Abstract: The technology disclosed herein enables automatic implementation of a physical barrier to protect access to data on removable storage media. In a particular embodiment, a method provides determining that the item moved into a storage position using an automatic transfer mechanism and determining that a condition for protecting the item is satisfied. Upon determining that the condition is satisfied, the method provides implementing a physical barrier that prevents the automatic transfer mechanism from removing the item from the storage position.

Abstract: A method for generating calibration data useful for calibrating a plurality of tape cartridges includes the steps of selecting a subset of tape cartridges from the plurality of tape cartridges, the subset of tape cartridges having fewer tape cartridges than the plurality of tape cartridges; calibrating each of the subset of tape cartridges using a plurality of tape drives to generate global calibration data; selecting one of the plurality of tape cartridges that is not included within the subset of tape cartridges; and calibrating the one of the plurality of tape cartridges using the global calibration data generated via the calibrating of each of the subset of tape cartridges.

Abstract: A tape cartridge for retaining a magnetic tape, the tape cartridge being configured to be selectively positioned substantially within a tape drive, includes a cartridge body and a cartridge hub. The cartridge body includes a cartridge length from a front to a rear of the cartridge body, and a cartridge width from a first side to a second side of the cartridge body. The cartridge hub is positioned within the cartridge body. The cartridge hub is configured so that the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body. The cartridge hub includes a hub diameter. The cartridge length and the cartridge width provide boundaries for a maximum wound tape diameter as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body. A ratio of the maximum wound tape diameter to the hub diameter is at least approximately 3.50:1.

Abstract: A servo system for a magnetic tape storage system includes a magnetic tape (550) including a first servo band (573), and a first data band (575). An auxiliary servo pattern (575A) is embedded within the first data band (575). The auxiliary servo pattern (575A) is modified to generate an updated auxiliary servo pattern (688A) during a writing pass as data is being written to the first data band (575). The servo system can further include a magnetic tape drive (326) including a head assembly (456) having (i) a first write head (482) that writes data to the magnetic tape (550) as the magnetic tape (550) moves relative to the head assembly (456) in a first tape direction, (ii) a second write head (484) that writes data to the magnetic tape (550) as the magnetic tape (550) moves relative to the head assembly (456) in a second, opposite tape direction, and (iii) an auxiliary servo reader (487) positioned in a shadow of one of the first write head (482) and the second write head (484).

Abstract: A method for providing enhanced readability of data written to a magnetic tape, includes the steps of (i) writing data to a first tape partition using a tape drive, the data being written under a first dimensional stability condition; (ii) monitoring an ambient dimensional stability condition with a condition monitor to determine if the ambient dimensional stability condition has moved at least a predetermined threshold value from the first dimensional stability condition toward a preferred dimensional stability condition; and (iii) replicating the data to a second tape partition with a data replicator when it has been determined that the ambient dimensional stability condition has moved at least the predetermined threshold value from the first dimensional stability condition toward the preferred dimensional stability condition.

Abstract: A tape cartridge for use in cleaning a head assembly of a tape drive includes a cartridge housing and a tape that is retained within the cartridge housing. The tape includes a cleaning section having a tape surface and an abrasive coating that is coupled to the tape surface. The tape has a tape thickness of between approximately three microns and seven microns. The abrasive coating has a surface roughness of at least approximately two nanometers.

Abstract: A tape cartridge for use in one or more tape drives of a tape library includes a cartridge housing and a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is retained within the cartridge housing. The magnetic tape includes a first tape section that is pre-recorded with calibrated data for evaluating data durability on the magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is usable within the tape library to measure a health of the one or more tape drives and/or confirm a suitability of an operating environment within the tape library in terms of at least one of temperature and humidity. The calibrated data in the first tape section can be further configured for evaluating total transverse dimensional stability on the magnetic tape. The first tape section can include predetermined error patterns to assist in evaluating the data durability on the magnetic tape and/or periodic tape scrubbing operations to enhance data durability on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A tape drive (226) for use in a tape library (10) that retains at least one tape cartridge (220) that retains magnetic tape (250) includes a drive housing (226A) and a media conditioner (255). The drive housing (226A) is configured to receive the tape cartridge (220). The media conditioner (255) is coupled to the drive housing (226A). The media conditioner (255) is configured to condition the magnetic tape (250) when the tape cartridge (220) is received within the drive housing (226A). The media conditioner (255) can be configured to remove at least one of abrasives, contaminants and lubricants that are on the magnetic tape (250) when the tape cartridge (220) is received within the drive housing (226A). The magnetic tape (250) is configured to move along a predefined path (251) within the drive housing (226A), which is defined by one or more rollers (254).

Abstract: A tape cartridge for retaining a magnetic tape, the tape cartridge being configured to be selectively positioned substantially within a tape drive, includes a cartridge body and a cartridge hub. The cartridge body includes a cartridge length from a front to a rear of the cartridge body, and a cartridge width from a first side to a second side of the cartridge body. The cartridge hub is positioned within the cartridge body. The cartridge hub is configured so that the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body. The cartridge hub includes a hub diameter. The cartridge length and the cartridge width provide boundaries for a maximum wound tape diameter as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body. A ratio of the maximum wound tape diameter to the hub diameter is at least approximately 3.50:1.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media to access data on removable storage media via a network attached access device. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving one or more user provided, in the removable storage media access device, receiving data over a packet communication network for storage on a removable storage medium. After receiving the data, the method provides preparing the data for storage on the removable storage medium. After preparing the data, the method provides writing the data to the removable storage medium.

