Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for configuring host settings to specify encryption and a key label referencing a key encrypting key to use to encrypt an encryption key provided to a storage drive to use to encrypt data from the host. User settings are received to configure a data class having data attributes with encryption settings. The data class is stored with the received user encryption settings. A job is received indicating a data set to store to a removable storage medium. A data class is determined having data class attributes matching data attributes of the data set indicated in the job. A determination is made from the determined data class whether to encrypt the data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are presented for scaling storage media to improve data access performance. A scaling module is provided and configured to receive a dataset, identify storage characteristics of the dataset, make a determination based upon user-defined storage criteria, and select a storage instruction. In one embodiment, the storage instruction is configured to scale the storage medium to a predefined capacity. The predefined capacity of the storage medium is configured to optimize data access performance. Alternatively, the storage instruction is configured to not scale the storage medium. Additionally, the present invention may be configured to map and track the storage medium while the dataset is being written to or read from the storage medium.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for enforcing policy controls for non-system managed tape media. The apparatus includes an operating system configured to communicate with a tape media drive, and an identification module configured to identify a tape media type of a tape media cartridge. The apparatus may also include a policy module configured to maintain control policies for tape media types, and a media control module configured to enforce the control policies. The system includes a computing system having a processor, a cache, an operating system, and a plurality of input/output interfaces, a tape media drive coupled to the computing system, and the apparatus. The method includes communicating with a tape media drive, identifying a tape media type of a tape media cartridge, maintaining a plurality of control policies for tape media types, and enforcing the plurality of control policies.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are presented for utilizing tape storage media segmentation to improve data access performance. A segmented tape storage medium within a tape cartridge having a first and second segment is utilized. A selection module allows a user to select a user-defined capacity of the tape storage medium that is less than the usable capacity of the tape storage medium. The user-defined capacity allows the user to prefer improved data access over tape storage capacity. Data, when written to the tape, is written only within the user-defined capacity. Data may be written exclusively on the first segment or written on both the first segment and second segment allowing data access to be improved. In addition, the user-defined capacity may correspond to the full capacity of the tape storage media.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for optimizing fast access data storage on segmented tape media. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to selectively write data to a tape storage medium. The selection module may select data for storage as one of fast access and slower access. Fast access data may be stored on the first segment, or fast access portion, of a tape storage medium to provide optimal speed for data retrieval. Slower access data may be stored on the remaining available storage space of the tape storage medium. Additionally, read requests for fast access data may be accessed more quickly than read requests for slower access data. Thus, user data may be selected and written to a tape storage medium relative to a preferred access time.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture recovering remnant encrypted data on a removable storage media. An end of data (EOD) marker is detected on a removable storage media, wherein a first encryption key is associated with data preceding the EOD marker. Following the EOD marker, an identifier of a second encryption key associated with data following the EOD marker is read in response to detecting the EOD marker. The identifier is used to access the second encryption key and the second encryption key is used to decrypt the data following the EOD marker.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for receiving an initial request from a first device to a second device. A response to the initial request is received from the second device to the first device. Each response and request received from the first device to the second device is processed by accessing the response or request from a packet encoded using a first communication protocol; generating a packet including the accessed response or request into a packet encoded using a second communication protocol; and transmitting the generated packet to the second device. Each response and request received from the second device to the first device is processed by accessing the response or request from a packet encoded using the second communication protocol; generating a packet including the accessed response or request into a packet encoded using the first communication protocol; and transmitting the generated packet to the second device.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture to process communications between a host and storage drive having a storage media. An Input/Output (I/O) request is received from the host directed to the storage media that requires requested information be sent to the storage drive to use to execute the I/O request against the storage media. A message is sent to the host to cause the host to modify I/O timeout operations in response to determining that the requested information is required.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for optimizing fast access data storage on segmented tape media. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to selectively write data to a tape storage medium. The selection module may select data for storage as one of fast access and slower access. Fast access data may be stored on the first segment, or fast access portion, of a tape storage medium to provide optimal speed for data retrieval. Slower access data may be stored on the remaining available storage space of the tape storage medium. Additionally, read requests for fast access data may be accessed more quickly than read requests for slower access data. Thus, user data may be selected and written to a tape storage medium relative to a preferred access time.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for configuring host settings to specify encryption and a key label referencing a key encrypting key to use to encrypt an encryption key provided to a storage drive to use to encrypt data from the host. User settings are received to configure a data class having data attributes with encryption settings. The data class is stored with the received user encryption settings. A job is received indicating a data set to store to a removable storage medium. A data class is determined having data class attributes matching data attributes of the data set indicated in the job. A determination is made from the determined data class whether to encrypt the data.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for optimizing fast access data storage on segmented tape media. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to selectively write data to a tape storage medium. The selection module may select data for storage as one of fast access and slower access. Fast access data may be stored on the first segment, or fast access portion, of a tape storage medium to provide optimal speed for data retrieval. Slower access data may be stored on the remaining available storage space of the tape storage medium. Additionally, read requests for fast access data may be accessed more quickly than read requests for slower access data. Thus, user data may be selected and written to a tape storage medium relative to a preferred access time.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for optimizing fast access data storage on segmented tape media. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to selectively write data to a tape storage medium. The selection module may select data for storage as one of fast access and slower access. Fast access data may be stored on the first segment, or fast access portion, of a tape storage medium to provide optimal speed for data retrieval. Slower access data may be stored on the remaining available storage space of the tape storage medium. Additionally, read requests for fast access data may be accessed more quickly than read requests for slower access data. Thus, user data may be selected and written to a tape storage medium relative to a preferred access time.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are presented for utilizing tape storage media segmentation to improve data access performance. A segmented tape storage medium within a tape cartridge having a first and second segment is utilized. A selection module allows a user to select a user-defined capacity of the tape storage medium that is less than the usable capacity of the tape storage medium. The user-defined capacity allows the user to prefer improved data access over tape storage capacity. Data, when written to the tape, is written only within the user-defined capacity. Data may be written exclusively on the first segment or written on both the first segment and second segment allowing data access to be improved. In addition, the user-defined capacity may correspond to the full capacity of the tape storage media.

