or more data sets to the magnetic tape volume subsequent to reading the existing TVAB in response to the determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and update the existing TVAB with the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to produce an updated TVAB.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a product includes a magnetic medium having written thereon data in a data track. The data includes encrypted data written over unencrypted data. An indicator of a physical position on the magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of the encrypted data is stored on the product. A product according to another embodiment includes a magnetic medium having written thereon data in a data track. The data includes encrypted data written over unencrypted data. A portion of the unencrypted data is located before the encrypted data on the medium. An indicator of a physical position on the magnetic medium that corresponds to a beginning of the encrypted data is stored on the product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; store an indicator of the physical position on the magnetic medium and/or a memory coupled thereto; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium and program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by the processor to cause the processor to: read an indicator of a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to position a magnetic tape volume to a position corresponding to an end of a last data set stored to the magnetic tape volume, and read an existing tape volume access block (TVAB) from the magnetic tape volume in response to a determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume. The logic is also configured to write one or more data sets to the magnetic tape volume subsequent to reading the existing TVAB in response to the determination that the existing TVAB is stored to the magnetic tape volume, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and update the existing TVAB with the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to produce an updated TVAB.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to write one or more data sets to a magnetic tape volume, the magnetic tape volume being configured to store data thereon, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and write the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to a tape volume access block (TVAB) stored to the magnetic tape volume after a last written data set. In yet another embodiment, a method for managing a magnetic tape volume includes auditing a magnetic tape volume to determine a plurality of data sets stored thereto, determining metadata corresponding to the plurality of data sets, storing the metadata corresponding to the plurality of data sets to a TVAB, and writing the TVAB to the magnetic tape volume after a last written data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to write one or more data sets to a magnetic tape volume, the magnetic tape volume being configured to store data thereon, determine metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets, and write the metadata corresponding to the one or more written data sets to a tape volume access block (TVAB) stored to the magnetic tape volume after a last written data set. In yet another embodiment, a method for managing a magnetic tape volume includes auditing a magnetic tape volume to determine a plurality of data sets stored thereto, determining metadata corresponding to the plurality of data sets, storing the metadata corresponding to the plurality of data sets to a TVAB, and writing the TVAB to the magnetic tape volume after a last written data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; store an indicator of the physical position on the magnetic medium and/or a memory coupled thereto; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium and program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by the processor to cause the processor to: read an indicator of a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor, logic in the processor and/or memory configured to determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of encrypted data written over residual unencrypted data, and logic configured to store an indicator of the physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto. In another embodiment, a method includes determining a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of encrypted data written over residual unencrypted data, storing an indicator of the physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a processor; logic in the processor and/or a memory configured to determine a furthest physical position on a magnetic medium that unobscured data has been written to; and logic configured to store an indicator of the furthest physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto. A system according to another embodiment includes a processor; logic in the processor and/or a memory configured to receive an instruction to obscure data on a magnetic medium; logic configured to read an indicator of a furthest physical position on the magnetic medium that unobscured data has been written to; and logic configured to cause obscuring of the unobscured data on the magnetic medium, and terminating the obscuring upon reaching the physical position in the indicator.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus and computer-program product for writing data to a tape data storage medium. The method comprises providing a system service that an application invokes to handle data synchronization events associated with writing a group of files to the tape medium; keeping track of the files and data blocks in each file while writing the files to the tape medium based on file boundaries; and responsive to a data writing failure, invoking the system service to determine the files affected by the data writing failure.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a processor; logic in the processor and/or a memory configured to determine a furthest physical position on a magnetic medium that unobscured data has been written to; and logic configured to store an indicator of the furthest physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto. A system according to another embodiment includes a processor; logic in the processor and/or a memory configured to receive an instruction to obscure data on a magnetic medium; logic configured to read an indicator of a furthest physical position on the magnetic medium that unobscured data has been written to; and logic configured to cause obscuring of the unobscured data on the magnetic medium, and terminating the obscuring upon reaching the physical position in the indicator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor, logic in the processor and/or memory configured to determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of encrypted data written over residual unencrypted data, and logic configured to store an indicator of the physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto. In another embodiment, a method includes determining a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of encrypted data written over residual unencrypted data, storing an indicator of the physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus and computer-program product for writing data to a tape data storage medium. The method comprises providing a system service that an application invokes to handle data synchronization events associated with writing a group of files to the tape medium; keeping track of the files and data blocks in each file while writing the files to the tape medium based on file boundaries; and responsive to a data writing failure, invoking the system service to determine the files affected by the data writing failure.

