File index, metadata storage, and file system management for magnetic tape

摘要

In one embodiment, a method includes loading a tape cartridge into at least one tape drive installed in an automated tape library, where a tape of the tape cartridge has at least two partitions; writing plurality of data blocks on a first of the partitions; and writing an index on a second of the partitions, wherein the index includes information about at least one of files and the blocks on the first partition.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
loading a tape cartridge into at least one tape drive installed in an automated tape library, wherein a tape of the tape cartridge has at least two partitions, each partition being a longitudinal partition arranged longitudinally along the tape; writing a plurality of data blocks on a first of the partitions in a shingled format; writing an index on a second of the partitions, wherein the index includes information about the plurality of data blocks on the first partition; writing a first updated version of the index to the second partition upon updating at least one of the plurality of data blocks, the updating the at least one of the plurality of data blocks including appending data to the plurality of data blocks in the first partition; and wherein the index and the first updated version of the index are written to different physical locations on the tape in the second partition, wherein the second partition is associated with one or more wraps designated only to the second partition and separated front one or more wraps designated only to the first partition by a buffering band of one or more wraps, wherein the buffering band is between the first and second partitions and is configured to isolate writing in one partition from overwriting neighboring tracks in the other partition, wherein at least one of the indexes in the second partition is aligned on the tape, relative to at least one of the data blocks in the first partition, in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tape.