Writing synchronized data to magnetic tape

• US 6,856,479 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Karp, James Mitchell, Jaquette, Glen Alan, Greco, Paul Merrill
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIDSON, DAN
• Application Number:
  US10/058,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 360/74.1, 360/48, 360/13, 710/5, 710/7, 710/6, 710/19, 710 52- 53, 710/55
• US Class Current: 360/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0682 Tape device
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1201 on tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1403 characterised by the use of two levels
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/1062 Data buffering arrangements, e.g. recording or playback buffers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/95 Serpentine format, wherein a single track or group of tracks traverses the tape plural times from one end to the other
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded

Abstract

Synchronized data is written to magnetic tape while reducing the number of backhitches. A controller detects a pattern of synchronizing events for received data records to be written to tape; writes each transaction of data records to the magnetic tape; accumulates the synchronized transactions in a buffer; and subsequently recursively writes the accumulated transactions of data records from the buffer to the magnetic tape in a sequence. A single backhitch may be employed to place the recursively written accumulated data records following the preceding data, maximizing performance and capacity.

Claims

1. A recording system for a magnetic tape drive, said magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape, said recording system comprising:

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a synchronizing event for a received transaction stored in said at least one buffer, comprising a synchronized transaction;

writes said detected synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape;

writes separator signals to said magnetic tape following said written synchronized transaction, continuing until a subsequently received transaction is written to said magnetic tape following said separator signals; and

repeats said detection of a synchronized received transaction, writing said detected synchronized transaction, and writing said separator signals, for each succeeding said detected synchronized received transaction, while operating said at least one motor to continue to move said tape longitudinally during said repeated writing without stopping.

2. The recording system of claim 1, wherein said controller, additionally, for each said detected synchronized transaction, returns a command complete at said interface for said detected synchronized transaction upon completion of said writing said detected synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape.

3. A recording system for a magnetic tape drive, said magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape, said recording system comprising:

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

writes each said detected synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape;

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulates said synchronized transaction in said at least one buffer; and

subsequently recursively writes said accumulated transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

4. The recording system of claim 3, wherein said controller, in writing each said stored synchronized transaction to said magnetic tape, additionally writes separator signals between said synchronized transactions written to said magnetic tape, while operating said at least one motor to continue to move said tape longitudinally during said writing without stopping.

5. The recording system of claim 3, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps, and wherein said controller, in writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, writes at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing.

6. The recording system of claim 3, wherein said controller, in subsequently recursively writing said accumulated transactions, additionally identifies said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof.

7. The recording system of claim 6, wherein said controller, in subsequently recursively writing said accumulated transactions to said magnetic tape, additionally, upon said accumulated transactions reaching a predetermined threshold, finalizes a sequence of said accumulated transactions and recursively writes said finalized sequence of accumulated transactions, and subsequently releases said at least one buffer of said accumulated transactions.

8. The recording system of claim 6, wherein said controller, in writing said stored synchronized transactions to said magnetic tape, writes each said stored synchronized transaction to said magnetic tape as a separate transaction.

9. The recording system of claim 6, wherein said controller, in writing said stored synchronized transactions to said magnetic tape, writes said synchronized transactions in the form of data sets, and for at least one of said synchronized transactions of said detected pattern partially filling a data set, additionally rewrites said accumulated transaction of said data set in another data set, and appends a succeeding said synchronized transaction to said rewritten accumulated transaction.

10. A recording system for a magnetic tape drive, said magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape, said recording system comprising:

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

writes each said detected synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape as a separate transaction; and

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulates said synchronized transaction in said at least one buffer; and

subsequently recursively writes said accumulated transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

11. The recording system of claim 10, wherein said controller, in separately writing said stored synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, additionally identifies each said separately written synchronized transaction;

and said controller additionally identifies said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof, superseding said identified separately written synchronized transactions.

12. The recording system of claim 11, wherein said controller, in identifying each said separately written synchronized transaction, identifies said transaction with an access point.

13. The recording system of claim 10, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps, and wherein said controller, in separately writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, writes at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing.

14. A recording system for a magnetic tape drive, said magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape, said recording system comprising:

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

accumulates each said synchronized transaction of said detected pattern in said at least one buffer;

writes each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape in the form of data sets, and for at least one of said synchronized transactions of said detected pattern partially filling a data set, rewriting said accumulated transaction of said data set in another data set, and appending a subsequent said synchronized transaction to said rewritten accumulated transaction; and

subsequently recursively writes said accumulated transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

15. The recording system of claim 14, wherein said controller, in writing each said stored synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape, additionally identifies each said rewritten and said appended written synchronized transaction as the most current copy thereof, and said controller additionally identifies said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof, superseding said identified rewritten and appended written synchronized transactions.