Abstract: A method to write information to an information storage medium. The method creates one or more objects comprising information and provides a first one of those one or more objects. The method writes a header label to an information storage medium, where the header label comprises an object processing indicator. The method assigns a first sequence number to the first object and writes that first object to the information storage medium beginning at a first blockid and ending at a second blockid. The method writes a trailer label to the information storage medium, where that trailer label comprises an embedded object field count. The method writes an object information block to the information storage medium, where that object information block comprises the first sequence number, the first blockid, and the second blockid.

Abstract: A method to write information to an information storage medium. The method creates one or more objects comprising information and provides a first one of those one or more objects. The method writes a header label to an information storage medium, where the header label comprises an object processing indicator. The method assigns a first sequence number to the first object and writes that first object to the information storage medium beginning at a first blockid and ending at a second blockid. The method writes a trailer label to the information storage medium, where that trailer label comprises an embedded object field count. The method writes an object information block to the information storage medium, where that object information block comprises the first sequence number, the first blockid, and the second blockid.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for enforcing policy controls for non-system managed tape media. The apparatus includes an operating system configured to communicate with a tape media drive, and an identification module configured to identify a tape media type of a tape media cartridge. The apparatus may also include a policy module configured to maintain control policies for tape media types, and a media control module configured to enforce the control policies. The system includes a computing system having a processor, a cache, an operating system, and a plurality of input/output interfaces, a tape media drive coupled to the computing system, and the apparatus. The method includes communicating with a tape media drive, identifying a tape media type of a tape media cartridge, maintaining a plurality of control policies for tape media types, and enforcing the plurality of control policies.

Abstract: The present invention provides fast read performance for accessing a file from a multiplicity of files when its corresponding Block ID is unavailable, by furnishing new file-positioning commands, allowing access to data based on File Number, at the same fast locate speed as with Block Ids, thereby expanding the range of applications that can use certain tape drive systems effectively. The present invention includes both a device architecture for supporting the file oriented positioning and the appending, as well as a software system that can permit easy application access to the device facilities and system components which permit the advantages to accrue without any software application or operator changes, including a robust architecture for navigating residual data, e.g., for data recovery. The present invention comprises several device command innovations, a relative positioning command, an absolute positioning command, and other commands, e.g., for sensing current position.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are presented for scaling storage media to improve data access performance. A scaling module is provided and configured to receive a dataset, identify storage characteristics of the dataset, make a determination based upon user-defined storage criteria, and select a storage instruction. In one embodiment, the storage instruction is configured to scale the storage medium to a predefined capacity. The predefined capacity of the storage medium is configured to optimize data access performance. Alternatively, the storage instruction is configured to not scale the storage medium. Additionally, the present invention may be configured to map and track the storage medium while the dataset is being written to or read from the storage medium.

Abstract: A method to write information to an information storage medium. The method creates one or more objects comprising information and provides a first one of those one or more objects. The method writes a header label to an information storage medium, where the header label comprises an object processing indicator. The method assigns a first sequence number to the first object and writes that first object to the information storage medium beginning at a first blockid and ending at a second blockid. The method writes a trailer label to the information storage medium, where that trailer label comprises an embedded object field count. The method writes an object information block to the information storage medium, where that object information block comprises the first sequence number, the first blockid, and the second blockid.