Abstract: A method, according to one embodiment, includes cycling a shorter length of a tape, that is less than an entire length of the tape, a plurality of times to acclimate the shorter length of the tape. An acclimation change amount of the shorter length of the tape is determined. The acclimation change amount is based on a baseline servo band difference (SBD) measured before the cycling and a post cycling SBD measured after the cycling. The method further includes adjusting SBD values from a beginning of the tape (BOT) to an end of the tape (EOT) based on the determined acclimation change amount. A system according to another embodiment includes a processor, and logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the processor to perform operations of the foregoing method.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the magnetic recording tape. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.

Abstract: A method, according to one embodiment, includes cycling a shorter length of a tape, that is less than an entire length of the tape, a plurality of times to acclimate the shorter length of the tape. An acclimation change amount of the shorter length of the tape is determined. The acclimation change amount is based on a baseline servo band difference (SBD) measured before the cycling and a post cycling SBD measured after the cycling. The method further includes adjusting SBD values from a beginning of the tape (BOT) to an end of the tape (EOT) based on the determined acclimation change amount. A system according to another embodiment includes a processor, and logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the processor to perform operations of the foregoing method.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes measuring a baseline servo band difference (SBD) from a beginning of a tape (BOT) to an end of the tape (EOT), and storing values of the baseline SBD measurements in a memory. A shorter length of the tape that is less than an entire length of the tape is cycled a plurality of times to acclimate the shorter length of the tape. A post cycling SBD of the shorter length of the tape is determined and an acclimation change amount of the shorter length of the tape that is a difference between the baseline SBD of the shorter length and the post cycling SBD of the shorter length is determined. The method further includes adjusting the baseline SBD values based on the determined acclimation change amount.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes measuring a baseline servo band difference (SBD) from a beginning of a tape (BOT) to an end of the tape (EOT), and storing values of the baseline SBD measurements in a memory. A shorter length of the tape that is less than an entire length of the tape is cycled a plurality of times to acclimate the shorter length of the tape. A post cycling SBD of the shorter length of the tape is determined and an acclimation change amount of the shorter length of the tape that is a difference between the baseline SBD of the shorter length and the post cycling SBD of the shorter length is determined. The method further includes adjusting the baseline SBD values based on the determined acclimation change amount.

Abstract: A tape drive that can select one or more wraps from any available wraps on a tape medium for writing temporary data upon detecting a flush condition. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data can be selected from wraps otherwise reserved for normal writing operations. Selection of the one or more wraps for temporary writing may be based on multiple considerations, including proximity to the wrap of current data writing operations and tape medium degradation. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data may be selected with or without regard of their assigned read/write direction. Assigning wraps based on proximity and/or degradation can lead to certain operational advantages including reducing tape write head movement in the transverse direction and spreading tape medium wear more evenly across the surface of the tape medium.

Abstract: A tape drive that can select one or more wraps from any available wraps on a tape medium for writing temporary data upon detecting a flush condition. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data can be selected from wraps otherwise reserved for normal writing operations. Selection of the one or more wraps for temporary writing may be based on multiple considerations, including proximity to the wrap of current data writing operations and tape medium degradation. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data may be selected with or without regard of their assigned read/write direction. Assigning wraps based on proximity and/or degradation can lead to certain operational advantages including reducing tape write head movement in the transverse direction and spreading tape medium wear more evenly across the surface of the tape medium.

