Abstract: A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library, the at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame, wherein the at least one library frame has at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system also includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame, a library controller, and at least one louver, where the louver may be selectively moveable to control a communication pathway for external air to enter the at least one library frame. In one embodiment, the at least one louver may be controlled by the library controller to automatically open when it is detected that the one or more access doors are opened, and to close the louver when the one or more access doors are closed.

Abstract: A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame and at least one environmental conditioning unit, the at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system further includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the data storage library, a library controller, and at least one warning indicator associated with the data storage library and in electronic communication with the library controller. The at least one warning indicator is configured to provide an indication to an operator when the conditions within the data storage library are such that the at least one access door may be opened and when the conditions within the data storage library are such that the access door should not be opened.

Abstract: A data storage library system includes a data storage library having at least one library frame, at least one environmental conditioning unit associated with the data storage library and configured to control one or more interior environmental conditions within the at least one library frame, and at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame. The system also includes a library controller configured to initiate a service mode prior to and/or during a service procedure performed within the at least one library frame, wherein the service mode comprises configuring the at least one environmental conditioning unit to adjust the one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame toward one or more exterior environmental conditions outside of the data storage library. Optionally, a lock and/or indicator (visual and/or audible) may control access to the interior of the library frames.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge, 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 of a tape cartridge. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the tape cartridge. 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 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: A data storage library system includes a data storage library having at least one library frame, at least one environmental conditioning unit associated with the data storage library and configured to control one or more interior environmental conditions within the at least one library frame, and at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame. The system also includes a library controller configured to initiate a service mode prior to and/or during a service procedure performed within the at least one library frame, wherein the service mode comprises configuring the at least one environmental conditioning unit to adjust the one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame toward one or more exterior environmental conditions outside of the data storage library. Optionally, a lock and/or indicator (visual and/or audible) may control access to the interior of the library frames.

Abstract: A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame and at least one environmental conditioning unit, the at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system further includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the data storage library, a library controller, and at least one warning indicator associated with the data storage library and in electronic communication with the library controller. The at least one warning indicator is configured to provide an indication to an operator when the conditions within the data storage library are such that the at least one access door may be opened and when the conditions within the data storage library are such that the access door should not be opened.

Abstract: A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library, the at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame, wherein the at least one library frame has at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system also includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame, a library controller, and at least one louver, where the louver may be selectively moveable to control a communication pathway for external air to enter the at least one library frame. In one embodiment, the at least one louver may be controlled by the library controller to automatically open when it is detected that the one or more access doors are opened, and to close the louver when the one or more access doors are closed.

Abstract: A data storage library system includes a data storage library having at least one library frame, at least one environmental conditioning unit associated with the data storage library and configured to control one or more interior environmental conditions within the at least one library frame, and at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame. The system also includes a library controller configured to initiate a service mode prior to and/or during a service procedure performed within the at least one library frame, wherein the service mode comprises configuring the at least one environmental conditioning unit to adjust the one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame toward one or more exterior environmental conditions outside of the data storage library. Optionally, a lock and/or indicator (visual and/or audible) may control access to the interior of the library frames.

Abstract: A tape drive, according to one embodiment, includes: a processor, and logic which is integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor. The logic is configured to: determine whether a difference between information and corresponding design values is in a range. The information corresponds to how an array of writers write and/or are expected to write to a magnetic medium during shingled recording. Moreover, the logic is configured to: compute, using the information, data describing a lateral writing position to use during writing such that shingled track edges are aligned according to a format in response to determining that the difference between the information and corresponding design values is not in the range.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving data logically organized into a predetermined number of two-dimensional arrays, each two-dimensional array including a plurality of NS codewords positioned orthogonally to a plurality of WS codewords. The method also includes successively writing each of the NS codewords to a data storage medium. A first NS codeword from a first two-dimensional array is written to the data storage medium prior to starting to write a second NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array. Also, the plurality of NS codewords are protected with a stronger encoding than the plurality of WS codewords.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: determining, by the computer, whether a difference between information and corresponding design values is in a range. The information corresponds to how an array of writers write and/or are expected to write to a magnetic medium during shingled recording. Moreover, the computer-implemented method further includes: computing, by the computer and using the information, data describing a lateral writing position to use during writing such that shingled track edges are aligned according to a format in response to determining that the difference between the information and corresponding design values is not in the range.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data to store to a magnetic tape medium using a tape drive, the data being organized into a predetermined number of two-dimensional arrays, each two-dimensional array including a plurality of narrow-spread (NS) codewords positioned orthogonally to a plurality of wide-spread (WS) codewords (relative spread referring to space occupied on the magnetic tape medium when written). The method also includes successively writing each of the NS codewords onto a plurality of tracks of the magnetic tape medium using a first number of channels of the tape drive capable of writing data to tape tracks simultaneously. A first NS codeword from a first two-dimensional array is completely written to the magnetic tape medium prior to starting to write a second NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array. Also, the plurality of NS codewords are protected with a stronger encoding than the plurality of WS codewords.

