Abstract: According to one embodiment there is provided a method for managing a location of an object in a storage system having hierarchical storage with a plurality of storage layers. The method includes transmitting a get-list request for viewing contents of a designated directory on the hierarchical storage. The method also includes receiving a response to the get-list request, the response including a list of objects in the designated directory and listing each storage layer corresponding to the objects. The list is output, and a select request to select a different storage layer for one of the objects is received. The select request is transmitted to the storage system for invoking migration of the selected object to the different storage layer. A second response is received from the storage system indicating the selected object is stored in the different storage layer, and an updated list is output.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing a first storage library and a second storage library, according to one embodiment, includes associating a first physical tape and a second physical tape with a logical tape. The associating includes writing a first identifier to an index of the logical tape. The first identifier represents the first physical tape and the first storage library. The associating further includes writing a second identifier to the index of the logical tape. The second identifier represents the second physical tape and the second storage library. The computer-implemented method further includes storing the index of the logical tape in memory, and displaying the logical tape by reading the index from memory as a file system.

Abstract: A method includes, in a tape apparatus system, receiving a request to write a file from a host, and, in response to the request, dividing sequentially received data of the file into two or more segments. Each of the two or more segments have a predetermined size. The method further includes sequentially writing a series of the two or more segments onto one or more tapes, and determining the predetermined size based on a capacity use efficiency of a plurality of other tapes and a time to copy when a spanning file, written by spanning on the one or more tapes, is copied to the plurality of other tapes. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a first portion of data to be written in a magnetic medium, dividing the first portion of data into a plurality of blocks, appending an identification segment having identification information therein to each of the blocks, wherein each block and the corresponding identification information appended thereto forms a record, writing each record in a data partition of the magnetic medium, and writing an index in the data partition of the magnetic medium in response to a predetermined condition being met, wherein the index is associated with all data on the magnetic medium. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, and program product are disclosed for Tape positioning. One method includes identifying a first position on a first tape between a start of the first tape and an end of the first tape. The method includes determining that an access position of the first tape reaches the first position. The method also includes providing an indication indicating that the access position of the first tape has reached the first position.

Abstract: A tape drive system that uses a tape cartridge having more than one file storage partition, sometimes herein referred to as “virtual tapes.” The tape file sub-system (which controls tape addressing) is identical to conventional single file storage partition tape cartridges, because: (i) a tape control sub-system controls writing of the multiple virtual tapes on a single tape cartridge, but communicates with the tape file sub-system as if the multiple virtual tapes were actually located on different physical tape cartridges; and (ii) a tape control sub-system controls reading of the multiple virtual tapes from a single tape cartridge, but communicates with the tape file sub-system as if the multiple virtual tapes were actually located on different physical tape cartridges. The multiple virtual tapes stored on a single physical tape cartridge are useful because they help circumvent certain “per tape restrictions” that are inherent in the tape file sub-system.

Abstract: The present description is directed to moving a cartridge including a storage medium within a shuttle complex that includes numerous shuttle connections, and a plurality of library strings connected by at least one shuttle connection. Each shuttle connection has a car able to move within the shuttle connection and each library string has at least one cartridge including a storage medium. The shuttle complex identifies a library string that contains the access-cartridge (LSAC), identifies whether there is a drive within the LSAC that has a second cartridge mounted therein which comprises only inactive data chunks, removes the second cartridge from the drive within the LSAC if an elapsed time since the drive within the LSAC most recently accessed the second cartridge exceeds a predetermined time period threshold, and mounts the access-cartridge to the drive within the LSAC.

Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are readable and/or executable by a processor to cause the processor to: determine, by the processor, a first error location on a magnetic tape where a first error occurred. One or more areas on the magnetic tape to be examined are also determined, by the processor, based on the first error location. Independent of a read and/or write operation, relative motion between a tape head and the magnetic tape is induced by the processor, such that the tape head is positioned adjacent to each of the one or more areas in turn. Moreover, each of the one or more areas having a respective number of measured servo errors which exceeds a threshold value are identified, by the processor, as a damaged area of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving, from a tape drive, a first error location on a magnetic tape where a first error occurred, in addition to determining one or more areas on the magnetic tape to be examined based on the first error location. Independent of a read and/or write operation, the tape drive is instructed to induce relative motion 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. Moreover, 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: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: estimating, by the computer system, a waiting time for copy target data to be transferred from the source medium. The waiting time includes an estimated time for locating and reading the copy target data from the source medium. The method also includes selecting, by the computer system, migration target data on the source medium based on whether migration of data to the target medium is expected to be finished within the waiting time. The selecting is based at least in part on comparing a size of the data and an allowable size calculated based on the waiting time and an estimated write transfer rate to the target medium. The method further includes migrating, by the computer system, the migration target data from the source medium to the target medium.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing a storage reclaim on a storage device includes generating a second tape image on a first storage device. The computer-implemented method further includes copying metadata associated with a first data extent of a valid file from a first index partition of a first tape image to a second index partition of the second tape image. The computer-implemented method further includes copying file data associated with the first data extent from a first data partition of the first tape image to a second data partition of the second tape image. The computer-implemented method further includes adjusting metadata associated with the file data of the first data extent copied to the second data partition of the second tape image. The computer-implemented method further includes releasing a storage area corresponding to the first data extent of the valid file included in the first tape image.

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 for copying data from a source medium to a target medium in a storage system by a computer system, the storage system including a storage device, a first drive configured to access the source medium, and a second drive configured to access the target medium, the method comprising: estimating a waiting time for copy target data to be transferred from the source medium, selecting migration target data of the storage device based on whether migration of data to the target medium is expected to be finished within the waiting time or not, migrating the migration target data from the storage device to the target medium by the second drive while locating and/or reading the copy target data on the source medium by the first drive, and writing the copy target data to the target medium by the second drive.

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: 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 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.