Abstract: Provided are a tape head controller, tape drive, and method for simultaneously writing data to two sets of channels to increase channel transfer rate. A tape head module having a first and second sets of read/write elements is positioned to have the first set of read/write elements on a selected wrap number in a first n channels in a first data band and the second set of read/write elements on the selected wrap number in a second n channels in a second data band. The first set and the second set of read/write elements are controlled to simultaneously perform read/write operations with respect to the selected wrap number in the first n channels and the second n channels, respectively. A combination of the first n channels and the second n channels is presented as a 2n-channel layout with a plurality of wraps in each of n channels.

Abstract: Provided are a tape head controller, tape drive, and method for simultaneously writing data to two sets of channels to increase channel transfer rate. A tape head module having a first and second sets of read/write elements is positioned to have the first set of read/write elements on a selected wrap number in a first n channels in a first data band and the second set of read/write elements on the selected wrap number in a second n channels in a second data band. The first set and the second set of read/write elements are controlled to simultaneously perform read/write operations with respect to the selected wrap number in the first n channels and the second n channels, respectively. A combination of the first n channels and the second n channels is presented as a 2n-channel layout with a plurality of wraps in each of n channels.

Abstract: Defined backup using a computerized tool is enabled. For example, a system can comprise a processor that executes computer executable components stored in a computer-readable memory. The computer executable components can include a fragment component that segments data that has not changed since a previous backup of a data storage device into a defined quantity of a plurality of fragments and a backup component that performs one or more defined backups on the data storage device. In various embodiments, the one or more defined backups can comprise one of the plurality of fragments of the data that has not changed since the previous backup of the data storage device and incremental data. The incremental data may include data that has changed since the previous backup of the data storage device.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes partitioning a magnetic recording tape having a plurality of data bands. The partitioning includes assigning no more than two wraps of a first of the data bands to an index partition, the two wraps being at an end of wraps of the first data band, and assigning all other wraps of the first data band to a data partition. No guard wraps between the index partition and the data partition are assigned.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes partitioning a magnetic recording tape having a plurality of data bands. The partitioning includes assigning no more than two wraps of a first of the data bands to an index partition, the two wraps being at an end of wraps of the first data band, and assigning all other wraps of the first data band to a data partition. No guard wraps between the index partition and the data partition are assigned.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes identifying a set of target files to be migrated from a primary storage to a secondary storage, extracting text data from the set of target files, identifying a set of keywords corresponding to the extracted text data from the set of target files, determining a number of keyword appearances in each file of the set of target files, assigning an order of migration corresponding to the set of target files such that the target files are written to the secondary storage in order of decreasing number of keywords, and migrating the files to the secondary storage according to the assigned order of migration. The method may additionally include writing the files with the greatest number of keywords closest to the default position of the tape reader. A computer program product and computer system corresponding to the method are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes receiving a list of areas on a subject tape to be read, wherein each area of the list of areas is indicated by a first record number and a last record number corresponding to the area, identifying parameters of a tape drive configured to read the subject tape, wherein the identified parameters of the tape drive contribute to a speed with which the tape drive can read the list of areas, creating a directed graph of the areas on the subject tape based on the identified parameters, wherein the directed graph indicates how long the tape drive will take to read the areas on the subject tape, and determining a fastest reading order of the areas on the subject tape, based, at least in part, on the directed graph and the identified parameters. A computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing access to tape cartridges at a tape archival service provider. A determination is made as to whether a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge stores a key encryption key comprising an encrypted user encryption key associated with a user. In response to determining that the non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge stores the key encryption key, the key encryption key is decrypted to produce the user encryption key. The user encryption key, resulting from the decrypting, is provided to an encryption engine of the tape drive to encrypt plain-text data read from the tape medium in the tape cartridge with the user encryption key to return to a read request.

Abstract: An eddy current sensor has an exciting coil and a detection coil. A holding circuit holds reference data indicating a characteristic of an output signal output from the detection coil at a reference state and outputs the reference data at a state other than the reference state. A pseudo signal generating circuit generates and outputs a balance coil pseudo signal corresponding to the output signal output from the detection coil at the reference state from the reference data output from the holding circuit. A bridge circuit, at the state other than the reference state, receives the output signal output from the detection coil and the balance coil pseudo signal and outputs a bridge output signal corresponding to a difference between the output signal and the balance coil pseudo signal as a bridge output signal.