Abstract: A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a read error, determining whether a current tension setting of the magnetic tape is accurate, determining whether the read error is part of an error burst in response to determining that the current tension setting of the magnetic tape is accurate, sending instructions to perform a first re-read attempt in response to determining that the read error is not part of an error burst, determining whether the first re-read attempt was performed successfully, selecting a range of tension settings in response to determining that the first re-read attempt was not performed successfully, selecting a range of lateral offsets, sending instructions to apply each unique combination of tension settings and lateral offsets, for each of the unique combinations applied, sending instructions to perform a second phase re-read attempt, and determining whether the second phase re-read attempt was performed successfully.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: determining a reading performance of a head at a commanded lateral reading location; adjusting a location of the head relative to a medium by moving the head in a first lateral direction to an adjusted lateral reading location; determining a reading performance of the head at the adjusted lateral reading location, and determining whether the reading performance at the adjusted lateral reading location is better than the reading performance at the commanded lateral reading location. In response to determining the reading performance is better at the adjusted reading location, the method includes iteratively repeating the adjustment of the location of the head until the reading performance of the head at a current iteration is worse than the reading performance of the head at an immediately previous iteration. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: collecting performance data corresponding to a tape drive and/or a magnetic tape head, storing the performance data in memory, and using the data to perform problem analysis. The performance data includes a resistance of the tape drive and/or magnetic tape head and a resolution of the tape drive and/or the magnetic tape head. Moreover, performing the problem analysis includes: determining a condition of the tape drive and/or the magnetic tape head, wherein the condition is selected from a group consisting of: wear, corrosion, defective leads and wire bonds. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes reading a plurality of narrow-spread (NS) codewords from M tracks of a magnetic tape medium using a plurality of read elements, the plurality of NS codewords collectively comprising data logically organized as a predetermined number of two-dimensional arrays. Each two-dimensional array includes a predetermined number of NS codewords positioned orthogonally to a predetermined number of wide-spread (WS) codewords, with a first NS codeword from a first two-dimensional array being read in its entirety from the magnetic tape medium prior to reading a second NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array. The method also includes laterally decoding each NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array read from the M tracks of the magnetic tape medium in succession prior to decoding any WS codewords from the first two-dimensional array. The NS codewords are protected with a stronger encoding than the WS codewords within each two-dimensional array.

Abstract: A data storage library system includes a data storage library having at least one library frame, at least one environmental conditioning unit associated with the data storage library and configured to control one or more interior environmental conditions within the at least one library frame, and at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame. The system also includes a library controller configured to initiate a service mode prior to and/or during a service procedure performed within the at least one library frame, wherein the service mode comprises configuring the at least one environmental conditioning unit to adjust the one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame toward one or more exterior environmental conditions outside of the data storage library. Optionally, a lock and/or indicator (visual and/or audible) may control access to the interior of the library frames.

Abstract: A data storage library system includes a data storage library, at least one environmental conditioning unit, at least one data storage drive retained within the data storage library, and at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the data storage library. The system also includes a library controller, wherein the library controller is configured to initiate a service mode prior to and during a service procedure performed within the data storage library, and further wherein at least one operational state within the at least one data storage drive is changed during the service mode. The change in the at least one operational state may be, for example, an increase in temperature within the at least one data storage drive, or the insertion of a data storage cartridge into the at least one data storage drive during the service mode.

Abstract: A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library, the at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame, wherein the at least one library frame has at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system also includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame, a library controller, and at least one louver, where the louver may be selectively moveable to control a communication pathway for external air to enter the at least one library frame. In one embodiment, the at least one louver may be controlled by the library controller to automatically open when it is detected that the one or more access doors are opened, and to close the louver when the one or more access doors are closed.