Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing increased efficiency and throughput in a media library. The media library may include a plurality of media drives arranged in two or more columns in a media drive portion of the media library. The media drives may be moveable media drives configured to move between a plurality of positions in the media drive portion to facilitate access to media drives as needed.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing more storage capacity in a media library. The media library may include a plurality of media cartridge storage slots in a plurality of storage magazines. The media library may include a robotic picker device for retrieving media cartridges from the media cartridge storage slots. The media cartridge storage slots may be dual-cartridge storage slots configured to hold two media cartridges and/or the robotic picker device may be a dual-slot robotic picker device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for key-value shard creation and management in a key-value store (319). A method includes the steps of partitioning the key-value store (319) including a plurality of keyspaces (364A, 364B) into a plurality of shards including a coordinator shard (362), receiving a first shard assignment value for a first key-value pair from a key-value store client, the key-value store client having access to the key-value store, creating a first shard (321A) using the first shard assignment value, the first shard including a data structure, assigning the first key-value pair to the first shard (321a) based on the first shard assignment value, updating the coordinator shard (362) to reference to the first shard (321A), writing the first shard (321A) to a storage device, and storing modifications to the first shard (321A) in a modified version of the first shard (321A) while the first shard (321A) remains unmodified.

Abstract: A method for implementing an object store using removable storage media includes the steps of receiving a request to retrieve first data; determining a first data object in which at least a portion of the first data is stored; determining a removable storage medium on which the first data object is stored, the removable storage medium including a value store partition into which one or more data objects including at least the first data object are stored and a key store partition into which one or more keys identifying the one or more data objects are stored; retrieving the first data object from the value store partition; and retrieving the at least a portion of the first data from the first data object. The method can further be performed using a data management system and/or one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media to access data on removable storage media via a network attached access device. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving one or more user provided, in the removable storage media access device, receiving data over a packet communication network for storage on a removable storage medium. After receiving the data, the method provides preparing the data for storage on the removable storage medium. After preparing the data, the method provides writing the data to the removable storage medium.

Abstract: A method for copying a plurality of files from a first file system to a tape-based file system, includes the steps of ingesting the plurality of files into the first file system, the first file system including a first system controller including a processor; assigning each of the plurality of files within the file system to a group with a file system application to create at least one file group; defining a desired order of the files in each of the at least one file group with the file system application to create at least one ordered file group; indicating when the at least one ordered file group is ready to be written to tape with the file system application to create at least one ready, ordered file group; and copying each of the at least one ordered file group with the first system controller to be written to the tape-based file 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 tape library system includes a plurality of tape libraries, a plurality of data centers, and an error diagnostic system. Each of the plurality of tape libraries includes a tape drive, at least one tape cartridge that retains magnetic tape, and a tape cartridge mover that moves the tape cartridge relative to the tape drive. Each of the plurality of data centers is configured to retain at least one of the plurality of tape libraries. The error diagnostic system includes (i) a central database that is configured to receive one or more error codes from each of the plurality of tape libraries, each of the one or more error codes being generated due to errors that occurred during operation of the tape drive within a corresponding tape library, and (ii) a system controller including a processor that is configured to analyze the one or more error codes from each of the plurality of tape libraries to determine a health of the tape drive and the at least one tape cartridge within the corresponding tape library.

Abstract: A method for utilizing an object storage system (470) for storing and retrieving a volume of data, the volume of data including a plurality of data objects, the method includes the steps of accumulating the volume of data to an ingest area (474) provided within a non-taped-based storage medium; copying a first subset of the plurality of data objects to a first tape medium (472A); and copying a second subset of the plurality of data objects to a second tape medium (472B) that is independent of the first tape medium (472A).

Abstract: The technology disclosed herein enables automatic implementation of a physical barrier to protect access to data on removable storage media. In a particular embodiment, a method provides determining that the item moved into a storage position using an automatic transfer mechanism and determining that a condition for protecting the item is satisfied. Upon determining that the condition is satisfied, the method provides implementing a physical barrier that prevents the automatic transfer mechanism from removing the item from the storage position.

Abstract: A method for product decoding within a data storage system includes receiving data to be decoded within a first decoder; performing a plurality of decoding iterations to decode the data utilizing a first decoder and a second decoder; and outputting fully decoded data based on the performance of the plurality of decoding iterations.

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.