Abstract: A Data Storage Device (DSD) includes a memory for storing data, and a controller configured to execute firmware or code to perform a task. While performing the task, the controller is further configured to assign unique identifiers to respective firmware or code portions that are executed to perform the task, and create a list or data structure including the unique identifier assigned to the firmware or code portion that created the task. A unique identifier is added to the list or data structure for each firmware or code portion executed for the task. The list or data structure indicates the order in which the firmware or code portions are executed.

Abstract: An approach to exchanging information between data storage devices (DSDs) within a secure data center and an external fleet health manager (FHM) application includes querying one or more DSDs for data to be analyzed, including providing a unique query identifier, whereby a particular DSD responsively provides (i) a device identifier identifying itself, (ii) a random key code for authentication and integrity purposes, (iii) the data to be analyzed, and (iv) the query identifier for the FHM application to verify. The FHM application can then digitally sign a corrective action payload, using the key code from the particular DSD, including the query identifier and the device identifier and a recommended corrective action, and transmit the signed corrective action payload to the data center for application to the particular DSD, whereby the DSD can execute pre-defined fundamental repair action operation(s) corresponding to the corrective action for in-situ repair.

Abstract: An approach to identifying a corrective action for a data storage device (DSD), such as one implemented in a fleet of DSDs in a data center, involves receiving error data about excursions from normal operational behavior of the DSD, inputting data representing a particular excursion into a probabilistic decision network which characterizes a set of DSD operational metrics and certain DSD controller rules that represent internal controls of the DSD and corresponding conditional relationships among the operational metrics, determining from the decision network the likelihood that one or more possible causes was a contributing factor to the particular excursion, and determining a corrective action for the particular excursion based on the determined likelihood of a particular cause of the one or more possible causes. The corrective action may then be shared with the DSD for in-situ execution of corresponding self-repair operations.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile storage medium (NVSM) having a plurality of data sectors and a plurality of reserve sectors. A map-out value is generated for each of a first plurality of the data sectors based on a read latency of each of the first plurality of data sectors, and when the map-out value of a first data sector in the first plurality of data sectors exceeds a threshold, a first logical block address (LBA) is mapped from the first data sector to a first reserve sector. When the map-out value of a second data sector in the first plurality of data sectors exceeds the map-out value of the first data sector, the first LBA is mapped from the first reserve sector back to the first data sector, and a second LBA is mapped from the second data sector to the first reserve sector.

Abstract: An approach to exchanging information between data storage devices (DSDs) within a secure data center and an external fleet health manager (FHM) application includes querying one or more DSDs for data to be analyzed, including providing a unique query identifier, whereby a particular DSD responsively provides (i) a device identifier identifying itself, (ii) a random key code for authentication and integrity purposes, (iii) the data to be analyzed, and (iv) the query identifier for the FHM application to verify. The FHM application can then digitally sign a corrective action payload, using the key code from the particular DSD, including the query identifier and the device identifier and a recommended corrective action, and transmit the signed corrective action payload to the data center for application to the particular DSD, whereby the DSD can execute pre-defined fundamental repair action operation(s) corresponding to the corrective action for in-situ repair.

Abstract: An approach to identifying a corrective action for a data storage device (DSD), such as one implemented in a fleet of DSDs in a data center, involves receiving error data about excursions from normal operational behavior of the DSD, inputting data representing a particular excursion into a probabilistic decision network which characterizes a set of DSD operational metrics and certain DSD controller rules that represent internal controls of the DSD and corresponding conditional relationships among the operational metrics, determining from the decision network the likelihood that one or more possible causes was a contributing factor to the particular excursion, and determining a corrective action for the particular excursion based on the determined likelihood of a particular cause of the one or more possible causes. The corrective action may then be shared with the DSD for in-situ execution of corresponding self-repair operations.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile storage medium (NVSM) having a plurality of data sectors and a plurality of reserve sectors. A map-out value is generated for each of a first plurality of the data sectors based on a read latency of each of the first plurality of data sectors, and when the map-out value of a first data sector in the first plurality of data sectors exceeds a threshold, a first logical block address (LBA) is mapped from the first data sector to a first reserve sector. When the map-out value of a second data sector in the first plurality of data sectors exceeds the map-out value of the first data sector, the first LBA is mapped from the first reserve sector back to the first data sector, and a second LBA is mapped from the second data sector to the first reserve sector.

Abstract: A Data Storage Device (DSD) includes a memory for storing data, and a controller configured to execute firmware or code to perform a task. While performing the task, the controller is further configured to assign unique identifiers to respective firmware or code portions that are executed to perform the task, and create a list or data structure including the unique identifier assigned to the firmware or code portion that created the task. A unique identifier is added to the list or data structure for each firmware or code portion executed for the task. The list or data structure indicates the order in which the firmware or code portions are executed.

