Abstract: A method for creating a Full Data Set Directory (FDSD) entry, in accordance with one embodiment, includes acquiring a record count and file mark count of a data set written to and/or to be written to a magnetic recording tape. A writing position on the tape where the data set will be written is determined. The data set is written on the tape. An FDSD entry is generated for the data set. The FDSD entry includes information about each of the following: a tape write pass in which the data set is written, a position of the data set on the tape, the record count, and the file mark count.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head, and a controller coupled to the magnetic head, the controller being configured to perform a method that includes measuring humidity in a vicinity of the apparatus in response to detection of an error while performing a data operation on a magnetic recording tape. An error recovery procedure to remove debris on the tape is executed in response to detection of an error and the measured humidity exceeding a predefined upper limit value. An error recovery procedure to remove debris adhering to the magnetic head is executed in response to detection of an error and the measured humidity being below a predefined lower limit value.

Abstract: Provided is a system, method, and computer program product for minimizing high resolution tape directory (HRTD) recovery time when a HRTD is invalid. A tape drive may load a tape in the tape drive. In response to receiving a write command or a read command at a beginning of tape (BOT) position, the tape drive may execute the write command or the read command without performing HRTD recovery. In response to receiving the write command or the read command at a position other than the BOT position, the tape drive may determine if the HRTD is valid. In response to determining the HRTD is not valid, the tape drive may clear a timer.

Abstract: A method for creating a Full Data Set Directory (FDSD) entry, in accordance with one embodiment, includes acquiring a record count and file mark count of a data set written to and/or to be written to a magnetic recording tape. A writing position on the tape where the data set will be written is determined. The data set is written on the tape. An FDSD entry is generated for the data set. The FDSD entry includes information about each of the following: a tape write pass in which the data set is written, a position of the data set on the tape, the record count, and the file mark count.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer program product for offsetting a reading head on a magnetic tape to improve verification. A processor determines a write head width, a read head width, and a track pitch based on determining an LTO standard of the magnetic tape. The processor determines a distance of the reading head from a writing head using the write head width, the read head width, and the track pitch, and causes a tape appliance to relocate the read head on the magnetic tape to the determined distance.

Abstract: A tool for scaling media utilizing healthy regions of a data storage cartridge. The tool determines a health status index for one or more regions of a data storage cartridge. The tool records the health status index to a cartridge memory and housekeeping dataset of the data storage cartridge. The tool determines one or more available regions of the data storage cartridge, based, at least in part, on a capacity designation and the health status index for the one or more regions. The tool returns the one or more available regions and a reduced capacity for the data storage cartridge to a user.

Abstract: In an approach to using a cut and paste segment for reading an sHKDS, a request to reposition a tape media in a tape drive is received. Responsive to encountering an error reading an sHKDS while attempting to reposition the tape media, one segment of a plurality of segments from a data set cut and paste error recovery procedure (ERP) is used for an sHKDS cut and paste ERP. Responsive to recovering the sHKDS using the sHKDS cut and paste ERP, the one segment reserved for the sHKDS cut and paste ERP is released to the data set cut and paste ERP.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer program product for offsetting a reading head on a magnetic tape to improve verification. A processor determines a write head width, a read head width, and a track pitch based on determining an LTO standard of the magnetic tape. The processor determines a distance of the reading head from a writing head using the write head width, the read head width, and the track pitch, and causes a tape appliance to relocate the read head on the magnetic tape to the determined distance.

Abstract: In one aspect of tape repositioning management in accordance with the present description, in response to loading a tape in a tape drive, mounting the tape linear tape file system (LTFS) is initiated including reading an index partition on the tape to extract metadata for mounting the tape LTFS, and prior to accessing a data area of the tape in response to any application access request, the tape is repositioned within a data partition to read a vHRTD (virtual High Resolution Tape Directory) recorded in an EOD (End of Data) portion such as an EOD data set, for example, of the data partition. The EOD portion is read to retrieve the vHRTD to facilitate application requested accesses to the tape. In one embodiment, repositioning and stopping the tape at the beginning of the data partition after reading the index partition containing metadata is bypassed.

Abstract: A tool for scaling media utilizing healthy regions of a data storage cartridge. The tool determines a health status index for one or more regions of a data storage cartridge. The tool records the health status index to a cartridge memory and housekeeping dataset of the data storage cartridge. The tool determines one or more available regions of the data storage cartridge, based, at least in part, on a capacity designation and the health status index for the one or more regions. The tool returns the one or more available regions and a reduced capacity for the data storage cartridge to a user.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method of writing a dataset to a tape, the dataset comprising a plurality of sub datasets, each sub dataset including a plurality of headers and a plurality of records. The method includes storing, in each header of each sub dataset, at least a portion of a record range indicator indicating a range of records included in the dataset.