16. The recording system of claim 15, wherein said controller, in identifying each said rewritten synchronized transaction, identifies said transaction with an incremented data set write pass.

17. The recording system of claim 14, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps, and wherein said controller, in writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, writes and rewrites at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing.

18. A magnetic tape drive, comprising:

at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally;

at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor;

an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape;

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a synchronizing event for a received transaction stored in said at least one buffer, comprising a synchronized transaction;

writes said detected synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape;

writes separator signals to said magnetic tape following said written synchronized transaction, continuing until a subsequently received transaction is written to said magnetic tape following said separator signals; and

repeats said detection of a synchronized received transaction, writing said detected synchronized transaction, and writing said separator signals, for each succeeding said detected synchronized received transaction, while operating said at least one motor to continue to move said tape longitudinally during said repeated writing without stopping.

19. The magnetic tape drive of claim 18, wherein said controller, additionally, for each said detected synchronized transaction, returns a command complete at said interface for said detected synchronized transaction upon completion of said writing said detected synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape.

20. A magnetic tape drive, comprising:

at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally;

at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor;

an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape;

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

writes each said detected synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape;

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulates said synchronized transaction in said at least one buffer; and

subsequently recursively writes said accumulated transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

21. The magnetic tape drive of claim 20, wherein said controller, in writing each said stored synchronized transaction to said magnetic tape, additionally writes separator signals between said synchronized transactions written to said magnetic tape, while operating said at least one motor to continue to move said tape longitudinally during said writing without stopping.

22. The magnetic tape drive of claim 20, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps;

and wherein said controller, in writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, writes at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing.

23. The magnetic tape drive of claim 20, wherein said controller, in subsequently recursively writing said accumulated transactions, additionally identifies said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof.

24. The magnetic tape drive of claim 23, wherein said controller, in subsequently recursively writing said accumulated transactions to said magnetic tape, additionally, upon said accumulated transactions reaching a predetermined threshold, finalizes a sequence of said accumulated transactions and recursively writes said finalized sequence of accumulated transactions, and subsequently releases said at least one buffer of said accumulated transactions.

25. The magnetic tape drive of claim 23, wherein said controller, in writing said stored synchronized transactions to said magnetic tape, writes each said stored synchronized transaction to said magnetic tape as a separate transaction.

26. The magnetic tape drive of claim 23, wherein said controller, in writing said stored synchronized transactions to said magnetic tape, writes said synchronized transactions in the form of data sets, and for at least one of said synchronized transactions of said detected pattern partially filling a data set, additionally rewrites said accumulated transactions of said data set in another data set, and appends a subsequent said synchronized transaction to said rewritten accumulated transaction.

27. A magnetic tape drive, comprising:

at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally;

at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor;

an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape;

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

writes each said detected synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape as a separate transaction; and

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulates said synchronized transaction in said at least one buffer; and

subsequently recursively writes said accumulated transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

28. The magnetic tape drive of claim 27, wherein said controller, in separately writing said stored synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, additionally identifies each said separately written synchronized transaction;

and said controller additionally identifies said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof, superseding said identified separately written synchronized transactions.

29. The magnetic tape drive of claim 28, wherein said controller, in identifying each said separately written synchronized transaction, identifies said transaction with an access point.

30. The magnetic tape drive of claim 27, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps;

and wherein said controller, in separately writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, writes at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing.

31. A magnetic tape drive, comprising:

at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally;

at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor;

an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape;

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

accumulates each said synchronized transaction of said detected pattern in said at least one buffer;

writes each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape in the form of data sets, and for at least one of said synchronized transactions of said detected pattern partially filling a data set, rewriting said accumulated transaction of said data set in another data set, and appending a subsequent said synchronized transaction to said rewritten accumulated transaction; and

subsequently recursively writes said accumulated transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

32. The magnetic tape drive of claim 31, wherein said controller, in writing each said stored synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape, additionally identifies each said rewritten and said appended written synchronized transaction as the most current copy thereof, and said controller additionally identifies said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof, superseding said identified rewritten and appended written synchronized transactions.

33. The magnetic tape drive of claim 32, wherein said controller, in identifying each said rewritten synchronized transaction, identifies said transaction with an incremented data set write pass.

