Abstract: A method and apparatus for interfacing a host computer with a hard drive cartridge is disclosed in one embodiment. The virtual device interface is divided between a kernel component in a driver stack of the kernel space and a user component configured to run in user space. The kernel component passes data commands from the operating system to a cartridge dock while separating other commands that are passed to the user component. The user component authenticates the kernel component and/or the hard drive cartridge. Use of the removable hard drive cartridge is also authorized by the user component.

Abstract: A dock couples a removable data storage cartridge, for example an RDX cartridge, to a computing device. The dock includes a chassis having frontal dimensions configured to substantially match the nominal frontal dimensions of a low profile large format disk drive, such that the dock may reside in a bay in the computing device sized to receive a low profile large format disk drive. The dock may include a door that swings about an axis aligned with the height of the door.

Abstract: Systems and methods for commonality factoring for storing data on removable storage media are described. The systems and methods allow for highly compressed data, e.g., data compressed using archiving or backup methods including de-duplication, to be stored in an efficient manner on portable memory devices such as removable storage cartridges. The methods include breaking data, e.g., data files for backup, into unique chunks and calculating identifiers, e.g., hash identifiers, based on the unique chunks. Redundant chunks can be identified by calculating identifiers and comparing identifiers of other chunks to the identifiers of unique chunks previously calculated. When a redundant chunk is identified, a reference to the existing unique chunk is generated such that the chunk can be reconstituted in relation to other chunks in order to recreate the original data. The method further includes storing one or more of the unique chunks, the identifiers and/or the references on the removable storage medium.

Abstract: Embodiments provide unique and novel systems and methods for deleting data on removable disk drives. In embodiments, the removable disk drives store data that may be erased such that the data is considered destroyed but that allows the removable disk drive to be reused. The archiving system can determine which data should be erased. Then, the data is digitally shredded on sector boundaries of the removable disk drives such that the reclaimed memory cannot be read to decipher the erased data. In alternative embodiments, data is written across sector boundaries such that two or more files may occupy a single sector. A journal area, in embodiments, allows for copying the data in a sector with two or more files, digitally shredding the sectors in the removable disk drive, and rewriting the data that was not to be digitally shredded to the original location of the data.

Abstract: An archiving system including one or more removable disk drives embedded in removable disk cartridges, referred to simply as removable disk drives. The removable disk drives allow for expandability and replacement such that the archiving system need not be duplicated to add new or more storage capacity. In embodiments, the removable disk drives store metadata that contain information about the data stored on the removable disk drive. The metadata allows the system to retrieve the correct data from the random access memory and establishes controls on the data stored on the removable disk drive. In embodiments, the metadata is stored in two locations, such that, if the metadata in one location is corrupted, the second copy of the metadata may be retrieved.

Abstract: A removable data cartridge for storing information is disclosed. The removable data cartridge includes an outer casing and an electrical connector. The outer casing has a front side having an opening therein, a back side located opposite the front side, a left side, a left edge between the left side and the front side, a top side, a top edge between the top side and the front side wherein the top edge is longer than the left edge, and a bottom side. A keying feature of the outer casing extends from the front side toward the back side to prevent improper insertion of the removable data cartridge through a fixed aperture in a drive. The electrical connector accessible from outside the outer casing at the opening in the front side.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and accessing data on a removable media having a changeable data set and an immutable data set. In one embodiment, a system can comprise a removable media storage system adapted to determine whether a host system running one or more applications is configured to enforce Write Once Read Many (WORM) policies. The host system can be communicatively coupled with the removable media storage system and configured to execute instructions causing the host system to determine whether to allow or deny a request to access data on the removable media. The host system can use rules to determine if an access request is to access data of a changeable data set or a immutable data set. If the request is to access data of the changeable data set, access is allowed. If the request is to access data of the immutable data set, reads are allowed, as well as writes of new data. Access requests to rename, delete, and/or write to existing data of the immutable data set are denied.

Abstract: A method for electronically providing identification of a removable data cartridge is disclosed. In one step, an identifier is programmed into the removable data cartridge. A command is received to provide a machine-readable marking from the removable data cartridge. An identifier is read from within the removable data cartridge. The machine-readable marking is determined using the identifier. Responding to the command with a response, where the response provides the machine-readable marking.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for ejecting a removable disk drive. To prevent data corruption from the eject operation, a shell extension can be stored in the server requesting the eject. The shell extension can monitor and intercept eject commands from the operating system of the server and send the commands to an eject service. The eject service, in embodiments, checks the status of the removable disk drive and ejects the removable disk drive only when the removable disk drive is not busy with another operation.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein provide a removable disk library system. The removable disk library system, in embodiments, comprises an array of removable disk drive bays and a movable connector system. Each removable disk drive bay can hold a removable disk drive cartridge. The movable connector system can be positioned behind the array of removable disk drive bays where the movable connector system can access the connector of the removable disk drive cartridges. In embodiments, the movable connector system includes a movable connector assembly that can automatically connect to the connector at the rear of the removable disk drive.

