Abstract: A system accesses metadata on a file system of the magnetic tape, where the metadata comprising one or more fields enabling to determine a longitudinal position (LPOS) of one or more files located on the magnetic tape. The system determines the LPOS of the one or more files located on the magnetic tape. The system determines an optimal location of the head on the magnetic tape based on computing an average value to the determined LPOS of the one or more files located on the magnetic tape and moves the head on the magnetic tape to the optimal location.

Abstract: A tape library storage system, keeps track of the identity(ies) of the drive unit(s) that write upon the storage medium of each tape cartridge, and associates the drive unit identity information with the data that each drive writes. The system writes the associated identity information in the tape cartridge memory and/or inserts the information in an index and writes the index on the tape. If a read error occurs when attempting to read data from the tape, the system, by reference to the associated identity information, determines the identity of the original tape drive that had written the data, and transfers the cartridge to the original drive to attempt again to read the data.

Abstract: A method for managing volumes in a scratch pool of a virtual tape system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method provides a scratch pool containing volumes for use in a virtual tape system. The method further enables a user to predefine an external pool of volumes residing outside of the scratch pool. This external pool may be hidden to a host system accessing the virtual tape system. The method monitors current and/or past usage of the volumes in the scratch pool and, based on the usage, predicts a future need for volumes in the scratch pool. The method automatically moves volumes between the external pool and the scratch pool in accordance with the future need. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: The method, computer program product, and computer system may include a computing device which may generate a list of data to be copied from a plurality of source media to a target medium. The computing device may identify a first type of data in the generated list of data with the first type of data being pre-migrated data. The computing device may reclaim the first type of data from a primary storage tier to the target medium with the target medium being associated with the first drive. The computing device may identify a second type of data in the generated list of data, the second type of data being migrated data, and reclaim the second type of data from at least one secondary source medium to the target medium using the first drive and a second drive. The secondary source medium may be associated with the second drive.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for timing index write to a tape medium of a tape system. Index write timing data that specifies index write timing based on file metadata attributes is stored. Metadata attributes of a first file are analyzed to determine whether a first index should be written at a first time based on the index write timing data. In response to determining that an index should be written, the first index is written to the tape medium at the first time.

Abstract: A method for managing volumes in a scratch pool of a virtual tape system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method provides a scratch pool containing volumes for use in a virtual tape system. The method further enables a user to predefine an external pool of volumes residing outside of the scratch pool. This external pool may be hidden to a host system accessing the virtual tape system. The method monitors current and/or past usage of the volumes in the scratch pool and, based on the usage, predicts a future need for volumes in the scratch pool. The method automatically moves volumes between the external pool and the scratch pool in accordance with the future need. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system accesses metadata on a file system of the magnetic tape, where the metadata comprising one or more fields enabling to determine a longitudinal position (LPOS) of one or more files located on the magnetic tape. The system determines the LPOS of the one or more files located on the magnetic tape. The system determines an optimal location of the head on the magnetic tape based on computing an average value to the determined LPOS of the one or more files located on the magnetic tape and moves the head on the magnetic tape to the optimal location.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining a damaged area of a magnetic tape loaded in a tape drive, according to one embodiment, includes: determining a first error location on a magnetic tape where a first error occurred in response to experiencing the first error. Moreover, the method includes determining one or more areas on the magnetic tape to be examined. The one or more areas are determined using a predetermined algorithm which incorporates the first error location. Independent of a read and/or write operation, relative motion is induced between a tape head and the magnetic tape such that the tape head is positioned adjacent to each of the respective one or more areas in turn. Furthermore, each of the one or more areas having a respective number of measured servo errors which exceeds a threshold value is identified as a damaged area of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: The direction of a WRAP and the logical points on which a file are written influence the efficiency of a recall of the file. Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems which can be applied to an upper storage layer and a lower storage layer in a hierarchical storage system. In turn, the migration and recall of a plurality of files, which contain data, are more rapid and efficient by preferring one logical point over another logical point.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for maintaining a storage volume in a virtual tape system includes writing one or more logical volumes associated with a first category and one or more logical volumes associated with a second category to a primary storage in a virtual tape system. The computer-implemented method further includes performing a first automatic removal process in order to free up space on the primary storage, wherein the first automatic removal process removes logical volumes associated with the first category in priority to logical volumes associated with the second category. The computer-implemented method further includes performing a second automatic removal process, wherein the second automatic removal process dynamically alters the priority of the first automatic removal process such that one or more virtual volumes associated with the second category are removed in priority to one or more virtual volumes associated with the first category.

