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: 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: 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 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: 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: Measuring ramp friction in a disk drive including receiving a lift tab ramp load time profile for a voice coil motor and determining a load torque profile for a lift tab on the ramp based at least on the received ramp load time profile. The measuring also includes receiving a lift tab ramp unload time profile for the voice coil motor and determining an unload torque profile for the lift tab on the ramp based at least on the received ramp unload time profile. The measuring also includes calculating a ramp friction torque component based on the determined load torque profile and unload torque profile.

Abstract: A method includes, upon a read operation for a stripe of a storage device, determining a percentage amount of potential read amplification for the read operation. A current age of the stripe in the read operation is determined as a percentage of a longest safe elapsed time between read scrub operations on a stripe of the storage device. A read scrub operation is performed on the stripe when the current age is greater than the percentage amount of potential read amplification.

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.

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 near-field transducer or heat sink is formed via a first process. The near-field transducer or heat sink is transfer-printed to a read/write head via a second process.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of nodes. Each node includes a pending operations list, an unstable operations list, and a hardware controller. The pending operations list can include operations that have not yet been executed on the node. The unstable operations list can include operations that have not yet been stored on non-volatile data storage. Each of the operations listed in the unstable operations list can include a listing of all other operations that must be executed prior to the operation being executed on each respective node. The hardware controller can be configured to execute at least one operation listed in the pending operations list, remove at least one executed operation from the pending operations list, and remove at least one operation from the unstable operations list.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting hidden encoding of text strings, such as Internet web-domain addresses or email addresses, using optical character recognition (OCR) techniques. In some embodiments, a first set of digital data having a first string of text character codes are converted into an image. Optical character recognition (OCR) is applied to the image to generate a second set of digital data having a second string of text character codes based on detection of the image. The first string of text character codes are compared to the second string of text character codes to detect the presence or absence of hidden codes in the first set of digital data. In some cases, a smoothing function such as Gaussian blurring is applied to degrade the image prior to the application of OCR.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is operable in an over-provisioned storage device comprising a cache region and a main storage region. The method includes compressing incoming data, generating a compression parameter for the compressed data, and storing at least a portion of the compressed data in chunks in the main storage region of the storage device. The method also includes predicting when to store other chunks of the compressed data in the cache region based on the compression parameter.

Abstract: A data storage system can employ at least one data storage device having a supplemental processing bus that connects a first controller to a second controller with the supplemental bus being exposed to an exterior surface of a housing. The second controller may be positioned on a portable computing component connected to the supplemental bus while the portable computing component is positioned external to the housing. The computing capabilities of the portable computing component are identified with the first controller to allow a supplementation strategy to be generated with the first controller in response to connection of the portable computing component to the supplemental bus. The supplementation strategy can then be executed by assigning at least one processing task from the first controller to the second controller.

Abstract: A composite layout including a plurality of ranked sub-layouts may be used to provide various functionality for data object look-up and file system activities. Each sub-layout may include mapping information linking one or more extents of a data object to one or more locations on one or more storage apparatuses. Generally, mapping information in the highest priority sub-layout including mapped extents may be used during “reads” while the highest priority sub-layout may be used for “writes.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for or reducing the size of the forward mapping table in an SSD or other storage device using hashing. A physical address of a storage location within a storage media is determined for the storage of data associated with a logical block address. The data is written to the storage location and a hash value is computed from a representation of the physical address using a hash function, where the size of the hash value is smaller than the representation of the physical address and the hash value points to a plurality of separate storage locations in the storage media. The hash value is stored in the forward mapping table associated with logical block address as opposed to the representation of the physical address.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for a controller that is operable to soft read a data bit a plurality of times, to generate a bit set for the data bit from the soft reads, to logically operate on the bit set, and to generate a Hamming weight for the data bit based on the logical operation. The Hamming weight has fewer bits than the bit set and is operable to correct the data bit.

Abstract: A power management circuit includes at least one energy storage device and a power controller coupled to the at least one energy storage device. The power controller is configured to enable temporary power to be provided from the at least one energy storage device to a plurality of data storage devices upon a system power loss event. The power controller is further configured to receive a power loss indication signal associated with any individual one of the plurality of data storage devices and responsively enable power loss protection for the data storage device.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a heat source including a memory, and an enclosure within which the heat source is installed. The data storage device also includes a heat spreader within the enclosure and surrounding the heat source. The data storage device further includes a thermal interface material within the enclosure. The thermal interface material is coupled to the heat source and to the heat spreader, thereby providing a first low thermal resistance path between the heat source and the heat spreader. A phase change material is coupled to the thermal interface material such that the thermal interface material provides a second low thermal resistance path between the heat source and the phase change material.