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: In one general embodiment, a tape drive system includes: a read channel; a write channel; logic configured to receiving a request for a write operation to be performed in a tape drive; logic configured to determine an optimum a write procedure in response to receiving the request, the determining being based on expected writing times of each of a plurality of write procedures and an expected transaction size of a next write operation; and logic configured to invoke the determined optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure.

Abstract: A data storage library system and method comprising at least one data storage library, the at least one data storage library comprising one or more library frames associated with the one or more library frames and at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the one or more library frames. At least one component locker is housed in an interior portion of the one or more library frames, and the at least one component locker is configured to retain one or more replacement components for use in the at least one data storage library.

Abstract: A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions executable by a tape drive to cause the tape drive to perform a method comprising: receiving, at the tape drive, a request for a write operation to be performed in the tape drive; determining, by the tape drive, an expected transaction size of a next write operation; comparing, by the tape drive, the expected transaction size of the next write operation to each of a first transaction size threshold and a second transaction size threshold in response to receiving the request; determining, by the tape drive, an optimum a write procedure based at least in part on the comparison; and invoking, by the tape drive, the optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure.

Abstract: A computer program product for implementing write procedures using an estimated best setting in a first run, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions executable by a tape drive to cause the tape drive to perform a method comprising: receiving, at the tape drive, a request for a write operation to be performed in the tape drive; determining, by the tape drive, a capacity margin ratio of the tape drive; determining an optimum a write procedure based at least in part on the capacity margin ratio; and invoking the optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure. The optimum write procedure is selected from the group consisting of: a backhitch write procedure, a same wrap backhitchless flush (SWBF) write procedure, and a recursively accumulating backhitchless flush (RABF) write procedure.

Abstract: A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions executable by a tape drive to cause the tape drive to perform a method comprising: receiving, at the tape drive, a request for a write operation to be performed in the tape drive; determining, by the tape drive, an expected transaction size of a next write operation; comparing, by the tape drive, the expected transaction size of the next write operation to each of a first transaction size threshold and a second transaction size threshold in response to receiving the request; determining, by the tape drive, an optimum a write procedure based at least in part on the comparison; and invoking, by the tape drive, the optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a write operation to be performed in a tape drive, determining an expected transaction size of a next write operation, comparing the expected transaction size of the next write operation to each of a first transaction size threshold and a second transaction size threshold in response to receiving the request, determining an optimum a write procedure based at least in part on the comparison, and invoking the optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure, wherein the first transaction size threshold is greater than the second transaction size threshold, and wherein the optimum write procedure is selected from the group consisting of: a backhitch write procedure, a same wrap backhitchless flush (SWBF) write procedure, and a recursively accumulating backhitchless flush (RABF) write procedure.

Abstract: A method for dynamically changing a buffer threshold in a tape drive, according to another embodiment, includes monitoring a history of sizes of data transactions between sync commands, the data transactions being from a host to a tape drive, determining that a next sync command is expected to be received relatively sooner or relatively later based on the history of data size transactions, writing buffered data to a magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively sooner, and increasing a buffer threshold for delaying writing to the magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively later. A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a processor to perform the foregoing method.

