Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an optical data storage tape is provided. The optical data storage tape includes a read/write data area including a plurality of writeable tracks for storing data thereon, each writeable track having a first track width. The optical data storage tape further includes a seam area positioned proximate to the read/write data area. The seam area including a plurality of non-writeable tracks, each non-writeable track including a second track width that is greater than the first track width for each writeable track.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an optical data storage tape including a plurality of tracks is provided. The plurality of tracks include a first track having a plurality of first informational fields configured to store one of first positional information indicative of a location on an optical tape and a first predetermined sequence of data. The plurality of tracks further include a second track located adjacent to the first track and having a plurality of second informational fields configured to store one of second positional information indicative of the location on the optical tape and a second predetermined sequence of data. The first positional information is located adjacent to the second predetermined sequence of data on the optical tape to minimize cross track interference during a read operation.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an optical data storage tape including a plurality of tracks is provided. The plurality of tracks include a first track having a plurality of first informational fields configured to store one of first positional information indicative of a location on an optical tape and a first predetermined sequence of data. The plurality of tracks further include a second track located adjacent to the first track and having a plurality of second informational fields configured to store one of second positional information indicative of the location on the optical tape and a second predetermined sequence of data. The first positional information is located adjacent to the second predetermined sequence of data on the optical tape to minimize cross track interference during a read operation.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an optical data storage tape is provided. The optical data storage tape includes a read/write data area including a plurality of writeable tracks for storing data thereon, each writeable track having a first track width. The optical data storage tape further includes a seam area positioned proximate to the read/write data area. The seam area including a plurality of non-writeable tracks, each non-writeable track including a second track width that is greater than the first track width for each writeable track.

Abstract: An optical tape drive system includes n total optical pickup units and a controller. The controller writes readable data in logical wraps each having less than n physical tracks to the optical tape via at least some of the optical pickup units such that for each of the logical wraps that contain readable data, all physical tracks within the logical wrap contain readable data.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and predicting health of tape drives and media in a tape library. The method includes receiving exchange data associated with an exchange in the tape library. Then the method includes, with an analytics module, processing the exchange data to determine gain types for the exchange. Based on the gain type, a health gain value is assigned to a tape drive and media and current suspicion level values are independently assigned to the tape drive and the media. The method includes assigning a first health indicator to the media and a second health indicator to the tape drive based on these two suspicion level values. In some embodiments of the method, the current suspicion level value calculating step includes summing the health gain value with a number of health gain values assigned to the tape drive and the media for up to a predefined number of monitored exchanges.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and predicting health of tape drives and media in a tape library. The method includes receiving exchange data associated with an exchange in the tape library. Then the method includes, with an analytics module, processing the exchange data to determine gain types for the exchange. Based on the gain type, a health gain value is assigned to a tape drive and media and current suspicion level values are independently assigned to the tape drive and the media. The method includes assigning a first health indicator to the media and a second health indicator to the tape drive based on these two suspicion level values. In some embodiments of the method, the current suspicion level value calculating step includes summing the health gain value with a number of health gain values assigned to the tape drive and the media for up to a predefined number of monitored exchanges.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing errors on a magnetic tape having a plurality of partitions accessed by a tape drive having an associated tape drive processor in communication with a host computer having an associated host processor include receiving mapping information from the host computer that designates at least first and second logically adjacent partitions for reading/writing consecutive data, receiving a read/write request to transfer the consecutive data for the first and second partitions, detecting a data error when attempting to read/write the data for the second partition and communicating a corresponding data error message to the host computer, and receiving modified mapping information from the host computer that designates a third partition as logically adjacent to the first partition for reading/writing the consecutive data.

Abstract: A method of protecting a media key including obtaining the media key, obtaining an auxiliary key, calculating a split key using the media key and the auxiliary key, encrypting the split key using a wrap key to generate an encrypted split key, assembling the encrypted split key and a communication key to obtain a data bundle, and sending the data bundle to a token, where the media key is extracted from the data bundle on the token to protect data on a storage device.

Abstract: A method of protecting a media key including obtaining the media key, obtaining an auxiliary key, calculating a split key using the media key and the auxiliary key, encrypting the split key using a wrap key to generate an encrypted split key, assembling the encrypted split key and a communication key to obtain a data bundle, and sending the data bundle to a token, where the media key is extracted from the data bundle on the token to protect data on a storage device.

Abstract: A hand-held token for secure conveyance of encryption keys includes memory for holding a media key and at least one device key. Control logic reads the media key from memory, encrypts the media key based on the device key, and transmits the encrypted media key to a data storage device. The data storage device decrypts the encrypted media key using its own device key, which may have previously been downloaded from a token.

