A computer-implemented method for optimizing a global lifetime for a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges for a magnetic tape library is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes storing a magnetic tape cartridge lifecycle table for a set of parameter values. The set of parameter values include: volume serial numbers of the plurality magnetic tape cartridges, lifetime metric values of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, and end-of-life-indicator values for the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges. The computer-implemented method further includes selecting a magnetic tape cartridge from the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges based on the set of parameter values and a selection criteria, wherein the selection of the magnetic tape cartridge optimizes the global lifetime of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in the magnetic tape library.

A computer-implemented method for optimizing a global lifetime for a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges for a magnetic tape library is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes storing a magnetic tape cartridge lifecycle table for a set of parameter values. The set of parameter values include: volume serial numbers of the plurality magnetic tape cartridges, lifetime metric values of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, and end-of-life-indicator values for the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges. The computer-implemented method further includes selecting a magnetic tape cartridge from the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges based on the set of parameter values and a selection criteria, wherein the selection of the magnetic tape cartridge optimizes the global lifetime of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in the magnetic tape library.

In general, techniques are described for monitoring health of a head in a magnetic data storage drive. A health controller may be configured to receive multi-variate sensor signals indicative of a respective reference value at least one head parameter, wherein the respective reference value is based in part on at least one initial measurement of parameters of the head obtained at a first time, determine a respective predicted current value based at least in part on a respective fixed-drift model and the multi-variate sensor signals, determine a respective actual current value that is based at least in part on at least one current measurement of the head obtained at a second time later than the first time, determine a health status for the head, and store the health status in memory.

An error is determined in a target track of a heat-assisted recording medium. The error triggers an error recovery procedure. The error recovery procedure involves storing data from at least part of an adjacent track that is immediately proximate the target track to another data storage location. The error recovery procedure also involves, for two or more iterations in which a laser power is incrementally changed from a lower power to a higher power, erasing at least part of the adjacent track at the laser power and attempting to recover the target track.

Embodiments described herein provide an apparatus that is operable with a disk drive. The apparatus includes a memory device operable to store a plurality of bit sets. Each bit set identifies a track and a sector of the disk drive and a number of times that the track of the disk drive has been written. A controller of the disk drive is operable to increment the number when the track is written. Each bit set comprises a number of bits that is established according to track location of the disk drive.

In general, techniques are described for monitoring health of a head in a magnetic data storage drive. A health controller may be configured to receive multi-variate sensor signals indicative of a respective reference value at least one head parameter, wherein the respective reference value is based in part on at least one initial measurement of parameters of the head obtained at a first time, determine a respective predicted current value based at least in part on a respective fixed-drift model and the multi-variate sensor signals, determine a respective actual current value that is based at least in part on at least one current measurement of the head obtained at a second time later than the first time, determine a health status for the head, and store the health status in memory.

Some embodiments of the present invention logically eliminate an end region of a user-data area of a magnetic storage tape during formatting (or re-formatting) of the tape, if the position error signal (PES) variance corresponding to the end region exceeds a threshold. An adjacent region, having a PES variance less than the threshold is designated as a new end region, thereby shortening the user-data area of the tape and extending its usable life.

For avoiding debris accumulation on a tape drive, a processor records a position error signal (PES) value and cumulative head turnaround count for each region of a plurality of regions of a magnetic tape. The processor further selects a first region in which to reverse travel of the magnetic tape relative to a tape head. In response to determining one of the PES value for the first region does not exceed a PES threshold and the cumulative head turnaround count for the first region does not exceed a count threshold, the processor reverses travel of the magnetic tape at the first region. In response to determining the PES value for the first region exceeds the PES threshold and the cumulative head turnaround count for the first region exceeds the count threshold, the processor selects a second region at which to reverse travel of the magnetic tape.

A storage control device includes a processor which performs first copy of copying first data stored in a first storage device into a first backup region upon detecting a failure presage in the first storage device. The processor performs first write of writing second data specified in a first write request to the first storage device and second write of writing the second data into the first backup region upon receiving the first write request while performing the first copy. The processor performs second copy of copying third data stored in the first backup region to a second storage device upon completing the first copy. The processor performs third write of writing fourth data specified in a second write request to the second storage device in place of the first storage device upon receiving the second write request after completion of the second copy.

Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising comparing high-latency data sectors of a storage band, the high-latency data sectors having latency above a predetermined threshold, with target sectors for storing new data to determine one or more of the high-latency data sectors that may be skipped during retrieval of at-rest data from the storage band.