Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving metadata corresponding to data on a removable storage device/medium, storing the metadata to a metadata repository that is not on the removable storage device/medium, associating an identifier with the stored metadata (the identifier corresponding to the removable storage medium/device), and storing the identifier to the metadata repository. According to another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith. The computer readable program code comprises computer readable program code configured to: receive metadata corresponding to data on a removable storage device/medium, store the metadata to a metadata repository, associate an identifier corresponding to the removable storage device/medium with the stored metadata, and store the identifier to the metadata repository. Other methods, systems, and devices are presented as well.

Abstract: A method for determining volume coherency is disclosed herein. Upon completing a first write job to a volume partition, the method makes a copy of a volume change reference (VCR) value associated with the volume. The VCR value is configured to change in a non-repeating manner each time content on the volume is modified. Prior to initiating a second write job to the volume partition, the method retrieves the copy and compares the copy to the VCR value. If the copy matches the VCR value, the method determines that a logical object on the partition was not modified between the first and second write jobs. If the copy does not match the VCR value, the method determines that the logical object on the partition was modified between the first and second write jobs. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A non-volatile redundant verifiable indication of data storage status is provided with respect to data storage operations conducted with respect to removable data storage media, and store the indication with an auxiliary non-volatile memory of the data storage media, such that the indication stays with the media. At least one state value indicating the status of the data storage operation is written to one page of the auxiliary non-volatile memory, and a redundancy check is provided with respect to at least the written state value of the one page of the auxiliary non-volatile memory; and the same state value is written to a second page of the auxiliary non-volatile memory, and a redundancy check is provided with respect to at least the written state value of the second page of the auxiliary non-volatile memory. The redundancy checks indicate the validity of the state values.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer program product embodiments for recording data on a contactless integrated circuit (IC) memory associated with a data storage cartridge are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an index of a plurality of files to be recorded on a storage media of the data storage cartridge is parsed with a table of contents (TOC) profile file to build a table of contents (TOC) specific to an owning application of the plurality of files. The TOC is written to the contactless IC memory.

Abstract: Methods, logic, apparatus and computer program product write data, comprising less than a full Data Set, to magnetic tape. Data is received from a host, a do-not-interleave command is issued and C1 and C2 ECC are computed. Codeword Quad (CQ) sets are then formed. At least one CQ set of the Data Set is written to a magnetic tape in a non-interleaved manner and a Data Set Information Table (DSIT) is written to the magnetic tape immediately following the at least one written CQ set. An address transformation may be used to cancel interleaving. Writing a CQ set may include writing a plurality of contiguous instances of the CQ set to the magnetic tape to maintain the effectiveness of ECC capability.

Abstract: A tape system is provided with an encryption capable tape drive and an encryption enabled tape drive device driver for the encryption capable tape drive. The encryption enabled tape drive device driver functions as a proxy which connects the encryption capable tape drive to a key manager which serves keys to the tape drive. When the encryption capable device driver causes a command to be sent to the drive, the tape drive is configured to respond with a message that is intended for a key manager such as an External Key Manager (EKM). The encryption capable device driver recognizes that this is a message intended for the EKM and forwards that message to the EKM (e.g., via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection). The EKM then responds to the key request by issuing a new key (for a new cartridge which is to be written from beginning of tape (BOT)) or an existing key (for a cartridge which needs to be read).

Abstract: An automated data storage library employing a media accessor, an optical disk drive and a removable disk media. The media accessor includes a cartridge shell gripper. The optical disk drive includes a tape cartridge slot. The removable disk media includes a tape cartridge shell having a structural configuration operable to be physically engaged by the cartridge shell gripper and operable to be physically inserted into the tape cartridge slot by the cartridge shell gripper. The removable disk media further includes one or more optical disks disposed within the tape cartridge shell. A recording surface of each optical disk is extractable, partially or entirely, from the tape cartridge shell by the optical disk drive for writing data onto the optical disk and/or reading data from the optical disk.

Abstract: Various embodiments for writing data in a tape medium having wraps by a tape drive are provided. The tape drive allocates the wraps in a shingled data band between two or more data partitions. A set of contiguous wraps is allocated to one data partition of the two or more data partitions. An additional set of contiguous wraps is allocated to an additional data partition of the two or more data partitions. A minimum buffer is retained between the set and the additional set of contiguous wraps of at least one wrap per direction written within at least one data band shared between the one and the additional data partitions such that the one and the additional data partitions may be written to by the tape drive independently of each other.

Abstract: A method, system, and machine-readable medium for controlling access to data of a tape data storage medium are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided which comprises conveying data access control metadata from a tape cartridge comprising a tape data storage medium to a host, receiving decrypted metadata from the host, comparing a checksum value determined utilizing the decrypted metadata with checksum data stored within the tape cartridge; and processing a request to access the tape data storage medium received from the host based upon a comparison of the checksum value and checksum data. In the described method embodiment, the data access control metadata comprises encrypted metadata corresponding to a data storage parameter, where data is stored within the tape data storage medium utilizing the data storage parameter and the decrypted metadata is generated by the host utilizing the encrypted metadata.

Abstract: Methods, logic, apparatus and computer program product write data, comprising less than a full Data Set, to magnetic tape. Data is received from a host, a do-not-interleave command is issued and C1 and C2 ECC are computed. Codeword Quad (CQ) sets are then formed. At least one CQ set of the Data Set is written to a magnetic tape in a non-interleaved manner and a Data Set Information Table (DSIT) is written to the magnetic tape immediately following the at least one written CQ set. An address transformation may be used to cancel interleaving. Writing a CQ set may include writing a plurality of contiguous instances of the CQ set to the magnetic tape to maintain the effectiveness of ECC capability.