Abstract: A method is presented for utilizing tape storage media segmentation to improve data access performance. A segmented tape storage medium within a tape cartridge having a first and second segment is utilized. A selection module allows a user to select a user-defined capacity of the tape storage medium that is less than the usable capacity of the tape storage medium. The user-defined capacity allows the user to prefer improved data access over tape storage capacity. Data, when written to the tape, is written only within the user-defined capacity. Data may be written exclusively on the first segment or written on both the first segment and second segment allowing data access to be improved. In addition, the user-defined capacity may correspond to the full capacity of the tape storage media.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture to process communications between a host and storage drive having a storage media. An Input/Output (I/O) request is received from the host directed to the storage media that requires requested information be sent to the storage drive to use to execute the I/O request against the storage media. A message is sent to the host to cause the host to modify I/O timeout operations in response to determining that the requested information is required.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for receiving an initial request from a first device to a second device. A response to the initial request is received from the second device to the first device. Each response and request received from the first device to the second device is processed by accessing the response or request from a packet encoded using a first communication protocol; generating a packet including the accessed response or request into a packet encoded using a second communication protocol; and transmitting the generated packet to the second device. Each response and request received from the second device to the first device is processed by accessing the response or request from a packet encoded using the second communication protocol; generating a packet including the accessed response or request into a packet encoded using the first communication protocol; and transmitting the generated packet to the second device.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture recovering remnant encrypted data on a removable storage media. An end of data (EOD) marker is detected on a removable storage media, wherein a first encryption key is associated with data preceding the EOD marker. Following the EOD marker, an identifier of a second encryption key associated with data following the EOD marker is read in response to detecting the EOD marker. The identifier is used to access the second encryption key and the second encryption key is used to decrypt the data following the EOD marker.

Abstract: A storage management system, apparatus, and method to increase the storage capacity of data storage media. Applicants' method uses a data storage device comprising a fixed device architecture, where that data storage device is capable of operating in a first capacity mode or in a second capacity mode, and where that data storage device is capable of switching between the first capacity mode and the second capacity mode. In certain embodiments, the first capacity mode utilizes a 22 bit blockid format and the second capacity mode utilizes a 32 bit blockid format. In other embodiments, the first capacity mode utilizes a 32 bit blockid format and the second capacity mode utilizes a 22 bit blockid format. A computer code product comprising a data management system which includes an operating system and data storage device microcode, which supports the capability to switch between alternative information storage architectures, and thereby, increase the capacity utilization of data storage media.

Abstract: An automated data storage library, method, and a computer program product manage categories of physical media volumes, which may store stacked logical volumes, in partitions of the library. A media sensor senses the VOLSER identifier of thee physical media volumes at an input station. A library manager is provided, having a computer processor. Upon receipt of a physical media volume at the input station, the library manager receives the sensed VOLSER of the physical media volume; places the physical media volume in an “UNASSIGNED” category of an inventory; and sends a message at an interface to a host system, the message identifying the sensed VOLSER and indicating that the physical media volume has transitioned to the “UNASSIGNED” category.

Abstract: A storage management system, apparatus, and method to increase the storage capacity of data storage media. Applicants' method uses a data storage device comprising a fixed device architecture, where that data storage device is capable of operating in a first capacity mode or in a second capacity mode, and where that data storage device is capable of switching between the first capacity mode and the second capacity mode. In certain embodiments, the first capacity mode utilizes a 22 bit blockid format and the second capacity mode utilizes a 32 bit blockid format. In other embodiments, the first capacity mode utilizes a 32 bit blockid format and the second capacity mode utilizes a 22 bit blockid format.