Abstract: Disclosed is a method of storing data on a tape medium in at least one data recording session employing a tape drive apparatus operable to record the data in accordance with a format specifying an unused area of the tape medium. The method comprises formatting the tape medium according to the format, and recording a tape medium identifier in the specified unused area of the tape medium.

Abstract: A tape drive apparatus is for a tape medium having a magnetic segment for magnetically transducing information and an identification segment carrying a medium identification pattern and a segment identification pattern. The tape drive apparatus has a data transfer apparatus configured to transfer data between the tape medium and the tape drive apparatus, a reader configured to read a signal representative of the identification segment, a detector configured to detect the segment identification pattern in the signal, and a decoder configured to decode the medium identification pattern in response to the detection of the segment identification pattern.

Abstract: A tape medium has an identification segment located on a transparent leader segment of the tape medium for optical detection of the segment identification pattern. The segment identification pattern and the medium identification pattern have a predefined spatial relationship, enabling photo-optical detection of the segment identification pattern and reading of the medium identification pattern. The medium identification pattern carries various medium identification information, such as tape manufacturer, tape serial number and a tape medium property.

Abstract: A method of processing data comprising arranging data into a data group comprising a plurality of sub groups each said subgroup comprising a plurality of columns; for each column, determining at least one checksum data of said column; and for each column, storing the checksum data of that column within at least one said subgroup of the group, other than the subgroup to which said column belongs.

Abstract: A tape medium has an identification segment located on a transparent leader segment of the tape medium for optical detection of the segment identification pattern. The segment identification pattern and the medium identification pattern have a predefined spatial relationship, enabling photo-optical detection of the segment identification pattern and reading of the medium identification pattern. The medium identification pattern carries various medium identification information, such as tape manufacturer, tape serial number and a tape medium property.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing data to a data storage medium on which data is stored in data groups (N?3 to N+1) comprising tracks extending across and spaced from a reference edge of the storage medium includes a control system operable to cause i) a track reference difference value representative of a difference in a distance between the tracks of an existing data group (N?1) on the storage medium and the reference edge and a distance between the reference edge and the tracks of a data group (N) to be written to the storage medium such that it is the next data group following the existing data group (N?1) or ii) data from which such a difference value can be derived to be included in at least one of frame (A1 to A5) to be written between the existing data group and the next data group such that the tracks of the at least one frame are spaced from the reference edge by substantially the same distance as the tracks of the existing data group.

Abstract: A configuration of a media drive apparatus is stored as a plurality of configuration settings in a non volatile memory of a media drive apparatus. A removable storage medium is identified as a reconfiguration medium, and data is read from the removable storage medium, where the data includes an identifier of one configuration setting of the plurality of configuration settings and a value for the one configuration setting. The one configuration setting is updated with the value read from the removable storage medium.

Abstract: A method of storing data received in a data stream from a data source is disclosed in which prior to performing deduplication on the data stream a processor decompresses selected compressed data entities in the data stream to provide a decompressed form of the data entities in the data stream in place of the compressed form, the data stream including the decompressed data entities is deduplicated and the deduplicated data is stored to a deduplicated data store.

Abstract: A method of controlling relative motion of a data storage medium on which data is stored in data groups comprising tracks extending across the storage medium and a rotatable transducer for reading data from the storage medium includes determining from the data groups a start reread data group at which a data reread process is to start following detection of a read error condition in a preceding data read process. The method also includes obtaining a reread track reference value for use in controlling that relative motion during the data reread process using a track reference value difference stored in at least one track of at least one data group that is to be reread during the data reread process and a track reference value that was used in controlling that relative rotation during the preceding data read process.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing data to a data storage medium on which data is stored in data groups (N?3 to N+1) comprising tracks extending across and spaced from a reference edge of the storage medium includes a control system operable to cause i) a track reference difference value representative of a difference in a distance between the tracks of an existing data group (N?1) on the storage medium and the reference edge and a distance between the reference edge and the tracks of a data group (N) to be written to the storage medium such that it is the next data group following the existing data group (N?1) or ii) data from which such a difference value can be derived to be included in at least one of frame (A1 to A5) to be written between the existing data group and the next data group such that the tracks of the at least one frame are spaced from the reference edge by substantially the same distance as the tracks of the existing data group.

Abstract: A tape data transfer apparatus operable to determine a tape damage condition of a tape received in the apparatus by determining a value representative of a tape pack size of the received tape and comparing the value representative of tape pack size with a tape pack size reference value that is read from the cartridge.

Abstract: One embodiment of a tape drive apparatus has a non-volatile memory for storing an identifier. Data that is written by the tape drive apparatus to a loaded tape media is tagged using the identifier. This facilitates to identify the tape drive apparatus that has written the data onto the tape media such as for the purpose of failure analysis. Other devices and methods are included.

Abstract: A method of processing data comprising arranging data into a data group comprising a plurality of sub groups each said subgroup comprising a plurality of columns; for each column, determining at least one checksum data of said column; and for each column, storing the checksum data of that column within at least one said subgroup of the group, other than the subgroup to which said column belongs.

Abstract: A tape drive apparatus has a data transfer apparatus for transferring data between a loaded tape medium and the tape drive apparatus. A data processing apparatus is coupled to the data transfer apparatus for formatting the loaded tape medium. The formatting of the tape medium is performed using an identifier of the tape medium. For example, the identifier is written together with the formatting information onto the tape medium for later reference.

Abstract: Provided is method for changing the configuration of a media drive apparatus using a removable storage medium, the configuration of the media drive apparatus being stored as a plurality of configuration settings in a first non volatile memory of the media drive apparatus, the method comprising identifying the removable storage medium as a reconfiguration medium; reading data from the removable storage medium, the data comprising an identifier of one configuration setting of the plurality of configuration settings and a value for the one configuration setting; storing the value read from the removable storage medium in the non volatile memory of the media drive apparatus.

Abstract: A method of controlling relative motion of a data storage medium on which data is stored in data groups comprising tracks extending across the storage medium and a rotatable transducer for reading data from the storage medium includes determining from the data groups a start reread data group at which a data reread process is to start following detection of a read error condition in a preceding data read process. The method also includes obtaining a reread track reference value for use in controlling that relative motion during the data reread process using a track reference value difference stored in at least one track of at least one data group that is to be reread during the data reread process and a track reference value that was used in controlling that relative rotation during the preceding data read process.

Abstract: Data stored on a tape in a plurality of data recording sessions employs tape drive apparatus programmed to record the data in accordance with a format specifying a log of tape-usage information. The log is in the form of a data structure including a plurality of log sections in which tape usage information is recorded relating respectively to corresponding ones of the plurality of data recording sessions. The log sections together constitute a cumulative record of tape usage covering the corresponding plurality of recording sessions, each log section in respect of a recording session comprising an identifier of the tape drive apparatus used for that recording session and a count of the recording session.

Abstract: Data storage apparatus is provided for storing data on a tape in accordance with a format specifying a plurality of logs of tape-usage information and a data area for storing the data. Control means are programmed to update one of the logs for each usage of the tape, the logs being selected in turn for updating.

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus is described for transferring data between at least one transducer head of the data transfer apparatus and a data medium removably received in the data transfer apparatus. The data transfer apparatus is operable to monitor at least one data transfer performance characteristic, and to use results of the monitoring to set an indicator for access by the data transfer apparatus, for use in connection with a subsequent head-cleaning process using a designated head-cleaning medium, the indicator corresponding to an appropriate quality of head-cleaning process.