Abstract: An automated data storage library with storage shelves, data storage drive(s), a bus bar; and a robot accessor with a drive system for moving the robot accessor, an accessor communication interface, a bus bar relay configured to engage and disengage the bus bar; and a robot control configured to operate the drive system to move the robot accessor, to operate a picker, and to operate the bus bar relay to engage the bus bar when the robot accessor is stationary, to provide communication capability with a library communication interface via the bus bar relay and the bus bar when the bus bar relay engages the bus bar. Additionally, a second communication system may be provided between the robot accessor and the automated data storage library, which is operable at least when the robot accessor is moving.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for asymmetric maximum likelihood detection. An initialization module initializes a plurality of branch metrics and a plurality of path memories. A coefficient module calculates a plurality of coefficients. A computation module calculates a first and second specified likelihood function. A selection module calculates a third specified branch metric as the maximum of the first and second specified likelihood functions. A path metrics module calculates a third specified path memory from a first and second specified path memory. A results module identifies a data output value from one or more path memories.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for writing data in a tape medium having wraps. A layout of the tape is provided including at least one segment within a full length of first set of wraps for writing user data and at least one segment within a full length of a second set of wraps for writing a work copy of the user data. User data is received to write to the tape medium. Detection is made of whether data writing is occurring in a specified write mode. A work copy is written to available segments in the second set of wraps not having user data in response to the data writing occurring in the specified write mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for eliminating access to data on removable storage media of a removable storage media cartridge. A key is stored on the removable storage media cartridge, such that data on the removable storage media is accessible with the key. Upon receiving a command to eliminate access to data on the removable storage media the key is shredded such that access to data on the removable storage media is eliminated.

Abstract: A system and a computer program product are disclosed for eliminating access to data on removable storage media of a removable storage media cartridge. The system comprises a data storage drive that stores a key on the removable storage media cartridge, such that data on the removable storage media is accessible with the key. Upon receiving a command to eliminate access to data on the removable storage media the data storage drive shreds the key such that access to data on the removable storage media is eliminated.

Abstract: A system is provided to perform a key path diagnostic that aids in isolating an error within the encryption storage system. The system includes at least one drive, a key proxy, a key server, a key manager, and a processor. The processor performs a first communication test on a path between the key proxy and the drive. The first communication test verifies that the path between the drive and the key proxy is operational. The processor performs a second communication test on a path between the key proxy and the key server. The second communication test verifies that the path between the key proxy and the key server is operational. In addition, processor sends a command to the key manager to attempt communication with the key manager. The communication attempt verifies the installation and configuration parameters related to the key manager.

Abstract: A method and a computer program product are provided to perform a key path diagnostic that aids in isolating an error within the encryption storage system. A first communication test is performed on a path between the key proxy and the drive. The first communication test verifies that the path between the drive and the key proxy is operational. A second communication test is performed on a path between the key proxy and the key server. The second communication test verifies that the path between the key proxy and the key server is operational. In addition, the drive or the key proxy sends a command to the key manager to attempt communication with the key manager. The communication attempt verifies the installation and configuration parameters related to the key manager.

Abstract: A method, a system and a computer program product are provided to auto configure a drive list. When information is received for a drive, the key manager compares the information to drive information on a drive list. If the drive is not on the drive list the drive list is auto configured by adding the drive to the drive list. By adding the drive to the drive list the drive is able to obtain keys from the key manager to perform encryption and decryption.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge, a recording system, and a magnetic tape drive are configured to, for example, guard against tampering with a write once overwrite protection pointer which allows a rewritable magnetic tape to be treated as write once. In one embodiment, the magnetic tape cartridge comprises a magnetic tape and a cartridge memory. The magnetic tape is configured to provide at least one overwrite protection pointer, the overwrite protection pointer identifying data to be protected from being overwritten; and the cartridge memory is configured to provide the at least one overwrite protection pointer, the overwrite protection pointer identifying magnetic tape data to be protected from being overwritten.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge, a recording system, and a magnetic tape drive are configured to, for example, guard against tampering with a write once overwrite protection pointer which allows a rewritable magnetic tape to be treated as write once. In one embodiment, the magnetic tape cartridge comprises a magnetic tape and a cartridge memory. The magnetic tape is configured to provide at least one overwrite protection pointer, the overwrite protection pointer identifying data to be protected from being overwritten; and the cartridge memory is configured to provide the at least one overwrite protection pointer, the overwrite protection pointer identifying magnetic tape data to be protected from being overwritten.

Abstract: A method, system and program are disclosed for efficiently processing host data which comprises encrypted and non-encrypted data and is to be written to a storage medium. The encrypted data is written to the storage medium in encrypted form. The non-encrypted data is encrypted by a storage device using a well known encryption key and written to the storage medium. In this way, the data that is processed by the storage device to and from the storage medium can always be processed through a single encryption engine.