Abstract: According to the invention, an electronic data storage cartridge for removable coupling to a computing system is disclosed. The electronic data storage cartridge includes a cartridge body, a connector, an optical waveguide, a hard disk drive, and a mechanical write-protect switch that prevents modification of information on the hard disk drive when active. The cartridge body includes at least two outer surfaces. The connector can be used for removable coupling to the computing system, where the connector couples information outside the cartridge body. The optical waveguide is configured to couple light between the two outer surfaces. The hard drive is coupled to the connector.

Abstract: According to the invention, a removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data is disclosed. The cartridge may include a chassis, a shock absorption media and a rotational storage disk. The chassis may define an interior space and may be configured to be detachably and mechanically coupled with a cartridge drive. The shock absorption media may be deposited at least partially within the interior space of the chassis and may be a flexible material. The rotational storage disk may be configured to store computer readable data and may be deposited at least partially within the shock absorption media.

Abstract: A data storage system for removably storing information is disclosed. The data storage system includes a cartridge receptacle adapted to electrically and mechanically engage a removable data cartridge. The cartridge receptacle includes a second electrical connector and a conductive member. The second electrical connector is adapted to electrically engage a first electrical connector of the removable data cartridge. The conductive member is configured to engage a resistive portion of the removable data cartridge before the first and second electrical connectors engage. The conductive member is coupled to a ground of the cartridge receptacle.

Abstract: Embodiments provide unique and novel systems and methods for deleting data on removable disk drives. In embodiments, the removable disk drives store data that may be erased such that the data is considered destroyed but that allows the removable disk drive to be reused. The archiving system can determine which data should be erased. Then, the data is digitally shredded on sector boundaries of the removable disk drives such that the reclaimed memory cannot be read to decipher the erased data. In alternative embodiments, data is written across sector boundaries such that two or more files may occupy a single sector. A journal area, in embodiments, allows for copying the data in a sector with two or more files, digitally shredding the sectors in the removable disk drive, and rewriting the data that was not to be digitally shredded to the original location of the data.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for maintaining immutable data in an archiving system using random access memory. To ensure data is immutable, novel pointers are maintained in the hardware/firmware of the drive ports and on the removable disk drives. For example, a hardware/firmware in a modular drive bay maintains a pointer to a memory address in the removable disk drive memory that cannot write to a memory block that precedes the pointer. Data may only be stored after the pointer in the removable disk drive. As such, once data is written to the removable disk drive, the data cannot be overwritten although the removable disk drive employs random access memory.

Abstract: An embodiment of a data cartridge for interfacing with a data cartridge authorization system is disclosed. The data cartridge includes a drive and a communication interface. The drive is configured to store data, where the data comprises first information a first password and a fingerprint. The drive comprises an authentication feature configured to lock access to at least a portion of the data where a second password presented to the drive doesn't agree with the first password. The communication interface is coupled to the electronic storage medium and configured to communicatively couple to an authorization system.

Abstract: Embodiments of archival storage system are disclosed. The archival storage system includes one or more removable disk drives that provide random access and are readily expandable. In embodiments, some or all of the data within the removable disk drive(s) is immutable. The archiving system creates a designation for the data representing the data as having Write Once Read Many (WORM) protection. Actions associated with the data may be received and determined to be read accesses. If the actions are something other than a read access, the archiving system, in embodiments, prevents the action on the data.

Abstract: Data are stored on a random-access storage medium. A user set of data is received. The user set of data is mapped to multiple frames. For each frame, error-correction bytes are generated over the data mapped to that frame. In addition, the data mapped to that frame are written to a number of data blocks of that frame and the error-correction bytes generated for that frame are written to a number of error-correction blocks of that frame. At least one of the number of error-correction blocks and the number of data blocks differs among at least some of the frames.

Abstract: According to the disclosure, a unique and novel archiving system that provides one or more application layer partitions to archive data is disclosed. Embodiments include an active archive including a fixed storage. The active archive can create application layer partitions that associate the application layer partitions with portions of the fixed storage. Each application layer partition, in embodiments, has a separate set of controls that allow for customized storage of different data within a single archiving system. Further, embodiments of methods for ensuring storage capacity in the active archive and the application layer partitions within the active archive is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for storing data on two or more removable disk drives. The two or more removable disk drives are inserted into a modular drive bay having two or more drive ports. Embodiments of the modular drive bay include a switch to redirect operations to a drive port. By arraying the drive ports, the removable disk drives may be replaced without needing to readdress the removable disk drives when new removable disk drives are inserted. Thus, the modular drive bay does not require configuration changes when new removable disk drives are inserted.