Abstract: An automated data storage library accesses data stored on storage media contained in cartridges in response to commands from an external host. The cartridges include cartridge memory and a component in the library includes a cartridge memory interface for reading data from and/or writing data to the cartridge memory. When a cartridge is to be stored in the library, the library modifies the contents of the cartridge memory such that the data stored on the cartridge becomes inaccessible, thereby preventing access to the data outside of the library. To perform an authorized access, the library restores the contents of the cartridge memory or provides a correction or correction algorithm to allow access to the data without removing the access protection of the storage media. The cartridge memory may also or alternatively include an identifier which permits access to the data only by the identified physical and/or logical library(s).

Abstract: A read channel and method using that read channel are disclosed. The read channel comprises an analog to digital converter which asynchronously samples at a fixed rate an analog signal formed by reading a data track, where that data track was written to a data storage medium at a symbol rate and an interpolator interconnected with the analog to digital converter. The read channel further comprises a fractionally-spaced equalizer, where the interpolator provides an interpolated signal to the fractionally-spaced equalizer at an interpolation rate, where that interpolation rate is greater than the symbol rate. The fractionally-spaced equalizer forms a synchronous equalized signal. The read channel further comprises a gain control module interconnected with the fractionally-spaced equalizer, and a sequence detector interconnected with the gain control module.

Abstract: Apparatus and computer program products are provided to monitor and report performance data of a device such as a data storage drive. A plurality of quantitative values are obtained from feedback and measurement mechanisms in a data storage device of a first model during operation of the storage device. The plurality of quantitative values are normalized. Then, one or more qualitative values are generated from one or more normalized quantitative values and evaluated against corresponding baseline performance values established for the first model.

Abstract: A cartridge handling system and method are provided to initialize a data storage cartridge having rewritable media and a cartridge memory for tamper resistant write once recording. During initialization of the cartridge for write once recording, selected data set information table fields of each data set are scrambled. The scrambling algorithm may employ a random number generator seeded with a unique cartridge identifier. The fields thus becomes unreadable if the unique identifier is changed, such as if the cartridge memory of the cartridge has been altered or replaced.

Abstract: Methods are provided to monitor and report performance data of a device such as a data storage drive. A plurality of quantitative values are obtained from feedback and measurement mechanisms in a data storage device of a first model during operation of the storage device. The plurality of quantitative values are normalized. Then, one or more qualitative values are generated from one or more normalized quantitative values and evaluated against corresponding baseline performance values established for the first model.

Abstract: Apparatus and computer program products are provided to monitor and report performance data of a device such as a data storage drive. A plurality of quantitative values are obtained from feedback and measurement mechanisms in a data storage device of a first model during operation of the storage device. The plurality of quantitative values are normalized. Then, one or more qualitative values are generated from one or more normalized quantitative values and evaluated against corresponding baseline performance values established for the first model.

Abstract: A method, system and program are provided for enabling selective access to multiple users' encrypted data in a single storage cartridge. A unique, derived key is generated for each user's data by performing cryptographic operations on a combination of a common base key and metadata related to the data to be encrypted (e.g. its total block count). The base data key is wrapped with one or more encryption keys to form one or more encryption encapsulated data keys (EEDKs). The base key and the derived key are wrapped to create a session encrypted data key (SEDK), which along with the EEDKs, are conveyed to the tape drive, where the SEDK is decrypted. The EEDKs are then stored in one or more places on the storage cartridge. The base key and the derived key are used to encrypt a predetermined user's data, with the derived key stored on the cartridge with the encrypted data. The encrypted data may be subsequently decrypted by retrieving the EEDK and decrypting it with a decryption key to extract the base data key.

Abstract: A method, system and program are provided for enabling selective access to multiple users' encrypted data in a single storage cartridge. A unique, derived key is generated for each user's data by performing cryptographic operations on a combination of a common base key and metadata related to the data to be encrypted (e.g. its total block count). The base data key is wrapped with one or more encryption keys to form one or more encryption encapsulated data keys (EEDKs). The base key and the derived key are wrapped to create a session encrypted data key (SEDK), which along with the EEDKs, are conveyed to the tape drive, where the SEDK is decrypted. The EEDKs are then stored in one or more places on the storage cartridge. The base key and the derived key are used to encrypt a predetermined user's data, with the derived key stored on the cartridge with the encrypted data. The encrypted data may be subsequently decrypted by retrieving the EEDK and decrypting it with a decryption key to extract the base data key.

Abstract: A read channel and method using that read channel are disclosed. The read channel comprises an analog to digital converter which asynchronously samples at a fixed rate an analog signal formed by reading a data track, where that data track was written to a data storage medium at a symbol rate and an interpolator interconnected with the analog to digital converter. The read channel further comprises a fractionally-spaced equalizer, where the interpolator provides an interpolated signal to the fractionally-spaced equalizer at an interpolation rate, where that interpolation rate is greater than the symbol rate. The fractionally-spaced equalizer forms a synchronous equalized signal. The read channel further comprises a gain control module interconnected with the fractionally-spaced equalizer, and a sequence detector interconnected with the gain control module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing error correction capability to longitudinal position data are disclosed. Initially, data are encoded via a set of even LPOS words and a set of odd LPOS words. The encoded data are then decoded by generating a set of syndrome bits for each of the LPOS words. A determination is then made as to whether or not there is an error within one of the LPOS words based on its corresponding syndrome bits.