Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording device includes a granular magnetic recording layer and a thermal absorption layer formed on top of the magnetic recording layer. The thermal absorption layer is patterned to include rows extending in a cross-track direction of the magnetic media, each adjacent pair of the rows being separated from one another by an insulating material.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a first structured pattern having a first line width on a substrate. A polymer brush is deposited on the structured pattern, which is annealed a first time at a first temperature and then annealed a second time at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. A block copolymer is deposited on the structured pattern and polymer brush, and aligned first block and second block structures are formed on the structured pattern and polymer brush. The first block structures and portions of the polymer brush and the structured pattern positioned beneath the first block structures are removed, and the substrate between the second block structures is exposed. The second block structures are then removed to form a second structured pattern in the substrate having a second line width, the second line width being smaller than the first line width.

Abstract: A read channel is configured to obtain an analog readback waveform from a magnetic recording medium of a disk drive at a sampling rate of one sample per one written bit. A buffer is coupled the read channel. Circuitry is configured to inject a plurality of different phase offsets into the read channel for each of a plurality of revolutions of the medium. The circuitry is also configured to store, in a buffer, an amplitude of the readback waveform for each of the different phase offsets. The circuitry is further configured to generate an oversampled readback waveform using the amplitudes stored in the buffer.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS), a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposing the leading edge. A writer having a write pole is situated at or near the ABS. A near-field transducer (NFT) is situated at or near the ABS and between the write pole and the leading edge of the slider. An optical waveguide is configured to couple light from a laser source to the NFT. A contact sensor is situated between the write pole and the trailing edge. The contact sensor comprises a first ABS section situated at or near the ABS, a second ABS section situated at or near the ABS and spaced apart from the first ABS in a cross-track direction by a gap, and a distal section extending away from the ABS and connecting the first ABS section with the second ABS section.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a write pole extending to an air-bearing surface. A near-field transducer is positioned proximate a first side of the write pole in a down-track direction. A heatsink structure is proximate the near-field transducer and positioned between the near-field transducer and the write pole. The heatsink structure extends beyond the near-field transducer in a cross-track direction and extends in a direction normal to the air-bearing surface.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request from a host device to authenticate a device. The method further includes transmitting authenticating data to the host device. Responsive to successful authentication of the device, configuration interface and communication interface of the device is exposed to the host device. The method further includes processing commands from the host device after the device is successfully authenticated. Responsive to the processed commands, payload data is sent or received to or from the host device according to the communication interface.

Abstract: A data storage device can transition a functional data storage medium into a read only data surface. Data can be written to a data storage medium with a data writer of a transducing head prior to a security threat being identified. A write head of the transducing head is deactivated in response to the security threat by selecting a permanent deactivation mechanism.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). In some embodiments, write and read commands from a client device are placed into a command queue pending servicing to transfer data between the client device and a non-volatile memory (NVM). A write cache temporarily stores sets of writeback data pending transfer. A cache manager detects an overlap condition in which a subsequently received command at least partially overlaps a pending write command. In response, the cache manager enacts a change in caching policy that includes retention of the cached writeback data to aid in the servicing of the subsequently received command. The changes in caching policy can include an increase in the size of the write cache, delays in the writing of hot writeback data sets, the coalescing of different writeback data sets, cache hits using the cached writeback data, etc.

Abstract: A recording head that includes a reader having a front end at a bearing surface of the recording head and a rear end behind the bearing surface. The reader has a non-rectangular shape with a front-end width that is less than an average width of the reader. A first bias element is positioned proximate to a first side of the reader, and a second bias element is positioned proximate to a second side of the reader. Each of the first and second bias elements has a bias level that is a function of a ratio of the front-end width to the average width of the reader.

Abstract: A data storage system can employ multiple concurrent domains with data storage devices each having a single data port. The data storage system may connect a number of hosts to a data storage device via a network controller, an expander, and an expander module with the data storage device having a single data port. A first data domain and a second data domain are each established from the network controller to the data storage device with the first data domain being independent of the second data domain. At least one illegal loop can be identified between the first data domain and the second data domain with the expander module and subsequently corrected with the expander as directed by the expander module.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data objects in a distributed data storage system, such as a cloud computing environment. In some embodiments, a data object is encrypted using a user encryption key to generate ciphertext. A first hash function is applied to the ciphertext and an audit encryption key to generate a first hash value. An audit value is formed by combining the ciphertext and the first hash value, and the audit value is locally encrypted and stored to non-volatile memory (NVM) of each of a plurality of storage nodes. An audit process is performed to confirm each of the encrypted replicas store identical copies of the ciphertext. This is carried out by decrypting the ciphertext and applying a second hash function to the ciphertext and the audit encryption key by each storage node to form a plurality of second hash values which are then compared by an audit processor.

