Abstract: A system (200) for at least one of writing data to tape media (204) and reading data from the tape media (204) includes a client application (202); and a RESTful interface (212) through which the client application (202) transmits a request to at least one of write data to the tape media (204) and read data from the tape media (204) to a REST daemon (214), the RESTful interface (212) being integrated with a SCSI interface (210). The REST daemon (214) subsequently passes the request on to a data mover (208), which opens a second RESTful interface (220) with the client application (202). The client application (202) then sends the request to the data mover (208) via the second RESTful interface (220). The data mover (208) then performs the request by moving the data between the client application (202) and the tape media (204), with the data never landing on primary storage during such movement.

Abstract: A tape drive (226) for use in a tape library (10) that retains at least one tape cartridge (220) that retains magnetic tape (250) includes a drive housing (226A) and a media conditioner (255). The drive housing (226A) is configured to receive the tape cartridge (220). The media conditioner (255) is coupled to the drive housing (226A). The media conditioner (255) is configured to condition the magnetic tape (250) when the tape cartridge (220) is received within the drive housing (226A). The media conditioner (255) can be configured to remove at least one of abrasives, contaminants and lubricants that are on the magnetic tape (250) when the tape cartridge (220) is received within the drive housing (226A). The magnetic tape (250) is configured to move along a predefined path (251) within the drive housing (226A), which is defined by one or more rollers (254).

Abstract: A tape media cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a standard form factor, a cartridge reel that is coupled to and retained within the cartridge and a tape media. The tape media can be selectively wound onto the cartridge reel between a fully wound state, a partially wound state and an unwound state. The tape media forms a media hollow cylinder having a media outer diameter and a media inner diameter that varies depending upon the state of the tape media. When the tape media is in the fully wound state, the tape media has a ratio of the media outer diameter to media inner diameter of at least approximately 95:43. The cartridge housing can include a side wall having a wall center and wall edge, the side wall having a side wall thickness that gradually increases from the side wall center to the side wall edge.

Abstract: A tape drive includes a first tape head, a first actuator assembly, a second tape head, a second actuator assembly, and a controller. The first tape head includes two first servo elements that each read one of two servo tracks, and a first read/write element that one of reads data from and writes data to a first data track. The first tape head is positionable at a first base head rotation angle. The first actuator assembly selectively rotates the first tape head from the first base head rotation angle to a first adjusted head rotation angle. The second tape head includes two second servo elements that each read one of the two servo tracks, and a second read/write element that one of reads data from and writes data to the first data track. The second tape head is positionable at a second base head rotation angle. The second actuator assembly selectively rotates the second tape head from the second base head rotation angle to a second adjusted head rotation angle.

Abstract: A method for generating calibration data useful for calibrating a plurality of tape cartridges includes the steps of selecting a subset of tape cartridges from the plurality of tape cartridges, the subset of tape cartridges having fewer tape cartridges than the plurality of tape cartridges; calibrating each of the subset of tape cartridges using a plurality of tape drives to generate global calibration data; selecting one of the plurality of tape cartridges that is not included within the subset of tape cartridges; and calibrating the one of the plurality of tape cartridges using the global calibration data generated via the calibrating of each of the subset of tape cartridges.

Abstract: A media library includes a library housing, a heat-producing device, one or more storage media and an air mover assembly. The library housing can include a library interior where the library interior can include a first wall and a second wall positioned opposite the first wall. The heat-producing device can be positioned near the first wall of the library interior. The one or more storage media can be positioned in the library interior between the heat-producing device and the second wall. The air mover assembly can be is configured to move air into the library interior through the first wall and out of the library interior through the second wall. The heat-producing device can include one or more of a media drive, a power supply and a controller. The air mover assembly can move air through the heat-producing device before the air moves through the one or more storage media.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods control an error correcting code (ECC) approach for data stored on a solid state device (SSD). The control may be based on a property (e.g., reliability, error state, speed) of an SSD, or on an attribute of the data to be stored. Approaches including a hybrid rateless Reed-Solomon ECC approach or a fountain code ECC approach may be selected. Example apparatus and methods may store padded portions of an ECC at different locations in an SSD. Example apparatus and methods may dynamically generate performance test data about the SSD, and dynamically control the ECC approach based on the performance test data. Different types or numbers of ECC may be produced, stored, and provided for different data sets stored at different SSDs or at different physical locations within an SSD. The SSD may be local, or may be part of a cloud-based storage system.