Abstract: A method for dynamically changing a buffer threshold in a tape drive, according to another embodiment, includes monitoring a history of sizes of data transactions between sync commands, the data transactions being from a host to a tape drive, determining that a next sync command is expected to be received relatively sooner or relatively later based on the history of data size transactions, writing buffered data to a magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively sooner, and increasing a buffer threshold for delaying writing to the magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively later. A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a processor to perform the foregoing method.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for dynamically changing a buffer threshold in a tape drive includes determining that a drive buffer is emptied of data, calculating a write size indicating an amount of data from a transaction size left to be written to a tape prior to a next anticipated sync command, setting a buffer threshold that triggers a back hitch to a smaller value when the transaction size is less than a buffer size, setting the buffer threshold to the smaller value when an absolute difference between the transaction size and the write size is greater than or equal to the buffer size, and setting the buffer threshold to a larger value when the transaction size is not less than the buffer size and/or the absolute difference between the transaction size and the write size is less than the buffer size.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a write operation to be performed in a tape drive; determining a capacity margin ratio of the tape drive; determining an optimum a write procedure based at least in part on the capacity margin ratio; and invoking the optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure. The optimum write procedure is selected from the group consisting of: a backhitch write procedure, a same wrap backhitchless flush (SWBF) write procedure, and a recursively accumulating backhitchless flush (RABF) write procedure. Systems and computer program products configured to perform similar techniques are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for re-conveying input/output (I/O) operations utilizing a sequential-access data storage device secondary communication port are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided which comprises receiving an input/output (I/O) operation request via a first communication port of a primary data storage device, processing the I/O operation request utilizing the primary data storage device, and re-conveying the I/O operation request to a secondary data storage device substantially simultaneously with the processing via a second communication port of the primary data storage device. In the described embodiment, the primary data storage device comprises a sequential-access data storage device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape drive includes a drive buffer, a processor, and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to cause the processor to: receive a list including: user data segments recorded on tape media, wherein the user data segments are arranged in the list according to a predetermined order, and information associated with each user data segment, wherein the information includes a description of a physical location of each of the user data segments on the tape media. The logic is further configured to cause the processor to locate each of the user data segments on the tape media according to the order in the list, read each of the user data segments from the tape media according to the order in the list, and write each of the user data segments to a buffer according to the order in the list.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a write operation to be performed in a tape drive; determining a capacity margin ratio of the tape drive; determining an optimum a write procedure based at least in part on the capacity margin ratio; and invoking the optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure. The optimum write procedure is selected from the group consisting of: a backhitch write procedure, a same wrap backhitchless flush (SWBF) write procedure, and a recursively accumulating backhitchless flush (RABF) write procedure. Systems and computer program products configured to perform similar techniques are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape drive includes a drive buffer, a processor, and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to cause the processor to: receive a list including: user data segments recorded on tape media, wherein the user data segments are arranged in the list according to a predetermined order, and information associated with each user data segment, wherein the information includes a description of a physical location of each of the user data segments on the tape media. The logic is further configured to cause the processor to locate each of the user data segments on the tape media according to the order in the list, read each of the user data segments from the tape media according to the order in the list, and write each of the user data segments to a buffer according to the order in the list.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for dynamically changing a buffer threshold in a tape drive includes determining that a drive buffer is emptied of data, calculating a write size indicating an amount of data from a transaction size left to be written to a tape prior to a next anticipated sync command, setting a buffer threshold that triggers a back hitch to a smaller value when the transaction size is less than a buffer size, setting the buffer threshold to the smaller value when an absolute difference between the transaction size and the write size is greater than or equal to the buffer size, and setting the buffer threshold to a larger value when the transaction size is not less than the buffer size and/or the absolute difference between the transaction size and the write size is less than the buffer size.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a tape drive system includes: a read channel; a write channel; logic configured to receiving a request for a write operation to be performed in a tape drive; logic configured to determine an optimum a write procedure in response to receiving the request, the determining being based on expected writing times of each of a plurality of write procedures and an expected transaction size of a next write operation; and logic configured to invoke the determined optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a write operation to be performed in a tape drive, determining an expected transaction size of a next write operation, comparing the expected transaction size of the next write operation to each of a first transaction size threshold and a second transaction size threshold in response to receiving the request, determining an optimum a write procedure based at least in part on the comparison, and invoking the optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure, wherein the first transaction size threshold is greater than the second transaction size threshold, and wherein the optimum write procedure is selected from the group consisting of: a backhitch write procedure, a same wrap backhitchless flush (SWBF) write procedure, and a recursively accumulating backhitchless flush (RABF) write procedure.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes receiving a command to perform at least one of a refresh operation and a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; mounting the media cartridge in a tape drive; starting execution of the refresh and/or verification operation; aborting execution of the refresh and/or verification operation upon occurrence of a predetermined event. A method in another embodiment includes receiving an instruction to perform a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; unwrapping at least some of the tape from the spool; after the unwrapping, wrapping at least some of the tape back onto the spool; during at least one of the unwrapping and wrapping, performing a verification operation; terminating execution of the verification operation when a drive error is detected; outputting an indication of a media error when a media error is encountered.