Abstract: One or more networks each include a plurality of sensor nodes operable to communicate public data with each other. Each of the plurality of sensor nodes is operable to gather sensor node data and store the sensor node data locally on the sensor node. Duplicate portions of the sensor node data are distributed to the public data of others of the plurality of sensor nodes via the public data paths for backup storage. The system includes a host that is coupled to individually communicate private data with each of the plurality of sensor nodes. Each of the sensor nodes protects the private data from others of the sensor nodes using distributed key management to ensure distributed encryption.

Abstract: To combat data theft and/or sabotage, a network-level security client may monitor and selectively apply security protocols to manage risk in data transfers within, incoming to, and outgoing from an organization's data network. This top-down approach may become increasingly difficult to maintain within a data network with numerous connected terminals, storage devices, and other devices, many of which may be attempting data transfers simultaneously. In the presently disclosed technology, connected data storage devices each include an endpoint security client embedded in data storage device firmware. The endpoint security clients each establish a security client connection with a network security client upon connection to a data storage network, monitor data transfers within the data storage network, and selectively apply security protocols to manage risk in data transfers, thereby decentralizing some aspects of data security within the organization's data network.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for providing extremely rapid preconditioning of an SSD. Upon receiving a precondition command from a host operably connected to the SSD to precondition a range of LBAs of the storage media, a plurality of physical units of the storage media to be preconditioned are determined based on the range of LBAs. A workload pattern is determined from the precondition command, and upon determining that the workload pattern indicates a random pattern, a valid page count for each of the plurality of physical units is computed based on a random distribution. Forward mapping table entries of a forward mapping table associated with the storage media corresponding to the range of LBAs is then populated with random physical addresses from the plurality of physical units based at least on the computed valid page count for each of the plurality of physical units.

Abstract: The technology disclosed herein provides a method for generating an on-cylinder limit (OCLIM), the method including performing servo certification of a plurality of drives in a storage device to generate servo adaptive parameters (SAPs) by heads, generating a plurality of read adjust parameters (RAPs) by heads for the plurality of drives, generating an interim OCLIM value based on the SAPs by heads and RAPs by zones, and operating a disc drive write element using the interim OCLIM value.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a base deck and a load/unload ramp component. The base deck includes a floor and sidewalls. The load/unload ramp component is coupled to the floor of the base deck. At least one of the sidewalls includes an arcuate extension portion that extends to contact the load/unload ramp component.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a host and a baseboard. An out-of-band request is received via a host network interface of the host. The baseboard includes a management controller operating independently of the host and coupled to a management network interface separate from the host network interface. The out-of-band request is sent via an in-band communications channel from a proxy server of the host to a management agent running on the management controller microprocessor. Management data is formatted via the management agent. The management data is sent to the proxy server via the in-band communications channel. The management data describes hardware status that is obtained via the management controller in response to the out-of-band request. The management data is sent from the host network interface in response to the out-of-band request.

Abstract: An implementation of a system disclosed herein includes a control board including multiple cartridge slots and hardware for coupling each of the multiple cartridge slots to an associated storage cartridge. The system further includes multiple voice coil motor (VCM) actuator components mounted to the control board, each one of the multiple VCM actuator configured to contribute to an electromagnetic interaction that drives movement of an actuator arm within a storage cartridge coupled to one of the multiple cartridge slots.

Abstract: A calibration standard for calibrating a tool for measuring the surface energy of a data storage component is prepared by providing a standardized sized, dimensionally stable bead having a diameter selected from a length of from 1 to 100 ?m and depositing the bead on a surface of a substrate and adhering the bead to the surface with an adhesive. The calibration standard made by these processes is also contemplated.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a host system configured to provide an I/O request stream and a data storage subsystem. The data storage subsystem has a data storage device and a processor. The processor is configured to provide streaming data in response to the I/O request stream, determine a current streaming rate of the I/O request stream, and determine a time-based read ahead size based on a time ahead duration and the current streaming rate of the I/O request stream. The time-based read ahead size may be updated while streaming, for example, after a delay period.