Abstract: An eddy current sensor assembly includes an eddy current sensor and an output signal processing circuit that processes an output signal from the eddy current sensor. The output signal processing circuit includes a mixer circuit that accepts the output signal and a signal of the predetermined frequency as input, multiplies the two signals received as input, and outputs an output signal obtained by the multiplication, and a low-pass filter that accepts the output signal output by the mixer circuit as input, cuts a high-frequency signal included in the output signal received as input, and outputs at least a direct-current (DC) signal.

Abstract: A tool for tape library hierarchical storage management. The tool determines there is available tape capacity on a tape cartridge mounted to a tape drive to migrate data from a migration queue during recall operations. The tool sends a locate end of data (EOD) command to the tape drive. The tool determines the migration queue is within a longitudinal position (LPOS) range. The tool writes data from the migration queue to the tape cartridge within the LPOS range.

Abstract: The eddy current sensor for measuring the film thickness of a conductive film formed on a substrate includes a core made of a magnetic material that has a base portion, and outer legs provided to the base portion at both end portions in a first direction of the base portion respectively, an excitation coil that is arranged on the core and forms an eddy current in the conductive film, and a detection coil that is arranged on the core and detects the eddy current formed in the conductive film. The length of the base portion in the first direction is not less than the length of the base portion in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a data storage device that performs data operations on magnetic media, a command indicating a read range of records to read. A determination is made as to whether one or more of the records within the read range is expected to cause an error. In response to determining that one or more of the records within the read range is known to cause an error, an indication indicative of the record known to cause the error is returned.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for altering a current position in a Data Partition of a tape at which the tape transitions to a DATA_FULL state is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes determining a size of a last Index appended to the Data Partition of the tape. The computer-implemented method further includes altering, based on the size of the last Index appended to the Data Partition of the tape, the current position in the Data Partition of the tape at which the tape transitions to DATA_FULL state to a new position in the DATA Partition of the tape at which the tape transitions to the DATA_FULL state, wherein the DATA_FULL state is a state on the tape in which only metadata write operations are permitted in the Data Partition.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing access to tape cartridges at a tape archival service provider. A determination is made as to whether a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge stores a key encryption key comprising an encrypted user encryption key associated with a user. In response to determining that the non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge stores the key encryption key, the key encryption key is decrypted to produce the user encryption key. The user encryption key, resulting from the decrypting, is provided to an encryption engine of the tape drive to encrypt plain-text data read from the tape medium in the tape cartridge with the user encryption key to return to a read request.

Abstract: Described are techniques for a tape unmounting protocol. The techniques include selecting a tape for unmounting from a plurality of tape drives, where the tape for unmounting includes a remaining capacity below a first threshold and a number of migrated files below a second threshold. The techniques further include unmounting the tape for unmounting from a tape drive.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes executing a read-ahead operation by reading data from a tape according to a read plan and storing said data in a ring buffer, determining whether the ring buffer is full, receiving a command indicating an area to be read according to the read plan, and, responsive to receiving the command, reading data from an area of the list of areas to be read corresponding to the command from the ring buffer. The method may further include executing additional read-ahead operations until the ring buffer is full. A computer program product and computer system corresponding to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: An approach for deleting a file from a primary file system. The approach deletes a directory entry, associated with a file, from an in-memory index associated with a secondary file system. The approach updates an index cache associated with a secondary file system, based on the in-memory index. The approach updates a dirty flag, associated with the secondary file system, to a value of TRUE.

Abstract: In an approach to improve magnetic tape file systems through tape-to-tape copying between nodes on a Linear Tape File System using a cluster-wide named pipe. Embodiments transfer data between a first node and a second node. Additionally, both the first node and the second node implement a parallel shared-disk file system through a data path for node data reading and writing from a shared-disk and to the shared-disk. Further, to transfer data between the first node and the second node, embodiments, write, by the first node, the data for tape-to-tape copy from a first tape drive to the shared-disk, and write, by the second node, the data written from the shared-disk to a second tape drive.

Abstract: An approach for deleting a file from a primary file system. The approach deletes a directory entry, associated with a file, from an in-memory index associated with a secondary file system. The approach updates an index cache associated with a secondary file system, based on the in-memory index. The approach updates a dirty flag, associated with the secondary file system, to a value of TRUE.