Abstract: A dynamic scalable error correction coding (ECC) scheme for a data storage system involves a system controller predicting a type and/or amount of ECC needed to reconstruct data to be stored on a particular data storage device(s) based on operational data integrity information accessed from the array of data storage devices. Thus, redundancy does not need to be allocated unless required. The devices may be logically grouped into subsets according to common characteristics, whereby the prediction made for a device in a subset may be based on the data integrity information from that subset, as well as from other relevant subsets.

Abstract: A dynamic scalable error correction coding (ECC) scheme for a data storage system involves a system controller predicting a type and/or amount of ECC needed to reconstruct data to be stored on a particular data storage device(s) based on operational data integrity information accessed from the array of data storage devices. Thus, redundancy does not need to be allocated unless required. The devices may be logically grouped into subsets according to common characteristics, whereby the prediction made for a device in a subset may be based on the data integrity information from that subset, as well as from other relevant subsets.

Abstract: A Data Storage Device (DSD) includes a magnetic storage medium and a head configured to read and write data using a current default write policy that affects an amount of power output by at least one write-assistive component of the head. One or more experimental writes are performed by writing data on the magnetic storage medium using an experimental write policy for the at least one write-assistive component, and the data is read from the magnetic storage medium. An experimental performance of the one or more experimental writes is evaluated based on the reading of the data. An experimental prediction value is determined indicating a predicted usable life of the head based on the evaluation of the experimental performance. Based on the experimental prediction value, it is determined whether to change the current default write policy for the at least one write-assistive component for future non-experimental writes.

Abstract: A Data Storage Device (DSD) includes a magnetic storage medium and a head configured to read and write data using a current default write policy that affects an amount of power output by at least one write-assistive component of the head. One or more experimental writes are performed by writing data on the magnetic storage medium using an experimental write policy for the at least one write-assistive component, and the data is read from the magnetic storage medium. An experimental performance of the one or more experimental writes is evaluated based on the reading of the data. An experimental prediction value is determined indicating a predicted usable life of the head based on the evaluation of the experimental performance. Based on the experimental prediction value, it is determined whether to change the current default write policy for the at least one write-assistive component for future non-experimental writes.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a fly height actuator configured to control a fly height of the head over the disk. A plurality of host read commands are received from a host, and a performance metric associated with accessing the disk to execute the host read commands is measured. When the performance metric indicates the data storage device is operating with a performance margin, the fly height actuator is controlled to increase the fly height of the head over the disk, wherein the performance metric consists of at least one of a throughput of the host read commands and a power consumption of the data storage device.

Abstract: A method of controlling a storage device includes detecting a cumulative usage condition associated with the storage device, comparing the cumulative usage condition to a usage value, and adjusting the operation of the storage device based on the comparison. Another method of controlling a storage device includes detecting an operating condition associated with the storage device, comparing the operating condition to a warranty condition, and limiting the operation of the storage device to read-only operation based on the comparison.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to method of maintaining the flying height of a head during a write operation. Methods described herein disclose the application of an electrical bias to create a coulomb force between the head and the magnetic disk. The bias is applied such that the write operation is not affected and a touchdown from the transient extension of the near field transducer is prevented.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and firmware for operating data storage devices and storage processors are provided herein. In one example, a data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes magnetic storage media configured to store data, read heads configured to read data from the magnetic storage media at associated areal densities, and a storage processor. The storage processor is configured to monitor read error rates of the read heads during operation of the data storage device to identify a degraded one of the read heads, and process at least the read error rates and an areal density of the degraded one of the read heads to modify the areal density of at least the degraded one of the read heads.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and firmware for operating data storage devices and storage processors are provided herein. In one example, a data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes magnetic storage media configured to store data, read heads configured to read data from the magnetic storage media at associated areal densities, and a storage processor. The storage processor is configured to monitor read error rates of the read heads during operation of the data storage device to identify a degraded one of the read heads, and process at least the read error rates and an areal density of the degraded one of the read heads to modify the areal density of at least the degraded one of the read heads.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for implementing calibration of cooling sensitivity of embedded contact sensor (ECS) using thermal fly-height control (TFC) actuations, by subtracting the linear part (TFC heat) from the total measured ECS signal, a profile is provided that is sensitive only to the clearance of the head-disk interface due to cooling effect for hard disk drives.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method for obtaining head/disk clearance based on ECS signal. The ECS is calibrated by applying different interface voltages to cause changes in the head/disk clearance, the ECS signal at each interface voltage is obtained, and the relationship between the change in head/disk clearance and the ECS signal is calculated. From this relationship, the head/disk clearance may be obtained based on ECS signal.

Abstract: A method of controlling a storage device includes detecting a cumulative usage condition associated with the storage device, comparing the cumulative usage condition to a usage value, and adjusting the operation of the storage device based on the comparison. Another method of controlling a storage device includes detecting an operating condition associated with the storage device, comparing the operating condition to a warranty condition, and limiting the operation of the storage device to read-only operation based on the comparison.