Abstract: An HRTD stored in the volatile memory of a tape drive is communicated for storage in an off-tape non-volatile memory prior to unloading a tape cartridge. In response to the tape cartridge being loaded into the tape drive, the HRTD is received from the off-tape non-volatile memory.

Abstract: In one aspect of tape repositioning management in accordance with the present description, in response to loading a tape in a tape drive, mounting the tape linear tape file system (LTFS) is initiated including reading an index partition on the tape to extract metadata for mounting the tape LTFS, and prior to accessing a data area of the tape in response to any application access request, the tape is repositioned within a data partition to read a vHRTD (virtual High Resolution Tape Directory) recorded in an EOD (End of Data) portion such as an EOD data set, for example, of the data partition. The EOD portion is read to retrieve the vHRTD to facilitate application requested accesses to the tape. In one embodiment, repositioning and stopping the tape at the beginning of the data partition after reading the index partition containing metadata is bypassed.

Abstract: Repositioning to a beginning of an area of a tape medium to which a reposition request is directed can be completed. Reading, as a part of an error recovery procedure (ERP), between a first dataset of the area and an mth dataset of the area, can be completed, where m is a number of datasets for which cut and paste multi segments are to be generated. Cut and paste segments for each of the datasets in a range from the first dataset and the mth dataset can be generated. A subset of datasets within the range of the first dataset to the mth dataset having readable dataset information table (DSIT) information can be determined. A determination can be made whether the target data position is included within the subset of datasets within the range of the first dataset to the mth dataset by reading the DSIT information.

Abstract: An HRTD stored in the volatile memory of a tape drive is communicated for storage in an off-tape non-volatile memory prior to unloading a tape cartridge. In response to the tape cartridge being loaded into the tape drive, the HRTD is received from the off-tape non-volatile memory.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method of writing a dataset to a tape, the dataset comprising a plurality of sub datasets, each sub dataset including a plurality of headers and a plurality of records. The method includes storing, in each header of each sub dataset, at least a portion of a record range indicator indicating a range of records included in the dataset.

Abstract: A method can include obtaining write information corresponding to an index to be written to a tape. The write information can include a target write position on the tape for the index. The method can include making a first determination that the target write position is beyond a threshold position on the tape. The method can include obtaining index information comprising a size of a full index stored on the tape. The method can include making a second determination that the size of the full index exceeds a size of one dataset. The method can include writing, in response to making the first determination and the second determination, the index to the tape. The writing can be in a first position beyond the threshold position. The index can be an incremental index.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a controller configured to control writing operations to a magnetic recording tape, and logic integrated with and/or executable by the controller for causing the controller to receive a plurality of records, store datasets associated with the plurality of records in a buffer memory, and write the datasets stored in the buffer memory to the magnetic recording tape in response to a predetermined number of datasets being stored in the buffer memory. For each of the datasets being written, an end longitudinal position indicative of a physical position where the dataset is physically written to the magnetic recording tape is determined. Moreover, for each determined end longitudinal position, the end longitudinal position and an identifier of the associated dataset are stored to a table of a dataset that is to be subsequently written to the magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: determining whether a first amount of time associated with performing a locate operation to advance a magnetic tape from a current position to a beginning of the requested data is less than a second amount of time associated with performing a number of read operations to advance the magnetic tape from the current position to the beginning of the requested data. In response to determining that the first amount of time is less than the second amount of time, a tape drive is instructed to perform the locate operation. In response to determining that the first amount of time is not less than the second amount of time, the tape drive is instructed to perform the number of read operations. The tape drive is also instructed to discard data read from the magnetic tape while performing the number of read operations.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a read request for data stored on a magnetic tape. For each portion of the requested data, an iterative process is performed. In preferred approaches, the iterative process includes: instructing a tape drive to read the portion of the requested data from the magnetic tape, and determining whether a copy of the portion of the requested data is located in a cache. In response to determining that a copy of the portion of the requested data is located in the cache, the tape drive is instructed to discard the portion of the requested data read from the magnetic tape. However, in response to determining that a copy of the portion of the requested data is not located in the cache, the portion of the requested data read from the magnetic tape is received from the tape drive.