Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the magnetic recording tape. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.

Abstract: Concurrent standard/high resolution logging of critical performance metrics and functional data for various functional areas including servo system, dataflow, channel, read/write, speed matching, and error recovery is achieved by segregating one or more rows of the tape map array for the purpose of logging only high resolution data. As performance data is logged to the standard resolution tape map by wrap and regional offset down tape, the reserved high resolution row logs data sequentially in the order it was processed on magnetic tape and not by its position on magnetic tape. The high-resolution performance data is concurrently logged with normal-resolution performance data as a supporting view with more detailed tape processing data should the normal-resolution performance data have inconclusive or insufficient content. High-resolution storage is structured for shorter regional logging or per-dataset logging of critical performance metrics and functional data, referred to herein as performance data.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape. The controller is also configured to cause storage of servo band difference information about the servo band difference measurements in association with the magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a read error, and sending one or more instructions to perform a first re-read attempt on a portion of a magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. In response to determining that the first re-read attempt was unsuccessful, a range of tension settings is selected. A range of lateral offsets is also selected. Moreover, one or more instructions are sent to apply each unique combination of a tension setting from the range of tension settings and a lateral offset from the range of lateral offsets. For each of the unique combinations applied, one or more instructions are sent to perform a second phase re-read attempt on the portion of the magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. Furthermore, a determination is made as to whether the second phase re-read attempt was performed successfully for any of the unique combinations.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the magnetic recording tape. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape. The controller is also configured to cause storage of servo band difference information about the servo band difference measurements in association with the magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: Concurrent standard/high resolution logging of critical performance metrics and functional data for various functional areas including servo system, dataflow, channel, read/write, speed matching, and error recovery is achieved by segregating one or more rows of the tape map array for the purpose of logging only high resolution data. As performance data is logged to the standard resolution tape map by wrap and regional offset down tape, the reserved high resolution row logs data sequentially in the order it was processed on magnetic tape and not by its position on magnetic tape. The high-resolution performance data is concurrently logged with normal-resolution performance data as a supporting view with more detailed tape processing data should the normal-resolution performance data have inconclusive or insufficient content. High-resolution storage is structured for shorter regional logging or per-dataset logging of critical performance metrics and functional data, referred to herein as performance data.

Abstract: Concurrent standard/high resolution logging of critical performance metrics and functional data for various functional areas including servo system, dataflow, channel, read/write, speed matching, and error recovery is achieved by segregating one or more rows of the tape map array for the purpose of logging only high resolution data. As performance data is logged to the standard resolution tape map by wrap and regional offset down tape, the reserved high resolution row logs data sequentially in the order it was processed on magnetic tape and not by its position on magnetic tape. The high-resolution performance data is concurrently logged with normal-resolution performance data as a supporting view with more detailed tape processing data should the normal-resolution performance data have inconclusive or insufficient content. High-resolution storage is structured for shorter regional logging or per-dataset logging of critical performance metrics and functional data, referred to herein as performance data.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to characterize a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge. The controller is also configured to store the servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof in association with the tape cartridge.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the tape cartridge. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.

Abstract: A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a read error, and sending one or more instructions to perform a first re-read attempt on a portion of a magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. In response to determining that the first re-read attempt was unsuccessful, a range of tension settings is selected. A range of lateral offsets is also selected. Moreover, one or more instructions are sent to apply each unique combination of a tension setting from the range of tension settings and a lateral offset from the range of lateral offsets. For each of the unique combinations applied, one or more instructions are sent to perform a second phase re-read attempt on the portion of the magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. Furthermore, a determination is made as to whether the second phase re-read attempt was performed successfully for any of the unique combinations.

Abstract: Concurrent standard/high resolution logging of critical performance metrics and functional data for various functional areas including servo system, dataflow, channel, read/write, speed matching, and error recovery is achieved by segregating one or more rows of the tape map array for the purpose of logging only high resolution data. As performance data is logged to the standard resolution tape map by wrap and regional offset down tape, the reserved high resolution row logs data sequentially in the order it was processed on magnetic tape and not by its position on magnetic tape. The high-resolution performance data is concurrently logged with normal-resolution performance data as a supporting view with more detailed tape processing data should the normal-resolution performance data have inconclusive or insufficient content. High-resolution storage is structured for shorter regional logging or per-dataset logging of critical performance metrics and functional data, referred to herein as performance data.

Abstract: A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a read error, determining whether a current tension setting of the magnetic tape is accurate, determining whether the read error is part of an error burst in response to determining that the current tension setting of the magnetic tape is accurate, sending instructions to perform a first re-read attempt in response to determining that the read error is not part of an error burst, determining whether the first re-read attempt was performed successfully, selecting a range of tension settings in response to determining that the first re-read attempt was not performed successfully, selecting a range of lateral offsets, sending instructions to apply each unique combination of tension settings and lateral offsets, for each of the unique combinations applied, sending instructions to perform a second phase re-read attempt, and determining whether the second phase re-read attempt was performed successfully.

Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se. Moreover, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a controller to cause the controller to perform a method which includes: collecting, by the controller, data relating to operation of a tape drive; storing, by the controller, the collected data in wrap sections of a tape map; and storing, by the controller, a subset of the collected data in a slice region upon experiencing a first trigger condition and/or upon reaching a predefined location on a tape. Moreover, the wrap sections of the tape map correlate to physical lengths of tape. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: Various embodiments for data error recovery in a tape storage system, by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises, in a tape storage system using an iterative hardware and microcode decoder, initializing at least one iterative decode cycle on the buffered dataset when an uncorrectable read error occurs; and for a next iterative decode cycle, building upon data corrections obtained in a previous iterative decode cycle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor configured to execute logic, the logic being configured to read a plurality of data sets, each data set including a plurality of portions which combine together to wholly form the data set, and reread at least a first uncorrected data set using a different setting in an error recovery procedure (ERP) when an error in the first uncorrected data set is not correctable using C2-ECC or an error in any portion of the first uncorrected data set is not correctable using C1-ECC. Other systems and methods for reading data from tape using a reconstructive ERP to reduce backhitches are presented according to more embodiments.

Abstract: Various embodiments for error recovery in a data storage environment, by a processor device, are provided. For monitoring signal from one or more read channels in a tape storage drive, a variable range of offsets organized by row into a table is selected by a microcode algorithm and applied by a track following servo mechanism of the tape storage drive to position a read head in relation to a track of a tape media at an offset up to and including beyond a predetermined margin of the track.

Abstract: Various embodiments for error recovery in a data storage environment, by a processor device, are provided. For monitoring signal from one or more read channels in a tape storage drive, a variable range of offsets organized by row into a table is selected by a microcode algorithm and applied by a track following servo mechanism of the tape storage drive to position a read head in relation to a track of a tape media at an offset up to and including beyond a predetermined margin of the track.

Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se. Moreover, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a controller to cause the controller to perform a method which includes: collecting, by the controller, data relating to operation of a tape drive; storing, by the controller, the collected data in wrap sections of a tape map; and storing, by the controller, a subset of the collected data in a slice region upon experiencing a first trigger condition and/or upon reaching a predefined location on a tape. Moreover, the wrap sections of the tape map correlate to physical lengths of tape. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a controller-implemented method collecting data relating to operation of a tape drive, storing the collected data in wrap sections of a tape map, where the wrap sections of the tape map correlate to physical lengths of tape. The method also includes and storing a subset of the collected data in a slice region upon at least one of experiencing a first trigger condition and reaching a predefined location on a tape. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.