A method and system for adjusting a servo head in a tape drive is disclosed. Position information for the servo head can be obtained and used to determine if an adjustment of one of the servo heads is necessary. By comparing the position of the tape against two servo heads, erroneous adjustments to the servo head can be obviated.

A tape appliance includes first and second tape guide components. The tape path includes a first path portion between a tape supply reel and the first guide component, a second path portion between a tape take-up reel and the second guide component, and a joining path portion between the first and second guide components. When tape travel is in the first longitudinal direction, a first tape head module engages the tape along one of the first or second tape path portions, and a second tape head module engages the tape along the joining path portion, such that the first tape head module is the leading module. When the tape travel is in the reverse direction, the first tape head module is positioned to engage the tape along the other of the first or second tape path portions, such that the first tape head module remains the leading module.

A system, according to one embodiment, includes: a module having transducers positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module, a guide configured to guide a magnetic tape over the module, and a patterned bar positioned relative to the guide and module to engage the magnetic tape. The patterned bar has a plurality of recessed regions along a tape bearing surface of the patterned bar. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

A tape appliance includes first and second tape head modules, and a guide surface with first and second slots. The guide surface is configured such that the as the tape moves in first and reverse directions of longitudinal tape travel, the tape wraps about the guide surface, and at least two non-overlapping wrap positions of the tape engage the first slot, and at least one wrap position of the tape engages the second slot. When the tape travel is in the first longitudinal direction, the first and second tape head modules are positioned within the first and second slots, respectively, such that the first tape head module is the leading module. When the tape travel is in the reverse longitudinal direction, the first and second tape head modules are positioned within the first and second slots, respectively, such that the first tape head module remains the leading module.

A tape appliance includes first and second tape head modules, and a guide surface with first and second slots. The guide surface is configured such that the as the tape moves in first and reverse directions of longitudinal tape travel, the tape wraps about the guide surface, and at least two non-overlapping wrap positions of the tape engage the first slot, and at least one wrap position of the tape engages the second slot. When the tape travel is in the first longitudinal direction, the first and second tape head modules are positioned within the first and second slots, respectively, such that the first tape head module is the leading module. When the tape travel is in the reverse longitudinal direction, the first and second tape head modules are positioned within the first and second slots, respectively, such that the first tape head module remains the leading module.

A tape appliance with selectably always-leading head assemblies. The tape appliance includes a first tape head module, a second tape head module, and a tape guide assembly for guiding a tape past the first and second tape head modules such that the first tape head module is the leading module for both first and the reverse directions of longitudinal tape travel.

A computer program product for positioning an actuator, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se. The program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform a method that includes generating or receiving, by the processing circuit, a first value representative of a lateral position of a tape, and using, by the processing circuit, the first value to adjust a position of a coarse actuator for moving a magnetic head in response to determining that the first value is in a first range relative to a first threshold. An integrator value is used by the processing circuit to adjust the position of the coarse actuator in response to determining that the first value is in a second range relative to the first threshold.

A tape appliance with selectably always-leading head assemblies. The tape appliance includes a first tape head module, a second tape head module, and a tape guide assembly for guiding a tape past the first and second tape head modules such that the first tape head module is the leading module for both first and the reverse directions of longitudinal tape travel.

A plurality of servo patterns are recorded in a magnetic tape along a longitudinal direction. The servo pattern is at least one linear magnetization region pair. The linear magnetization region pair includes a first linear magnetization region, which is linearly magnetized, and a second linear magnetization region, which is linearly magnetized. The first linear magnetization region and the second linear magnetization region are inclined in opposite directions with respect to a first imaginary straight line along a width direction of the magnetic tape. The first linear magnetization region has a steeper inclined angle with respect to the first imaginary straight line than the second linear magnetization region.