Magnetic-tape storage apparatus

摘要

A storage apparatus which performs writing and reading of data on a magnetic tape by the helical scan method using a rotary head, in particular one suited to use with a large-sized host computer, which storage apparatus includes mainly a storage control unit connected to the host computer and a drive unit for reading from and writing on the magnetic tape. System areas are formed on the magnetic tapes, which system areas have tables which include management information relating to the magnetic tapes themselves and able to be renewed by the storage control unit. By using these tables, the magnetic tapes can be easily accessed at a high speed, diagnosed as to trouble, and managed in data blocks.