A noncontact communication device includes a processor, and a transmission and reception device that applies a magnetic field to a noncontact storage medium mounted in a magnetic tape cartridge to induce power in the noncontact storage medium and is coupled to the noncontact storage medium by electromagnetic induction to perform transmission and reception of information with the noncontact storage medium. The noncontact storage medium has a measurement circuit that measures the power, and transmits power information regarding the power measured by the measurement circuit to the noncontact communication device. The transmission and reception device receives the power information, and the processor is configured to execute support processing of supporting the transmission and reception based on the power information received by the transmission and reception device.

A recording control device reads tape quality information recorded on an RFID tag included in a recording tape cartridge, acquires drive quality information indicating quality of each of a plurality of tape drives that are loading targets of the recording tape cartridge, and prohibits reading or writing of data from or to the recording tape using the tape drive in a combination of which the quality is lower than predetermined quality among combinations of quality of the recording tape cartridge indicated by the read tape quality information and quality of each of the plurality of tape drives indicated by the acquired drive quality information.

A recording control device reads tape quality information recorded on an RFID tag included in a recording tape cartridge, acquires drive quality information indicating quality of each of a plurality of tape drives that are loading targets of the recording tape cartridge, and prohibits reading or writing of data from or to the recording tape using the tape drive in a combination of which the quality is lower than predetermined quality among combinations of quality of the recording tape cartridge indicated by the read tape quality information and quality of each of the plurality of tape drives indicated by the acquired drive quality information.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head, and a controller coupled to the magnetic head, the controller being configured to perform a method that includes measuring humidity in a vicinity of the apparatus in response to detection of an error while performing a data operation on a magnetic recording tape. An error recovery procedure to remove debris on the tape is executed in response to detection of an error and the measured humidity exceeding a predefined upper limit value. An error recovery procedure to remove debris adhering to the magnetic head is executed in response to detection of an error and the measured humidity being below a predefined lower limit value.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head, and a controller coupled to the magnetic head, the controller being configured to perform a method that includes measuring humidity in a vicinity of the apparatus in response to detection of an error while performing a data operation on a magnetic recording tape. An error recovery procedure to remove debris on the tape is executed in response to detection of an error and the measured humidity exceeding a predefined upper limit value. An error recovery procedure to remove debris adhering to the magnetic head is executed in response to detection of an error and the measured humidity being below a predefined lower limit value.

A drive-implemented method according to one embodiment includes determining that unthreading of a tape is to be performed, and in response to the determination that the unthreading of the tape is to be performed, determining whether to write an index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. In response to a determination to write the index on the tape, the index is written on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. The tape is then unthreaded. The drive-implemented method further includes receiving a write request after the unthreading, rethreading the tape, and writing data corresponding to the write request on the tape. The index stored on the tape prior to the unthreading is overwritten with the data corresponding to the write request.

A recording control device and a recording control method capable of reducing an error rate of reading or writing of data from or to a recording tape included in a recording tape cartridge are obtained.

A recording control device reads tape quality information recorded on an RFID tag included in a recording tape cartridge, acquires drive quality information indicating quality of each of a plurality of tape drives that are loading targets of the recording tape cartridge, and prohibits reading or writing of data from or to the recording tape using the tape drive in a combination of which the quality is lower than predetermined quality among combinations of quality of the recording tape cartridge indicated by the read tape quality information and quality of each of the plurality of tape drives indicated by the acquired drive quality information.

A drive-implemented method according to one embodiment includes determining that unthreading of a tape is to be performed, and in response to the determination that the unthreading of the tape is to be performed, determining whether to write an index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. In response to a determination to write the index on the tape, the index is written on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. The tape is then unthreaded. The drive-implemented method further includes receiving a write request after the unthreading, rethreading the tape, and writing data corresponding to the write request on the tape. The index stored on the tape prior to the unthreading is overwritten with the data corresponding to the write request.

A drive-implemented method according to one embodiment includes determining that unthreading of a tape is to be performed, and in response to the determination that the unthreading of the tape is to be performed, determining whether to write an index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. In response to a determination to write the index on the tape, the index is written on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. The tape is then unthreaded.