Abstract: A state evaluator for use in a media library includes a housing and a first camera that is coupled to the housing. In some embodiments, the state evaluator can also include one or more of a light assembly, an indicator assembly to indicate different conditions associated with the state evaluator, an input assembly, an internal power source, and a power module. The power source can be rechargeable and/or removable. The first camera can capture visible light, infrared light, and/or ultraviolet light images. The light assembly can emit visible light, infrared light, and/or ultraviolet light. The state evaluator can have a high intensity light source and can communicate with a host system. The state evaluator can also include a second camera that can be coupled to the housing.

Abstract: A method for providing enhanced readability of data written to a magnetic tape, includes the steps of (i) writing data to a first tape partition using a tape drive, the data being written under a first dimensional stability condition; (ii) monitoring an ambient dimensional stability condition with a condition monitor to determine if the ambient dimensional stability condition has moved at least a predetermined threshold value from the first dimensional stability condition toward a preferred dimensional stability condition; and (iii) replicating the data to a second tape partition with a data replicator when it has been determined that the ambient dimensional stability condition has moved at least the predetermined threshold value from the first dimensional stability condition toward the preferred dimensional stability condition.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods process virtual machine image level backups that may include files that are compressed and files that are not compressed. Example apparatus and methods may produce virtual machine image level backups by selectively compressing some files associated with the image while leaving other files in their uncompressed state. Example apparatus and methods may selectively recover a file or even an entire disk image from an image level backup that may include both compressed files and files that are not compressed. The file recovery or image recovery may be performed at the file level by accessing files in the image and selectively decompressing files that are compressed in the image while passing through files that are not compressed in the image. Different files in a single image may be compressed or decompressed using different techniques.

Abstract: A tape library having a robot zone and a robot on the robot zone, movable in the robot zone of the tape rack in at least a first direction and a second direction. A tape drive, which has an opening to receive cartridges, is positioned so that the robot nears the tape drive when the robot moves in a second direction. A width of the tape drive is wider than a width of the robot zone. This tape drive design is called the “Sideways Format Path for 19? Rack Libraries.” It is achieved by using unique dimensions for a new tape drive that uses blind spaces existing in tape libraries unreachable by the robot to provide a bigger space to design longer tape paths, resulting in higher cartridge density with longer tape path without requiring bigger overall library dimensions for a library of tape cartridges.

Abstract: A media library (10) for evaluating a health of a head (256) of a media drive (26) includes a library control system (30) that is configured to control oversight functionality of the media library (10). The library control system (30) receives media drive information generated during at least one of a read procedure and a write procedure being performed by the media drive (26) and analyzes the media drive information to determine the health of the head (256) of the media drive (26). The media drive information includes drive performance metrics generated by the media drive (26) during a read verify procedure performed by the media drive (26) upon request of the library control system (30) of the media library (10).

Abstract: A tape cartridge for use in cleaning a head assembly of a tape drive includes a cartridge housing and a tape that is retained within the cartridge housing. The tape includes a cleaning section having a tape surface and an abrasive coating that is coupled to the tape surface. The tape has a tape thickness of between approximately three microns and seven microns. The abrasive coating has a surface roughness of at least approximately two nanometers.