Abstract: A backup method is provided for a file system for managing hierarchical storage including one or more storage media on a computer system including one or more computers. Each of the one or more storage media includes a data part which is separated from an index and on which updated information is appended and kept. Each of a plurality of pieces of data within the file system is managed to be migrated to at least any of the one or more storage media. The backup method includes backing up metadata of the plurality of pieces of data migrated within the file system; and backing up the index of each of the one or more storage media to which the plurality of pieces of data have been migrated, substantially at the same time point as the metadata.

Abstract: A method, executed by at least one processor, includes generating a snapshot for a plurality of data files, receiving an update request for a selected file of the plurality of data files, determining if the selected file is subject to a backup policy, updating the selected file without preserving the snapshot of the selected file if the selected file is not subject to the backup policy, and updating the selected file while preserving the snapshot of the selected file if the selected file is subject to the backup policy. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A backup method is provided for a file system for managing hierarchical storage including one or more storage media on a computer system including one or more computers. Each of the one or more storage media includes a data part which is separated from an index and on which updated information is appended and kept. Each of a plurality of pieces of data within the file system is managed to be migrated to at least any of the one or more storage media. The backup method includes backing up metadata of the plurality of pieces of data migrated within the file system; and backing up the index of each of the one or more storage media to which the plurality of pieces of data have been migrated, substantially at the same time point as the metadata.

Abstract: A tape method, according to one embodiment, includes: adjusting a position of a tape head in the tape drive relative to a magnetic tape such that the tape head is positioned at an accumulating backhitchless flush (ABF) wrap on the magnetic tape. A first index is also written in the ABF wrap. The first index corresponds to data written in a data partition on the magnetic tape, and the ABF wrap and the data partition are different partitions. Furthermore, in response to writing the first index in the ABF wrap, the position of the tape head is adjusted relative to the magnetic tape such that the tape head is positioned at the data partition. A first empty index is also appended to an end of the data written in the data partition, where a size of the first empty index is less than a size of the first index.

Abstract: Method, computer program product, and system embodiments of the present disclosure may include a computing device which may set a predetermined flag on data to be copied from a primary storage tier and a secondary storage tier. The computing device may identify a first portion of the flagged data as being in a pre-migrated state stored on the primary storage tier and migrate the flagged pre-migrated data from the primary storage tier to a target medium. The computing device may identify a second portion of the flagged data as being in a migrated state stored on the secondary storage tier. The computing device may recall the flagged migrated data from the secondary storage tier to the primary storage tier, and migrate the recalled migrated data from the primary storage tier to the target medium.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: sending one or more instructions to calculate a combined size of fragments included in the fragmented files, sending one or more instructions to designate a portion of cache which corresponds to at least the combined size of the fragments, sending one or more instructions to send a copy of each non-fragmented file from a first drive directly to a second drive in which the second sequential storage medium is loaded, sending one or more instructions to use the designated portion of the cache to accumulate the fragments included in the fragmented files, and sending one or more instructions to send a copy of each of the fragments corresponding to a given fragmented file from the cache to the second drive in response to determining that all of the fragments corresponding to the given fragmented file have been accumulated in the cache.

Abstract: A tape library storage system, keeps track of the identity(ies) of the drive unit(s) that write upon the storage medium of each tape cartridge, and associates the drive unit identity information with the data that each drive writes. The system writes the associated identity information in the tape cartridge memory and/or inserts the information in an index and writes the index on the tape. If a read error occurs when attempting to read data from the tape, the system, by reference to the associated identity information, determines the identity of the original tape drive that had written the data, and transfers the cartridge to the original drive to attempt again to read the data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for writing data to a tape medium, includes: writing a file of a first content to the tape medium; writing at least a part of the file of a second content to the tape medium, the second content being obtained by updating the first content; and writing an index including first metadata and second metadata to the tape medium, the first metadata being metadata of the file of the first content, the second metadata being metadata of the file of the second content.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for reducing data using a plurality of compression operations in a computing storage environment. A speed of data writing to a virtual tape device and an availability of one or more processor devices for the virtual tape device may be monitored. One or more requests may be received for writing data to the virtual tape device. Data to be written to the virtual tape device, corresponding to a selected number of the one or more requests for writing the data, may be compressed according to both the speed of data writing to the virtual tape device and the availability of one or more processor devices for the virtual tape device. The compressed data may be stored in the virtual tape device in record units. Non-compressed data may be compressed in the virtual tape device at a subsequent period of time (e.g., future time period).

Abstract: A storage system receives one or more records from a host system. The records are compressed in a first compression format that is native to the host system. The storage system identifies an incompatibility between the first compression format and a first operation of the storage system. In response to the identified incompatibility, the storage system decompresses the received records. The decompression is based on the first compression format. The storage system compresses the decompressed records in a second compression format. The storage system stores the secondarily compressed records onto a storage medium.