Abstract: A data storage system for use with a plurality of tape cartridges is provided. Each tape cartridge includes a length of tape media and an amount of flash memory. The data storage system includes a tape cartridge library having a plurality of storage cells. Each storage cell is configured to store a tape cartridge. The tape cartridge library further includes a plurality of tape drives. Each tape drive is configured to access a tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is received in the tape drive. The system further includes a robotic tape mover and a flash memory access mechanism. The robotic tape mover moves tape cartridges between the plurality of storage cells and the plurality of tape drives. The flash memory access mechanism is configured in the tape cartridge library to access the flash memory of a tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is in the tape cartridge library.

Abstract: A data storage system for use with a plurality of tape cartridges is provided. Each tape cartridge includes a length of tape media and an amount of flash memory. The data storage system includes a tape cartridge library having a plurality of storage cells. Each storage cell is configured to store a tape cartridge. The tape cartridge library further includes a plurality of tape drives. Each tape drive is configured to access a tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is received in the tape drive. The system further includes a robotic tape mover and a flash memory access mechanism. The robotic tape mover moves tape cartridges between the plurality of storage cells and the plurality of tape drives. The flash memory access mechanism is configured in the tape cartridge library to access the flash memory of a tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is in the tape cartridge library.

Abstract: A data encryption system with encryption integrity verification includes an encryption engine configured to receive an unencrypted data packet and generate an encrypted data packet based at least in part on the unencrypted data packet. The system also includes a decryption engine in electronic communication with the encryption engine, the decryption engine configured to receive the encrypted data packet and generate a decrypted data packet based at least in part on the encrypted data packet. The system further includes a comparator in electronic communication with the encryption engine and the decryption engine, the comparator configured to receive the unencrypted and decrypted data packets, determine whether the unencrypted and decrypted data packets are identical, and present the encrypted data packet as an output when the unencrypted and decrypted data packets are identical.

Abstract: A multiple field nonce particularly suited for use in encryption algorithms associated with data storage has at least one field unique to each data storage device to avoid the possibility of the same nonce value being used to store more than one data string. Additional fields may be based on the number of times at least one encryption key is associated with the storage device and on a number assigned to the particular string of data.

Abstract: A system, method and data storage device for encrypting data to provide at-rest data encryption of data in the data storage device. The system includes a compression engine for receiving a host data stream packet and selectively generating a compressed data packet, and an encryption engine in electronic communication with the compression engine for receiving an unencrypted data packet from the compression engine. The unencrypted data packet comprises the compressed data packet when the compression engine generates the compressed data packet. The unencrypted data packet comprises the host data packet when the compression engine does not generate the compressed data packet. The encryption engine generates an encrypted data packet having an encrypted component corresponding to the unencrypted data packet and a set of meta data indicative of one or more characteristic of the encrypted data packet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing data on a tape medium and coping with defective regions on the tape medium are provided. The method includes: writing a plurality of envelopes of data onto the tape medium, each envelope of data comprising a plurality of blocks of data; detecting a defective region of the tape medium; writing a boundary start field after the defective region, the boundary start field indicating that the defective region has been passed; and writing a boundary end field before the defective region of the tape medium, the boundary end field indicating that the defective region follows the boundary end field.

Abstract: An information storage medium such as a magnetic tape medium records a directory revision number as part of each block written to the medium (e.g., data block, ECC block, or information block). The directory revision number can determine if the directory that was read from the tape is valid for the block that was written with that directory revision number. The directory revision number may also be used to rebuild the directory.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a storage system is provided. The storage system includes a tape drive for reading and writing data to a magnetic tape medium of a tape storage media device, and an auxiliary memory emulator for receiving I/O commands to perform I/O operations on an auxiliary memory and for rerouting the commands to perform the I/O operations on the magnetic tape medium of the tape storage media device. The method includes receiving I/O commands to perform I/O operations on an auxiliary memory on a tape storage media device, wherein the tape storage media device includes a magnetic tape medium and does not include the auxiliary memory, and routing the I/O commands to the magnetic tape medium provided in the tape storage media device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing data on a tape medium and coping with defective regions on the tape medium are provided. The method includes: writing a plurality of envelopes of data onto the tape medium, each envelope of data comprising a plurality of blocks of data; detecting a defective region of the tape medium; writing a boundary start field after the defective region, the boundary start field indicating that the defective region has been passed; and writing a boundary end field before the defective region of the tape medium, the boundary end field indicating that the defective region follows the boundary end field.