International Business Machines Corporation

Industrial Business Machines Corporation

Said Abdullah Ahmad

Ernest Stewart Gale

Icko E T Iben

Michael T Benhase

David Lee Swanson

Wlodzimierz Stanley Czarnecki

David Frank Mannenbach

W Stanley Czarnecki

Khanh V Ngo

Eric Rolf Christensen

Josephine F Bayang

Shawn Owen Brume

William Dennis Williams

Illarion Borisevich

Tim Stephen Vande Zande

Josephine F Kubista

Pamela Ruth Nylander-Hill

Kurt Allen Lovrien

Jacob Lee Sheppard

Rhea Reyes Frondozo

In one general embodiment, a method for selecting parameters of an error recovery procedure includes detecting an error during performance of a data operation on a data storage medium by an apparatus. In response to detecting the error, parameters of an error recovery procedure are selected based at least in part on: (a) first information about previous interactions between the apparatus and multiple data storage media, and (b) second information about previous interactions between the data storage medium and other apparatuses.

Adjusting error recovery procedure (ERP) in data drive based on historical ERP information

A tape may be mounted into a tape drive. Mounting the tape into the tape drive may include loading the tape from a storage slot. The tape drive may request a first record of the tape from a tape storage subsystem. The tape drive may determine whether the first record of the tape exists in the tape storage subsystem. The tape drive may load the first record of the tape in random access memory (RAM) of the tape drive. The first record may include one or more data entries. The tape drive may append a new data entry to the first record. The first record may be transitioned to a second record upon being appended with the new data entry. The tape may be unmounted from the tape drive.

Automatic volume statistical and performance information tracking

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: collecting performance data corresponding to a tape drive and/or a magnetic tape head, storing the performance data in memory, and using the data to perform problem analysis. The performance data includes a resistance of the tape drive and/or magnetic tape head and a resolution of the tape drive and/or the magnetic tape head. Moreover, performing the problem analysis includes: determining a condition of the tape drive and/or the magnetic tape head, wherein the condition is selected from a group consisting of: wear, corrosion, defective leads and wire bonds. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Using head and/or drive performance information for predicting and/or ascertaining failures

A method, according to one embodiment, includes writing a plurality of shingled tracks using an array of writers. The array of readers is repositioned to various locations between first and second positions and data is read from the shingled tracks at the various locations. A read offset point where read performance is about the highest during the reading performed when repositioning the array of readers between the first and second positions is determined. The method includes computing, using the read offset point, data describing a lateral writing position to use during writing such that shingled tracks are written in a location specified by a format. As a result, methods according to the present embodiment are able to provide desirable track alignment and reduced readback error rates for data of shingled tracks written to magnetic medium.

Measurement and correction of magnetic writer offset error

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for compensating for loss of current through shorted tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors. In one embodiment, for a magnetic head having multiple TMR read sensors, a first voltage limit is set for most parts and a second voltage limit is set for all of the parts. A number of TMR read sensors which are allowed to function between the first and the second voltage limits is determined using a probability algorithm, which determines the probability that the application of the second voltage limit will result in a dielectric breakdown within an expected lifetime of a drive is below a threshold value. For the number of TMR read sensors which are allowed to function at voltages between the first and second voltage limits, a determined subset of those sensors are then allowed to function at the second voltage limit.

Compensating for loss of current through shorted tunneling magnetoresistance sensors

A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes collecting, by the computer, performance data corresponding to a tape drive and/or a magnetic tape head. The performance data is stored in memory, and used by the computer to perform problem analysis. A computer-implemented method according to another embodiment includes collecting, by the computer, performance data corresponding to a tape drive and/or a magnetic tape head. The collected performance data is condensed to reduce a size of the collected performance data. The condensed performance data is stored in memory, and used to perform problem analysis.

A method, according to one embodiment, includes writing a plurality of shingled tracks using an array of writers, determining first and second positions of an array of readers relative to the shingled tracks, the first and second positions being above and/or beyond track edges of the shingled tracks, repositioning the array of readers to various locations between the first and second positions and reading data from the shingled tracks, determining a read offset point where read performance is about the highest during the reading performed when repositioning the array of readers between the first and second positions, and computing, using the read offset point, data describing a lateral writing position to use during writing such that shingled tracks are written in a location specified by a format. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Magnetoresistive (MR) bias is dynamically controlled in a tape drive using a processor device. Median tape head amplitude is monitored during a calibration operation, as measured across all tracks of the tape head, against predetermined thresholds of the tape drive for determining if the median tape head amplitude is below the threshold value. Upon determining the median tape head amplitude is below the threshold value during the calibration operation, a reference MR bias and a MR bias range is dynamically adjusted, during the calibration operation, for increasing the median tape head amplitude.

Dynamically controlling magnetoresitive bias

Magnetoresistive (MR) bias is dynamically controlled in a tape drive using a processor device. Upon determining head amplitude is below a threshold value, the MR bias is adjusted for increasing the head amplitude and extending the useful life span of the tape drive.

Dynamically controlling magnetoresistive bias

Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for validating stored copies of data images to load into memory. An image of data is maintained in a memory, wherein the image in the memory includes a generation number. The image in the memory is written to at least two copies of the image to storage locations in response to a first event, wherein the generation number for the image in the memory is stored in the storage locations having the copies of the image. A check generation number is stored in a storage location. The image is loaded from at least one of the copies of the image in one of the storage locations to the memory in response to a second event The generation number for the image loaded into the memory. The check generation number is incremented in response to the second event. The generation numbers for the copies of the image in the storage locations and the check generation number are used to validate the copies of the image.

Validating stored copies of data images to load into memory

In one embodiment, an extended data storage system employs a first data storage and an extended data storage. A first level of metadata is established with respect to data from the using entity, the first level of metadata is provided in the first data storage. The data from the using entity is stored in the extended data storage. A second level of metadata at least describing the data as stored in the extended data storage is also established, wherein the second level of metadata associated with the first level of metadata for the stored data. The first level of metadata is made accessible to the using entity at the first data storage; and the second level of metadata is made unavailable to the using entity. Thus, the data is stored in the extended data storage and a small amount of metadata is stored in the first data storage.

Extended data storage system

Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for validating stored copies of data images to load into memory. An image of data is maintained in a memory, wherein the image in the memory includes a generation number. The image in the memory is written to at least two copies of the image to storage locations in response to a first event, wherein the generation number for the image in the memory is stored in the storage locations having the copies of the image. A check generation number is stored in a storage location. The image is loaded from at least one of the copies of the image in one of the storage locations to the memory in response to a second event. The generation number for the image loaded into the memory. The check generation number is incremented in response to the second event. The generation numbers for the copies of the image in the storage locations and the check generation number are used to validate the copies of the image.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Said Abdullah Ahmad