Abstract: Embodiments include a data aware deduplicating object store. The data aware deduplicating data store includes a consistent hashing logic that manages a consistent hashing architecture for the object store. The consistent hashing architecture includes a metadata ring and a bulk ring. The consistent hashing architecture may be a multiple ring architecture comprising a metadata ring and two or more bulk rings. A bulk ring may include a key/value (k/v) data store, where a k/v data store stores a shard of an index and a reference count that facilitates the individual approach to garbage collection or data reclamation. The data aware deduplicating data store also includes a deduplication logic that provides data deduplication for data to be stored in the object store. The deduplication logic performs variable length deduplication and provides a shared nothing approach.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media for storing data to a plurality of physical storage volumes. In a particular embodiment, a method provides identifying first data for storage on the plurality of physical storage volumes. Each of the plurality of storage volumes corresponds to respective ones of a plurality of data channels. The method further provides segmenting the first data into a plurality of data segments corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data channels and transferring the plurality of data segments as respective bit streams over the respective ones of the plurality of data channels to the respective ones of the plurality of physical storage volumes. The plurality of storage volumes stores the respective bit streams in the exact condition in which the bit streams are received.

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 diagnostic tape (318) for use with a tape drive (310) having a tape head (322) includes a first tape section (430A) and a second tape section (430B). The first tape section (430A) and the second tape section (430B) are configured to move across the tape head (322) during use of the tape drive (310). The first tape section (430A) includes a first patterned data code (432A) that is indicative of a first spacing between the tape head (322) and the first tape section (430A). The second tape section (430B) includes a second patterned data code (432B) that is indicative of a second spacing between the tape head (322) and the second tape section (430B). The second patterned data code (432B) is different than the first patterned data code (432A). The diagnostic tape (318) can further include a tape head cleaning section (630F) including abrasive material (650) that is configured to move across the tape head (322) to clean the tape head (322).

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: Example apparatus and methods combine erasure coding with data deduplication to simultaneously reduce the overall redundancy in data while increasing the redundancy of unique data. In one embodiment, an efficient representation of a data set is produced by deduplication. The efficient representation reduces duplicate data in the data set. Redundancy is then added back into the data set using erasure coding. The redundancy that is added back in adds protection to the unique data associated with the efficient representation. How much redundancy is added back in and what type of redundancy is added back in may be controlled based on an attribute (e.g., value, reference count, symbol size, number of symbols) of the unique data. Decisions concerning how much and what type of redundancy to add back in may be adapted over time based, for example, on observations of the efficiency of the overall system.

Abstract: A magnetic tape and servo elements of a magnetic head for reading and writing to the magnetic tape can ascertain servo band signals from different servo bands that are vertically aligned and adjacent to one another. When operating in a write or read mode, at least two servo elements can be activated to respond to a write/read operation based on a determined position across a width of the servo bands in the magnetic tape. The determined position is based on various pattern combinations from different servo band identifiers from the servo band signals.

Abstract: A diagnostic tape (318) for use with a tape drive (310) having a tape head (322) includes a first tape section (430A) and a second tape section (430B). The first tape section (430A) and the second tape section (430B) are configured to move across the tape head (322) during use of the tape drive (310). The first tape section (430A) includes a first patterned data code (432A) that is indicative of a first spacing between the tape head (322) and the first tape section (430A). The second tape section (430B) includes a second patterned data code (432B) that is indicative of a second spacing between the tape head (322) and the second tape section (430B). The second patterned data code (432B) is different than the first patterned data code (432A). The diagnostic tape (318) can further include a tape head cleaning section (630F) including abrasive material (650) that is configured to move across the tape head (322) to clean the tape head (322).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus deduplicate and erasure code a message in a data storage system. One example apparatus includes a first chunking circuit that generates a set of data chunks from a message, an outer precoding circuit that generates a set of precoded data chunks and a set of parity symbols from the set of data chunks, a second chunking circuit that generates a set of chunked parity symbols from the set of parity symbols, a deduplication circuit that generates a set of deduplicated data chunks by deduplicating the set of precoded chunks or the set of chunked parity symbols, an unequal error protection (UEP) circuit that generates an encoded message from the set of deduplicated data chunks, and a storage circuit that controls the data storage system to store the set of deduplicated data chunks, the set of parity symbols, or the encoded message.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus deduplicate and erasure code a message in a data storage system. One example apparatus includes a first chunking circuit that generates a set of data chunks from a message, an outer precoding circuit that generates a set of precoded data chunks and a set of parity symbols from the set of data chunks, a second chunking circuit that generates a set of chunked parity symbols from the set of parity symbols, a deduplication circuit that generates a set of deduplicated data chunks by deduplicating the set of precoded chunks or the set of chunked parity symbols, an unequal error protection (UEP) circuit that generates an encoded message from the set of deduplicated data chunks, and a storage circuit that controls the data storage system to store the set of deduplicated data chunks, the set of parity symbols, or the encoded message.

