An apparatus includes a magnetic head having a first array of read transducers, an array of write transducers, and a second array of read transducers. A center-to-center pitch of the read transducers in the first array is less than a center-to-center pitch of the write transducers. A center-to-center pitch of the read transducers in the second array is greater than a center-to-center pitch of the write transducers. The read transducers in the first and second arrays are aligned with the write transducers along an intended direction of tape travel thereacross for enabling read-while-write operation.

In response to a rotation of timing-based servo (TBS) patterns of a first servo band and a second servo band, heights of top and bottom portions of servo stripes of servo frames of the TBS patterns are adjusted to compensate for changes in a usable height of the servo stripes caused by the rotation.

In response to a rotation of timing-based servo (TBS) patterns of a first servo band and a second servo band, heights of top and bottom portions of servo stripes of servo frames of the TBS patterns are adjusted to compensate for changes in a usable height of the servo stripes caused by the rotation.

In response to a rotation of timing-based servo (TBS) patterns of a first servo band and a second servo band, heights of top and bottom portions of servo stripes of servo frames of the TBS patterns are adjusted to compensate for changes in a usable height of the servo stripes caused by the rotation.

Technologies are provided for accessing a physical location of a storage medium reader of a storage device. A computing device can transmit a request for the storage medium reader's physical location. The storage device can determine the physical location of the storage medium reader and transmit the location to the computing device. The computing device can use the physical location of the storage medium reader to determine an expected latency for retrieving one or more stored data items. The computing device can transmit a command to change the physical location of the storage medium reader, for example by changing a location of the storage medium reader with respect to a given storage medium and/or changing a storage medium that is accessed by the storage medium reader. The computing device can control the placement of the storage medium reader in order to optimize retrieval of data items from the storage device.

A tape drive may calculate a slope for each of the timing-based-servo marks in a timing-based-servo group. The timing-based-servo marks are arranged in one or more M-patterns. The tape drive may average the slope for each of the timing-based-servo marks across the one or more M-patterns. The tape drive may generate a least-squares assessment of the averaged slope. The tape drive may determine, from the least-squares assessment, whether the averaged slope is demonstrative of tape-creep.

The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, comprising: a magnetic tape; a tape head configured to write data to and read data from the magnetic tape; a first reel having a first interior surface; a second reel, wherein the first reel and the second reel are configured to wind and unwind the magnetic tape; one or more motors configured to actuate the first reel and the second reel; a first magnetic recording surface disposed on the first interior surface of the first reel; an actuating arm disposed between the first reel and the second reel; an actuator coupled to a distal end of the actuating arm; and a magnetic recording head disposed on the actuating arm. The magnetic recording head being situated a distance away from the actuator, wherein the actuating arm is configured to move about the actuator such that the magnetic recording head is able to contact the first magnetic recording surface to write data to and read data from the first magnetic recording surface.

A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a computer system for repositioning operation on a tape medium based on dataset information. A computer system obtains dataset information of a dataset on a tape medium in a sync operation, where the dataset information includes positions of data in the dataset. A computer system sends the dataset information of the dataset to a host. In response to starting a repositioning operation, a computer system receives from the host the dataset information of the dataset. A computer system reads the dataset information of the dataset. A computer system repositions to a target on the tape medium, based on the dataset information of the dataset, where a tape drive refers to the dataset information and moves to a position immediately before the target.