System and method for calculating data compression ratio without writing data to media

摘要

An information handling system includes a host processor and a tape drive, which in turn includes a controller and a compression buffer. The controller is in communication with the host processor, and is configured to receive a diagnostic command from the host processor, to switch the tape drive from a normal mode to a diagnostic mode in response to the diagnostic command, and to send a compression ratio for data associated with a write command to the host processor. The compression buffer is in communication with the controller, the compression buffer configured to receive the write command, to compress data associated with the write command while in the diagnostic mode, to calculate the compression ratio for the data associated with the write command, and to delete the compressed data while the tape drive is in the diagnostic mode.

主权项

1. An information handling system comprising:
a host processor; and a tape drive configured to communicate with the host processor, the tape drive including:
a compression buffer that, while the tape drive is in a diagnostic mode, receives a write command, compresses data associated with the write command, calculates a compression ratio for the data, and deletes the compressed data; anda controller that communicates with the compression buffer and with the host processor, and sends the compression ratio to the host processor.