Abstract: An automated tape library (10) includes a library housing (12) that is substantially rectangular box-shaped, including a first housing side (12A), a second housing side (12B), a housing rear (12C), a housing top (12D), a housing bottom (12E), and a housing front (12F). The library housing (12) defines a library width (10W) that is less than or equal to approximately 550 millimeters and a library depth (10D) that is at least approximately 1000 millimeters. The automated tape library (10) can further include a front door (16) that is movably coupled to the housing front (12F) to move between a closed configuration (11A) and an open configuration (11B); wherein the library housing (12) defines a library interior (14); and wherein full access to the library interior (14) is only provided through the front door (16) when the front door (16) has been moved to the open configuration (11B). The automated tape library (10) can also include at least one tape drive (20) that is coupled to the front door (16).

Abstract: A mover replacement system for removing a media mover, movable between an operating position and a removable position, from within a media library includes a service tray and a capture assembly. The service tray is removably positionable within the library housing. The service tray includes a tray body. The capture assembly is configured to enable the service tray to securely receive and releasably retain the media mover when the media mover is in the removable position. The capture assembly includes at least one locking mechanism that is movable relative to the tray body between a retracted position when the at least one locking mechanism is positioned not to engage the media mover, and a fully extended position when the at least one locking mechanism is positioned to retain the media mover relative to the tray body when the media mover is in the removable position.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media to implement an object store with removable storage media. In a particular embodiment, a method provides identifying first data for storage on a first removable storage medium and designating at least a portion of the first data to a first data object. The method further provides determining a first location where to store the first data object in a first value store partition of the first removable storage medium and writing the first data object to the first location. Also, the method provides writing a first key that identifies the first data object and indicates the first location to a first key store partition of the first removable storage medium.

Abstract: Nonvolatile data storage systems, methods, and devices are disclosed. In one example, a nonvolatile storage device includes a volatile memory, a controller electrically coupled to the volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory electrically coupled to the controller, and a backup power source electrically coupled to the controller, the volatile memory, and the nonvolatile memory. The controller is configured to read and write primary data from a primary host and mirrored data from a secondary host in the volatile memory. The backup power source is configured to store sufficient energy to power the nonvolatile storage device during a backup operation. The controller is configured to, in response to a backup signal, copy the primary data and the mirrored data stored in the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods control whether and when hybrid rateless Reed Solomon (RS) error correcting codes (ECC) for a message are produced, stored, and distributed. The control may be based on a property (e.g., reliability, error state, speed) of a message recipient. Example apparatus and methods may also control whether and when fountain codes for the message are produced, stored, and distributed. Once again, the control may be based on a property of a message or ECC recipient. Both the hybrid rateless RS ECC and the fountain codes may be produced from data stored in a modified RS matrix. The modified RS matrix may store row-centric error detection codes (EDC) instead of conventional cyclic redundancy check (CRC) characters. The modified RS matrix may store column-centric ECC that may be produced serially. Different types or numbers of ECC may be produced, stored, and provided for different messages stored at different recipients.

Abstract: A method for ensuring data quality integrity on a magnetic tape includes the steps of writing object data to the magnetic tape; dividing the object data into a plurality of data chunks; generating a hash tree from the plurality of data chunks, the hash tree being formed in a plurality of levels, the hash tree including (i) a plurality of chunk hashes wherein a separate chunk hash is generated for each of the plurality of data chunks, and (ii) at least one second level hash that is generated from concatenation of at least two of the plurality of chunk hashes; and checking integrity of a first data chunk of the plurality of data chunks by evaluating at least one of the plurality of chunk hashes and the at least one second level hash.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and circuitries are provided for supporting distributed erasure coding in a shared file system. In one example, a method is provided to be performed by an initiator device configured to read and write data in files stored in a plurality of storage nodes that are controlled by a file management system. The method includes generating a stripe by identifying data to be stored in a storage system; dividing the data into K data segments; and performing an erasure encoding operation on the K data segments to generate a parity segment, wherein the stripe includes the K data segments and the parity segment. The method includes requesting, from the file management system, respective memory allocations in the storage devices for storing respective segments of the stripe; and transmitting, to each of the plurality of storage nodes, a respective instruction to store a respective data or parity segment in the memory allocation on the respective storage device.