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: Method and apparatus are provided for presenting various levels of detail about successful error recoveries and background hardware optimizations during the recording and retrieval of digital information on magnetic tape. A first, Band Summary, report presents a high-level summary of recovery methods by data band and wrap. A second, Detail Summary, report presents a mid-level summary of recovery methods by track and longitudinal position (LPOS) region within one wrap of a band on the tape. A third, ERP Summary, report presents a low-level summary of errors and specific recovery methods and optimizations by LPOS region within each wrap. Such “telescoping” views permit pattern analysis to be performed at different resolutions. Thus, correlations of possible interactions between hardware and microcode activities that result in changes of the nominal operating point of the drive may be identified.

Abstract: A method to erase a magnetic tape, where the magnetic tape is first mounted in a magnetic tape in a tape drive, where that magnetic tape includes a physical beginning of tape (“PBOT”), a physical end of tape (“PEOT”), and information written thereon between the PBOT and the PEOT. The method then establishes one or more critical areas located on the magnetic tape, attempts to erase the information, and determines if each of the one or more critical areas have been erased. In the event each of said one or more critical areas have not been erased, Applicants' method provides an error message.

Abstract: A method to erase a magnetic tape, where the magnetic tape is first mounted in a magnetic tape in a tape drive, where that magnetic tape includes a physical beginning of tape (“PBOT”), a physical end of tape (“PEOT”), and information written thereon between the PBOT and the PEOT. The method then establishes one or more critical areas located on the magnetic tape, attempts to erase the information, and determines if each of the one or more critical areas have been erased. In the event each of said one or more critical areas have not been erased, Applicants' method provides an error message.

Abstract: A tape drive data storage apparatus incorporating the inventive concepts herein includes a control system for reading and writing host data on a streaming tape medium, an error correction coding (ECC) system for detecting and correcting data transfer errors, and an error recovery system for performing non-ECC correctable error recovery. The error recovery system is dynamically controlled to perform tactical error recovery in accordance with a novel error recovery method. As the tape drive apparatus performs read and/or write data transfer operations on a tape medium loaded in the tape drive, error recovery options are implemented on the basis of dynamic feedback peculiar to the current block in error. Upon invocation of an error recovery operational mode, the data storage apparatus performs error recovery on the current data block using a predetermined set of error recovery implementation options.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive simultaneously senses on a magnetic tape three evenly spaced-apart servo track areas for servoing a multi-track magnetic head to follow a concurrent set of data tracks on the magnetic tape. The data tracks are arranged into a plurality of track groups. Each track group has a first and second subgroup of data tracks. The first subgroup of tracks are scanned in a first relative motion of the magnetic tape and magnetic head as a forward direction (tape is being spooled from a supply tape reel). The second subgroup of tracks are scanned in a second relative motion of the magnetic tape and magnetic head that is opposite in direction to the first relative direction and is a forward direction of scanning. While writing data in any one of the plural track groups, a servo dropout affecting most of the servo track areas is detected and indicated as a servo error. Writing is aborted. The relative position of the magnetic tape and head is detected at both longitudinal ends of the servo dropout.

Abstract: A tape drive data storage apparatus incorporates a system for dynamically anticipating and resolving potential data error conditions. The system performs read and/or write data transfer operations on a tape medium, during which time it generates a track performance database representing a map of potential data error conditions occurring on the tape. As operations continue, determination is made from the track performance database whether one or more track fallout thresholds have been reached in one or more regions of the tape. If so, an error recovery bellcord action is performed to minimize the occurrence of data error conditions.

Abstract: A tape drive data storage apparatus incorporates an error recovery system that is dynamically controlled to perform knowledge-based error recovery in accordance with a novel error recovery method. As the tape drive apparatus performs read and/or write data transfer operations on a tape medium loaded in the tape drive, an error recovery knowledge base is generated representing a tape map of ECC error correction locations on the tape medium. If error recovery is initiated and it is determined from the tape map that one or more error clustering thresholds have been reached in one or more selected regions of the tape medium, appropriate error recovery action is taken depending on whether a data read or data write operation is underway. If read (or write) data is being processed, the error recovery procedures performed by the error recovery system can be selectively modified in the affected tape medium regions to address the expected cause(s) of the data error.

Abstract: A buffer memory is used to store data from the input/output device arrayed corresponding to the data rate of said input/output data device. A threshold is selected for beginnig an unload cycle of the buffer memory which will permit said buffer memory contents to be completely transferred at the higher channel data rate to the channel during the remaining time additional data is being accumulated in the memory. The threshold selection is adaptive such that subsequent data block lengths are utilized to calculate a new threshold maintaining data transfer rates from the input/output device into the channel at an optimum value.