An apparatus, in accordance with one approach, includes a receiving area configured to receive a plurality of mounts, each mount being configured to support at least one tape spool pair thereon. A magnetic head is configured to perform data operations on magnetic recording tapes of the tape spool pairs. A positioning mechanism is configured to selectively align the magnetic head to a selected one of the tape spool pairs. A product apparatus, in accordance with another approach, includes a mount having a tape spool pair thereon. The mount is configured to be inserted in a receiving area of an apparatus configured to receive a plurality of mounts.

A method for indexing a tape for unmounting from a tape drive is discussed. The method can determine that an update has been made to the tape since it was last mounted. The method can identify a tape head position with respect to the tape, the tape including a data partition and an index partition. The method can identify first position and a second position on the tape. The method can determine first distance, a length of tape between first position and tape head position. The method can determine second distance, a length of tape between first position and second position. The method can determine that first distance is less than second distance. The method can reposition the tape to a primary section and write the metadata index. The method can reposition tape to the second position write a data index beginning at the second position of the data partition.

A method for indexing a tape for unmounting from a tape drive is discussed. The method can determine that an update has been made to the tape since it was last mounted. The method can identify a tape head position with respect to the tape, the tape including a data partition and an index partition. The method can identify first position and a second position on the tape. The method can determine first distance, a length of tape between first position and tape head position. The method can determine second distance, a length of tape between first position and second position. The method can determine that first distance is less than second distance. The method can reposition the tape to a primary section and write the metadata index. The method can reposition tape to the second position write a data index beginning at the second position of the data partition.

The present disclosure generally relates to a tape embedded drive having a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) and a contact plate. By using a support structure or contact plate beneath the tape, read and write heads can be designed to be narrower than the tape. The support structure or contact plate can stretch or relax the tape so that the spacing between servo tracks on the tape corresponds to the servo to servo spacing on the head. HGAs, which are narrower than the tape, can fly over the tape and read data from and write data to the tape. The HGA can have a single head or multiple heads. Additionally, multiple independent head assemblies can also be used for reading from and writing to the same tape.

The present disclosure generally relates to a tape embedded drive having a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) and a contact plate. By using a support structure or contact plate beneath the tape, read and write heads can be designed to be narrower than the tape. The support structure or contact plate can stretch or relax the tape so that the spacing between servo tracks on the tape corresponds to the servo to servo spacing on the head. HGAs, which are narrower than the tape, can fly over the tape and read data from and write data to the tape. The HGA can have a single head or multiple heads. Additionally, multiple independent head assemblies can also be used for reading from and writing to the same tape.

The present disclosure generally relates to a tape embedded drive having a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) and a contact plate. By using a support structure or contact plate beneath the tape, read and write heads can be designed to be narrower than the tape. The support structure or contact plate can stretch or relax the tape so that the spacing between servo tracks on the tape corresponds to the servo to servo spacing on the head. HGAs, which are narrower than the tape, can fly over the tape and read data from and write data to the tape. The HGA can have a single head or multiple heads. Additionally, multiple independent head assemblies can also be used for reading from and writing to the same tape.

The present disclosure generally relates to a tape embedded drive having a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) and a contact plate. By using a support structure or contact plate beneath the tape, read and write heads can be designed to be narrower than the tape. The support structure or contact plate can stretch or relax the tape so that the spacing between servo tracks on the tape corresponds to the servo to servo spacing on the head. HGAs, which are narrower than the tape, can fly over the tape and read data from and write data to the tape. The HGA can have a single head or multiple heads. Additionally, multiple independent head assemblies can also be used for reading from and writing to the same tape.

The present disclosure generally relates to a tape embedded drive having a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) and a contact plate. By using a support structure or contact plate beneath the tape, read and write heads can be designed to be narrower than the tape. The support structure or contact plate can stretch or relax the tape so that the spacing between servo tracks on the tape corresponds to the servo to servo spacing on the head. HGAs, which are narrower than the tape, can fly over the tape and read data from and write data to the tape. The HGA can have a single head or multiple heads. Additionally, multiple independent head assemblies can also be used for reading from and writing to the same tape.

The present disclosure generally relates to a tape embedded drive having a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) and a contact plate. By using a support structure or contact plate beneath the tape, read and write heads can be designed to be narrower than the tape. The support structure or contact plate can stretch or relax the tape so that the spacing between servo tracks on the tape corresponds to the servo to servo spacing on the head. HGAs, which are narrower than the tape, can fly over the tape and read data from and write data to the tape. The HGA can have a single head or multiple heads. Additionally, multiple independent head assemblies can also be used for reading from and writing to the same tape.

The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic recording device having a magnetic recording media guide support system with a load-unload mechanism. The magnetic recording media guide is positioned between the magnetic head assembly and at least one guide roller, and moves a magnetic recording media surface closer to and further from the magnetic head assembly. The magnetic recording media guide is movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the magnetic recording media moves past the magnetic head assembly. The magnetic recording media guide is stationary in relation to the magnetic recording media when the magnetic recording media moves past the magnetic head assembly while a magnetic head is positioned to read data from or write data to the magnetic recording media. Additionally, the magnetic recording media guide can planarize the magnetic recording media surface on the magnetic head.