Abstract: A magnetic tape for use in a tape drive includes a plurality of tracks and a plurality of media defect characteristics. The plurality of tracks are laid out along a length of the magnetic tape, each of the plurality of tracks being configured to receive data that is organized into a plurality of fixed-size subdata sets each including a plurality of codeword interleaves. The data is laid out on the plurality of tracks in accordance with a tape layout allocation strategy as determined by a tape layout module. The tape layout module includes a tape layout optimization system that receives information on the plurality of media defect characteristics, the tape layout optimization system determining the tape layout allocation strategy based at least in part on at least one of the plurality of media defect characteristics; and the tape layout optimization system determining the tape layout allocation strategy further based on distance spectra between pairs of the plurality of codeword interleaves.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus associated with data cold storage are described. Example apparatus include an array of data storage devices arranged in rows and columns. Columns of the array are orthogonal to rows. A row has an associated row-centric power supply, and a column has an associated column-centric local electronics module (LEM) that controls a data storage device in the column independently of other data storage devices in the array. Example apparatus include logics that control a power mode of a data storage device independently of other data storage devices in the array, that control a power mode of an LEM, that adaptively regulate the level of data stored in a buffer, and that determine whether a data object will be stored in the buffer or stored on a data storage device in the array, based on the probability the data object will be accessed within a threshold period of time.

Abstract: A tape layout module for determining a tape layout allocation strategy for laying out data on tape, the data being organized into a plurality of fixed-size subdata sets with each of the plurality of subdata sets including a plurality of codeword interleaves, the tape including a plurality of media defect characteristics, includes a tape layout optimization system including a processor that receives information on the plurality of media defect characteristics. The tape layout optimization system determines the tape layout allocation strategy based at least in part on at least one of the plurality of media defect characteristics. Additionally, the tape layout optimization system can determine the tape layout allocation strategy further based on distance spectra between pairs of the plurality of codeword interleaves. Further, the tape layout optimization system can determine the tape layout allocation strategy by selectively utilizing at least one tape layout parameter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus associated with storing data in high or low energy zones are described. Example apparatus include a data storage system (DSS) that protects a message using an erasure code (EC). A location in the DSS may have an energy efficiency rating or a latency. Example apparatus include logics that produce an EC that has a likelihood of use, that select a location to store the EC in the DSS based on the energy efficiency rating, the latency, or the likelihood of use, that store the EC in the location, and that compute an order of retrieval for an EC stored in the location. The order of retrieval may be based on the energy efficiency rating or the latency. The EC may also have a priority based on the number of erasures for which the EC corrects.

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: Methods and apparatus associated with data cold storage are described. Example apparatus include an array of data storage devices arranged in rows and columns. Columns of the array are orthogonal to rows. A row has an associated row-centric power supply, and a column has an associated column-centric local electronics module (LEM) that controls a data storage device in the column independently of other data storage devices in the array. Example apparatus include logics that control a power mode of a data storage device independently of other data storage devices in the array, that control a power mode of an LEM, that adaptively regulate the level of data stored in a buffer, and that determine whether a data object will be stored in the buffer or stored on a data storage device in the array, based on the probability the data object will be accessed within a threshold period of time.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and other embodiments associated with adaptive use of erasure codes for distributed data storage systems are described. One example method includes accessing a message, where the message has a message size, selecting an encoding strategy as a function of the message size, data storage device failure statistics, data storage device wear periods, data storage space constraints, or overhead constraints, and where the encoding strategy includes an erasure code approach, generating an encoded message using the encoding strategy, generating an encoded block, where the encoded block includes the encoded message and metadata associated with the message, and storing the encoded block in the data storage system. Example methods and apparatus may employ Reed Solomon erasure codes or Fountain erasure codes. Example methods and apparatus may display to a user the storage capacity and durability of the data storage system.

Abstract: A tape layout module for determining a tape layout allocation strategy for laying out data on tape, the data being organized into a plurality of fixed-size subdata sets with each of the plurality of subdata sets including a plurality of codeword interleaves, the tape including a plurality of media defect characteristics, includes a tape layout optimization system including a processor that receives information on the plurality of media defect characteristics. The tape layout optimization system determines the tape layout allocation strategy based at least in part on at least one of the plurality of media defect characteristics. Additionally, the tape layout optimization system can determine the tape layout allocation strategy further based on distance spectra between pairs of the plurality of codeword interleaves. Further, the tape layout optimization system can determine the tape layout allocation strategy by selectively utilizing at least one tape layout parameter.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media for storing data to a plurality of physical storage volumes. In a particular embodiment, a method provides identifying first data for storage on the plurality of physical storage volumes. Each of the plurality of storage volumes corresponds to respective ones of a plurality of data channels. The method further provides segmenting the first data into a plurality of data segments corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data channels and transferring the plurality of data segments as respective bit streams over the respective ones of the plurality of data channels to the respective ones of the plurality of physical storage volumes. The plurality of storage volumes stores the respective bit streams in the exact condition in which the bit streams are received.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus associated with data cold storage are described. Example apparatus include an array of data storage devices arranged in rows and columns. Columns of the array are orthogonal to rows. A row has an associated row-centric power supply, and a column has an associated column-centric local electronics module (LEM) that controls a data storage device in the column independently of other data storage devices in the array. Example apparatus include logics that control a power mode of a data storage device independently of other data storage devices in the array, that control a power mode of an LEM, that adaptively regulate the level of data stored in a buffer, and that determine whether a data object will be stored in the buffer or stored on a data storage device in the array, based on the probability the data object will be accessed within a threshold period of time.