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: A method for collecting information about the operating condition of a computer system. The method comprises the steps of running a first trace program that collects information about the operating condition of the computer and, in response to the detection of an error in the operating condition of the data storage system by the first program, determining whether a first flag is on or off. The first flag indicates whether or not a second trace program should be run. If the first flag is on, the second program is run. The second trace program is designed to collect different information about the operating condition of the computer system than the first trace program collects.