A system, method and apparatus to acclimate a data storage component from a first environmental setting to a second environmental setting is disclosed. In one embodiment a system having a data storage library with a plurality of data storage cartridges and at least one media acclimation device having one or more storage locations which are sized to accept one or more data storage cartridges therein is disclosed. The at least one media acclimation device is configured to gradually acclimate the one or more storage locations from an external environmental condition to an internal environmental condition. In another embodiment, a method of acclimating a data storage library component is disclosed. The system, method and apparatus may optionally further include at least one environmental conditioning unit for conditioning the internal environment within the library.

The technology disclosed herein enables a gripper to shuffle items of removable storage media within a storage apparatus for those items. In a particular embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing for items of removable storage media. A top channel and a bottom channel are shaped to accept and store the items in respective single-file rows via an opening at one end of the rows. The apparatus also includes a shuffler for moving a first subset of the items, including ones of the items located in the bottom channel, towards the opening. When in a resting position, the shuffler includes a catch located at the opening and is connected to a rake at a closed side of the housing at an opposite end from the opening. The rake moves the first subset towards the opening when a gripper grips the catch and pulls outward from the opening. The shuffler returns to the resting position when the gripper releases the catch.

Techniques for management of movable devices are disclosed. A system receives a request for an operation associated with a position on a rail. The system selects a component on the rail to execute the operation. The system identifies a rail segment that extends from the component's initial position to the position associated with the operation. The system requests a reservation of that rail segment. If the reservation is obtained, then the system applies electrical signals to move the component along the rails segment to the rail position associated with the operation. The system may also identify one or more other components, physical cells, etc. to reserve, in order to complete the operation.

A system, method and apparatus to acclimate a data storage component from a first environmental setting to a second environmental setting is disclosed. In one embodiment a system having a data storage library with a plurality of data storage cartridges and at least one media acclimation device having one or more storage locations which are sized to accept one or more data storage cartridges therein is disclosed. The at least one media acclimation device is configured to gradually acclimate the one or more storage locations from an external environmental condition to an internal environmental condition. In another embodiment, a method of acclimating a data storage library component is disclosed. The system, method and apparatus may optionally further include at least one environmental conditioning unit for conditioning the internal environment within the library.

A system, method and apparatus to acclimate a data storage component from a first environmental setting to a second environmental setting is disclosed. In one embodiment a system having a data storage library with a plurality of data storage cartridges and at least one media acclimation device having one or more storage locations which are sized to accept one or more data storage cartridges therein is disclosed. The at least one media acclimation device is configured to gradually acclimate the one or more storage locations from an external environmental condition to an internal environmental condition. In another embodiment, a method of acclimating a data storage library component is disclosed. The system, method and apparatus may optionally further include at least one environmental conditioning unit for conditioning the internal environment within the library.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to managing index writes within a tape. A determination can be made that a change was made to at least one file stored within a tape medium while the tape medium was mounted within a tape drive. In response to the determination, an index can be written to a data partition of the tape medium. A determination can be made whether the change included any changes to a file at least equal to a threshold hierarchy level. In response to determining that the change did not include any changes to a file at least equal to the threshold hierarchy level, a first instruction can be issued to the tape drive to reposition the tape medium to the end of the tape. A second instruction can be issued to the tape drive to perform an unthread operation at low tension to rewind the tape medium.

An apparatus for big data tape management tape cartridge management. The apparatus includes a tape gripper for storing one or more additional tape cartridges within a housing of the tape gripper, wherein the housing of the tape gripper includes a tape cartridge cache, where the tape cartridge cache is a modification to the housing of the tape gripper for holding the one or more additional tape cartridges stacked internally within the tape gripper, the tape cartridge cache is affixed to a bottom portion of the housing of the tape gripper, and the tape cartridge cache includes a plate, oriented above and centered to the tape cartridge cache, capable of being raised and lowered within the tape cartridge cache utilizing one or more springs mounted under the plate inside the tape cartridge cache.

A system, according to one embodiment, includes: an automated data storage library which includes a designated physical mechanism accessible at the automated data storage library, and a memory. The automated data storage library is configured to capture a snapshot of one or more logs in response to the designated physical mechanism being triggered. The automated data storage library is also configured to store the snapshot in the memory. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, by the computer, a request to access a first magnetic recording tape. A determination is made, by the computer, whether the first magnetic recording tape is currently loaded in a tape drive. In response to determining that the first magnetic recording tape is not currently loaded in a tape drive, a determination is made, by the computer, of an amount of time to unmount and unload a magnetic recording tape from each of at least two tape drives each having a magnetic recording tape loaded therein. The tape drive with the shortest amount of time to unmount and unload the magnetic recording tape loaded therein is selected and instructed to unload the magnetic recording tape loaded therein. The first magnetic recording tape is caused to be loaded into the selected tape drive.

A data storage system that moves and transfers components utilizing drones is disclosed. The data storage system comprises a data storage library for reading and writing of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges, at least one drone vehicle, a processing device, and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to cause the processing device to: receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location in the data storage library, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location, and perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location by the drone vehicle.