Abstract: The technology described herein enables data storage across storage volumes having fewer features than the storage volumes otherwise would. In one example, a method includes, in a data access system, identifying first data for storage on physical storage volumes. Each of the physical storage volumes corresponds to respective ones of data channels and control channels. The method further includes segmenting the first data into data segments corresponding to respective ones of the data channels and transferring the data segments as respective bit streams over the respective ones of the data channels to the respective ones of the physical storage volumes. The method also includes providing real-time write control to the physical storage volumes over respective ones of the control channels. The real-time write control directs a process for how the physical storage volumes write the data segments.

Abstract: A media library (10) for evaluating a health of a head (256) of a media drive (26) includes a library control system (30) that is configured to control oversight functionality of the media library (10). The library control system (30) receives media drive information generated during at least one of a read procedure and a write procedure being performed by the media drive (26) and analyzes the media drive information to determine the health of the head (256) of the media drive (26). The media drive information includes drive performance metrics generated by the media drive (26) during a read verify procedure performed by the media drive (26) upon request of the library control system (30) of the media library (10).

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media to access data on removable storage media via a network attached access device. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving one or more user provided, in the removable storage media access device, receiving data over a packet communication network for storage on a removable storage medium. After receiving the data, the method provides preparing the data for storage on the removable storage medium. After preparing the data, the method provides writing the data to the removable storage medium.

Abstract: A tape cartridge for use in one or more tape drives of a tape library includes a cartridge housing and a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is retained within the cartridge housing. The magnetic tape includes a first tape section that is pre-recorded with calibrated data for evaluating data durability on the magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is usable within the tape library to measure a health of the one or more tape drives and/or confirm a suitability of an operating environment within the tape library in terms of at least one of temperature and humidity. The calibrated data in the first tape section can be further configured for evaluating total transverse dimensional stability on the magnetic tape. The first tape section can include predetermined error patterns to assist in evaluating the data durability on the magnetic tape and/or periodic tape scrubbing operations to enhance data durability on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive for writing data to a magnetic tape that includes a first data band, a second data band, and a servo band that is positioned between the first data band and the second data band, each of the data bands including a plurality of wraps including a first wrap and a last wrap, includes a drive controller and a tape head. The drive controller defines at least a first partition and a second partition within the magnetic tape. The tape head is configured to write data to the first partition of the magnetic tape and subsequently write data to the second partition of the magnetic tape. The drive controller defines an end of the first partition to be directly after the last wrap of the first data band. The drive controller controls the tape head to write data to all of the plurality of wraps of the first data band.

Abstract: A magnetic tape device or system can store erasure encoded data that generates a multi-dimensional erasure code corresponding to an erasure encoded object comprising a code-word (CW). The multi-dimensional erasure code enables using a single magnetic tape in response to a random object/file request, and correct for an error within the single magnetic tape without using other tapes. Encoding logic can further utilize other magnetic tapes to generate additional parity tapes that recover data from an error of the single magnetic tape in response to the error satisfying a threshold severity for a reconstruction of the erasure coded object or chunk(s) of the CW. The encoding logic can be controlled, at least in part, by one or more iterative coding processes between multiple erasure code dimensions that are orthogonal to one another.

Abstract: The technology disclosed herein enables automatic implementation of a physical barrier to protect access to data on removable storage media. In a particular embodiment, a method provides determining that the item moved into a storage position using an automatic transfer mechanism and determining that a condition for protecting the item is satisfied. Upon determining that the condition is satisfied, the method provides implementing a physical barrier that prevents the automatic transfer mechanism from removing the item from the storage position.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media to implement an object store with removable storage media. In a particular embodiment, a method provides identifying first data for storage on a first removable storage medium and designating at least a portion of the first data to a first data object. The method further provides determining a first location where to store the first data object in a first value store partition of the first removable storage medium and writing the first data object to the first location. Also, the method provides writing a first key that identifies the first data object and indicates the first location to a first key store partition of the first removable storage medium.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media to implement an object store with removable storage media. In a particular embodiment, a method provides identifying first data for storage on a first removable storage medium and designating at least a portion of the first data to a first data object. The method further provides determining a first location where to store the first data object in a first value store partition of the first removable storage medium and writing the first data object to the first location. Also, the method provides writing a first key that identifies the first data object and indicates the first location to a first key store partition of the first removable storage medium.

Abstract: A climate controller for a media library having a library interior includes one or more of a temperature sensor, a temperature controller, a humidity sensor, and a humidity controller. The temperature sensor senses an inside temperature within the library interior. The temperature controller is positioned within the library interior. The temperature controller controls the temperature within the library interior based at least partially upon the temperature information. The temperature controller can include one of a temperature increaser and a temperature decreaser. The humidity sensor senses an inside humidity within the library interior and generates humidity information. The humidity controller is positioned within the library interior. The humidity controller controls the humidity within the library interior based at least partially upon the humidity information.