Abstract: Magnetic tape read channel signal values are developed employing intermediate bits of the path memory of a PRML Viterbi detector. Identification logic identifies a most likely path memory state of the PRML Viterbi detector from the path metrics of the PRML Viterbi detector. An intermediate bit sequence of the identified most likely path memory state is obtained, the intermediate bit sequence extending from an initiation point of the path memory which is intermediate the output and the input of the PRML Viterbi detector. A sample value is determined which corresponds to the obtained intermediate bit sequence.

Abstract: Provided is a read channel, storage drive, and method to process signals read from a storage medium. At least one data channel including an interpolator and equalizer and a servo channel includes an interpolator. A timing recovery function processes a timing error from the interpolator in the servo channel to calculate interpolation timing information used by the interpolator to interpolate a servo channel signal. A path is coupled to the timing recovery function and the interpolator in the at least one data channel to communicate the interpolation timing information to the interpolator in the at least one data channel. The interpolator in the at least one data channel is configured to use the interpolation timing information to interpolate an asynchronous data channel signal.

Abstract: Magnetic tape read channel signal values are developed employing intermediate bits of the path memory of a PRML Viterbi detector. Identification logic identifies a most likely path memory state of the PRML Viterbi detector from the path metrics of the PRML Viterbi detector. An intermediate bit sequence of the identified most likely path memory state is obtained, the intermediate bit sequence extending from an initiation point of the path memory which is intermediate the output and the input of the PRML Viterbi detector. A sample value is determined which corresponds to the obtained intermediate bit sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for self-describing, heterogeneous magnetic tape formatting. A detection module determines if data is to be encrypted when written to a magnetic tape in response to a host command and if the data is already encrypted. An encryption module encrypts the data if the data is to be encrypted and if the data is not already encrypted. A write module writes a reserved codeword followed by the data to the magnetic tape wherein the reserved codeword is configured as an encryption reserved codeword if the data is encrypted. If the data is not encrypted, the reserved codeword is configured as a clear reserved codeword. The encrypted and unencrypted data segments are intermixed on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer programs are provided for multiplication-free identification of the impulse response of an oversampled data channel. An input comprising a pseudo-random binary sequence of L symbols is supplied to the channel at a symbol rate of 1/T. A channel output is produced by sampling a channel output signal corresponding to the input with a sampling interval TS=(q/p)T, where q and p are relative prime integers with q<p, and q and L are relative prime integers. p polyphase sequences are produced from the channel output by selecting, for each polyphase sequence, every pth sample of the channel output, with a phase shift of one sample between successive polyphase sequences). A decimated binary sequence is produced by selecting every qth symbol of the channel input. Each polyphase sequence is correlated with the decimated binary sequence, the two possible binary values being of equal magnitude and opposite sign for the correlation.

Abstract: Access to encrypted data on a removable computer media such as a computer tape is controlled via a uniquely-structured header on the medium having a symmetrical key wrapped by asymmetrical encryption plus a public key associated with the asymmetrical encryption. The data on the medium is encrypted using the symmetrical key. Prior to automated reading of the data by a reader, a challenge is issued to a host system including the public key and preferably a nonce value. The host responds by signing the nonce using a private key associated with the public key in order to prove it has rights to decrypt the data. The symmetrical key is unwrapped using the private key, and finally the unwrapped symmetrical key is used to decrypt the data on the medium, thereby allowing automated reading of the tape data without the need or risk of two administrators sharing a symmetrical key value.

Abstract: An error correction code system, e.g. of a magnetic tape drive, applies error correction redundancy to data, separates it, or interleaves it, and records it into separate groups. An error correction encoder applies an outer error correction code to one of the separate groups of information, forming one set of rows of information and outer ECC information. An error correction encoder applies an outer error correction code to another separate group of information, forming another set of rows of information and outer ECC information. A data organizer interleaves the one set of rows of information and outer ECC information with the another set of rows of information and outer ECC information for recording on tracks of a recording media in an interleaved pattern of one set of rows of information and outer ECC information with another set of rows of information and outer ECC information.

Abstract: A read channel equalizer of a magnetic tape drive which equalizes digitally sampled magnetic signals detected by a read head is dynamically adapted. A detector of equalizer dynamic adaptation logic compares equalizer output signals to desired values that are based on the decoding scheme (such as +2, 0 and ?2 for PR4) to sense equalizer output signals that are offset from at least one desired value, and signals the fact of each offset and it polarity as amplitude independent error signals. The signaled sensed amplitude independent error signals are fed back to adjustable taps of the equalizer. The simplified error signals thus avoid complex calculations of waveform errors, such as least mean square calculations. The error signals may be weighted and may be adjusted to align synchronously provided error signals with asynchronous taps of the equalizer.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture in which a non-reversible signature of a symmetric cryptographic key is computed, wherein the symmetric cryptographic key is used to symmetrically encrypt data at rest in a storage device. The non-reversible signature is stored in association with the symmetrically encrypted data at rest in the storage device. The non-reversible signature is used to determine validity of a cryptographic key provided by a host for accessing the symmetrically encrypted data at rest in the storage device.