Abstract: A tape drive that can select one or more wraps from any available wraps on a tape medium for writing temporary data upon detecting a flush condition. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data can be selected from wraps otherwise reserved for normal writing operations. Selection of the one or more wraps for temporary writing may be based on multiple considerations, including proximity to the wrap of current data writing operations and tape medium degradation. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data may be selected with or without regard of their assigned read/write direction. Assigning wraps based on proximity and/or degradation can lead to certain operational advantages including reducing tape write head movement in the transverse direction and spreading tape medium wear more evenly across the surface of the tape medium.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape. The controller is also configured to cause storage of servo band difference information about the servo band difference measurements in association with the magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: Provided is a method, computer program product, and system for handling seek commands for a tape drive. The method includes receiving a seek command for moving tape in the tape drive to a target position. The method further includes determining whether to move the tape according to a first procedure or a second procedure. The first procedure includes directly moving the tape from the current position to the target position with the tape at the first tension. The second procedure includes moving the tape from the current position to the HWM with the tape at the first tension and moving the tape from the HWM to the target position with the tape at the second tension. The method further includes moving the tape according to the determined first or second procedure.

Abstract: A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a read error, and sending one or more instructions to perform a first re-read attempt on a portion of a magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. In response to determining that the first re-read attempt was unsuccessful, a range of tension settings is selected. A range of lateral offsets is also selected. Moreover, one or more instructions are sent to apply each unique combination of a tension setting from the range of tension settings and a lateral offset from the range of lateral offsets. For each of the unique combinations applied, one or more instructions are sent to perform a second phase re-read attempt on the portion of the magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. Furthermore, a determination is made as to whether the second phase re-read attempt was performed successfully for any of the unique combinations.

Abstract: Provided is a method, computer program product, and system for handling seek commands for a tape drive. The method includes receiving a seek command for moving tape in the tape drive to a target position. The method further includes moving the tape from the current position to a high water mark (HWM) with the tape at a first tension and moving the tape from the HWM to the target position with the tape at a second tension. The method further includes updating the HWM to reference the target position.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the magnetic recording tape. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape. The controller is also configured to cause storage of servo band difference information about the servo band difference measurements in association with the magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: A method and system for a controlling a head element of a tape drive is disclosed. Y-position values based on servo bands are identified. Control adjustments for the head element are determined based on the Y-position values and the direction of the current wrap.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, and program product are disclosed for Tape positioning. One method includes identifying a first position on a first tape between a start of the first tape and an end of the first tape. The method includes determining that an access position of the first tape reaches the first position. The method also includes providing an indication indicating that the access position of the first tape has reached the first position.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to characterize a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge. The controller is also configured to store the servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof in association with the tape cartridge.

Abstract: A tape drive that can select one or more wraps from any available wraps on a tape medium for writing temporary data upon detecting a flush condition. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data can be selected from wraps otherwise reserved for normal writing operations. Selection of the one or more wraps for temporary writing may be based on multiple considerations, including proximity to the wrap of current data writing operations and tape medium degradation. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data may be selected with or without regard of their assigned read/write direction. Assigning wraps based on proximity and/or degradation can lead to certain operational advantages including reducing tape write head movement in the transverse direction and spreading tape medium wear more evenly across the surface of the tape medium.

Abstract: A tape drive that can select one or more wraps from any available wraps on a tape medium for writing temporary data upon detecting a flush condition. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data can be selected from wraps otherwise reserved for normal writing operations. Selection of the one or more wraps for temporary writing may be based on multiple considerations, including proximity to the wrap of current data writing operations and tape medium degradation. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data may be selected with or without regard of their assigned read/write direction. Assigning wraps based on proximity and/or degradation can lead to certain operational advantages including reducing tape write head movement in the transverse direction and spreading tape medium wear more evenly across the surface of the tape medium.

Abstract: A tape drive that can select one or more wraps from any available wraps on a tape medium for writing temporary data upon detecting a flush condition. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data can be selected from wraps otherwise reserved for normal writing operations. Selection of the one or more wraps for temporary writing may be based on multiple considerations, including proximity to the wrap of current data writing operations and tape medium degradation. The one or more wraps selected for writing temporary data may be selected with or without regard of their assigned read/write direction. Assigning wraps based on proximity and/or degradation can lead to certain operational advantages including reducing tape write head movement in the transverse direction and spreading tape medium wear more evenly across the surface of the tape medium.