Abstract: A data storage library for storing a storage media, wherein a plurality of accessors accesses the data storage media stored in an array of storage cells includes a first accessor transporting the storage media, the first accessor including a first carriage storing or retrieving the storage media on to the storage cell and a first guide guiding the first carriage moving vertically; a second accessor transporting the storage media, the second accessor including a second carriage storing or retrieving the storage media on to the storage cell and a second guide guiding the second carriage moving vertically; and a third guide guiding the first accessor and the second accessor moving horizontally. The first carriage opposes the second carriage and the first and second carriages are in a staggered configuration, when the first guide exists between the array and the second guide.

Abstract: A data storage library for storing a storage media, wherein a plurality of accessors accesses the data storage media stored in an array of storage cells includes a first accessor transporting the storage media, the first accessor including a first carriage storing or retrieving the storage media on to the storage cell and a first guide guiding the first carriage moving vertically; a second accessor transporting the storage media, the second accessor including a second carriage storing or retrieving the storage media on to the storage cell and a second guide guiding the second carriage moving vertically; and a third guide guiding the first accessor and the second accessor moving horizontally. The first carriage opposes the second carriage and the first and second carriages are in a staggered configuration, when the first guide exists between the array and the second guide.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic tape apparatus which can easily and rapidly restore data and has improved availability. The magnetic tape apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic tape drives, and a control unit for reading and writing information from/in the magnetic tape drives by commands from a host computer. The control unit has a function for storing the same data in the plurality of magnetic tape drives while duplicating the data. The control unit includes a positioning unit for, when the duplicated data is read from one magnetic tape drive to complete the read, performing positioning such that a read position of another magnetic tape drive in which the same data is stored is advanced by a length corresponding to an amount of data read from one magnetic tape drive, and a read continuing unit for continuing read of data from the other magnetic tape drive when data is unsuccessfully read from one magnetic tape drive.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic tape apparatus which can easily and rapidly restore data and has improved availability. The magnetic tape apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic tape drives, and a control unit for reading and writing information from/in the magnetic tape drives by commands from a host computer. The control unit has a function for storing the same data in the plurality of magnetic tape drives while duplicating the data. The control unit includes a positioning unit for, when the duplicated data is read from one magnetic tape drive to complete the read, performing positioning such that a read position of another magnetic tape drive in which the same data is stored is advanced by a length corresponding to an amount of data read from one magnetic tape drive, and a read continuing unit for continuing read of data from the other magnetic tape drive when data is unsuccessfully read from one magnetic tape drive.

Abstract: A magnetic tape apparatus prevents dirt from being deposited on a magnetic tape even when the tape is repeatedly moved in a short interval. An operation monitoring unit calculates tape position from information supplied from a tape transport drive circuit and measures tape position from a previously stopped position as a reference point. The operation monitoring unit updates the reference point into a presently stopped position if the tape has moved from the reference point beyond a predetermined range and stopped, accumulates the number of times the tape has been stopped if the tape has moved from the reference point and stopped within the predetermined range, and instructs a control unit to transport the tape in a transported range greater than the predetermined range to bring an area on the tape into contact with a tape cleaner if the accumulated number of times exceeds a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic tape apparatus comprising: a tape drive for recording and reproducing data to/from a magnetic tape; a firmware memory containing firmware; and a controller for controlling the tape drive by executing the firmware, wherein the controller causes the magnetic tape apparatus to: read out a VOLID mark from an attribute information recorded between the BOT and a data on the magnetic tape; detect a volume identifier contained in the VOLID mark; decide that the data is firmware if the volume identifier contains a predetermined control code; and if the data is decided to be firmware, to overwrite the firmware recorded on the magnetic tape medium, upon the firmware memory.