34. The magnetic tape drive of claim 31, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps;

and wherein said controller, in writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, writes and rewrites at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing.

35. A method for writing received synchronized data to magnetic tape, in a magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving said magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having a buffer for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape by said at least one read/write head, said data in the form of transactions, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a synchronizing event for a received transaction stored in said buffer, comprising a synchronized transaction;

writing said detected synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape;

writing separator signals to said magnetic tape following said written synchronized transaction, continuing until a subsequently received transaction is written to said magnetic tape following said separator signals; and

repeating said steps of detecting a synchronized received transaction, writing said detected synchronized transaction, and writing said separator signals, for each succeeding said detected synchronized received transaction, such that said at least one motor continues to move said tape longitudinally during said repeated steps without stopping.

36. The method of claim 35, additionally comprising the step of, for each said detected synchronized transaction, returning a command complete for said detected synchronized transaction upon completion of said step of writing said detected synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape.

37. A method for writing received synchronized data to magnetic tape, in a magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving said magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having a buffer for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape by said at least one read/write head, said data in the form of transactions, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions;

writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said buffer to said magnetic tape;

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulating said synchronized transaction in said buffer; and

subsequently recursively writing said accumulated transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of writing each said stored synchronized transaction to said magnetic tape additionally comprises writing separator signals between said synchronized transactions written to said magnetic tape, such that said at least one motor continues to move said tape longitudinally during said writing step.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps, and wherein said step of writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said buffer to said magnetic tape comprises writing at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing step.

40. The method of claim 37, additionally comprising the step of identifying said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said step of subsequently recursively writing said accumulated transactions to said magnetic tape additionally comprises, upon said accumulated transactions reaching a predetermined threshold, finalizing a sequence of said accumulated transactions for said step of recursively writing said accumulated transactions, and subsequently releasing said buffer of said accumulated transactions.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said step of writing said stored synchronized transactions to said magnetic tape comprises writing each said stored synchronized transaction to said magnetic tape as a separate transaction.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said step of writing said stored synchronized transactions to said magnetic tape comprises, writing said synchronized transactions in the form of data sets, and for at least one of said synchronized transactions of said detected pattern partially filling a data set, additionally rewriting said accumulated transaction of said data set in another data set, and appending a subsequent said synchronized transaction to said rewritten accumulated transaction.

44. A method for writing received synchronized data to magnetic tape, in a magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving said magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having a buffer for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape by said at least one read/write head, said data in the form of transactions, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions;

writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said buffer to said magnetic tape as a separate transaction;

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulating said synchronized transaction in said buffer; and

subsequently recursively writing said accumulated transactions from said buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said step of separately writing said stored synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape additionally comprises identifying each said separately written synchronized transaction, and said method additionally comprising the step of identifying said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof, superseding said identified separately written synchronized transactions.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said additional step of identifying each said separately written synchronized transaction comprises identifying said transaction with an access point.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps, and wherein said step of writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said buffer to said magnetic tape comprises writing at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing step.

48. A method for writing received synchronized data to magnetic tape, in a magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving said magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having a buffer for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape by said at least one read/write head, said data in the form of transactions, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions;

accumulating each said synchronized transaction of said detected pattern in said buffer;

writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said buffer to said magnetic tape in the form of data sets, and for at least one of said synchronized transactions of said detected pattern partially filling a data set, rewriting said accumulated transaction of said data set in another data set, and appending a subsequent said synchronized transaction to said rewritten accumulated transaction; and

subsequently recursively writing said accumulated transactions from said buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said step of writing each said stored synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape additionally comprises identifying each said rewritten and said appended written synchronized transaction as the most current copy thereof, and said method additionally comprising the step of identifying said recursively written transactions as the most current copy thereof, superseding said identified rewritten and appended written synchronized transactions.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said additional step of identifying each said rewritten synchronized transaction comprises identifying said transaction with an incremented data set write pass.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein said magnetic tape comprises a plurality of wraps, and wherein said step of writing each said stored synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape comprises writing and rewriting at least some of said synchronized transactions on at least one of said plurality of wraps that is separate from a wrap of said recursive writing step.

52. A recording system for a magnetic tape drive, said magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally, said magnetic tape comprising a plurality of wraps, said magnetic tape drive having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, having a wrap control system for accessing said wraps of said magnetic tape with said at least one read/write head, and having an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape, said recording system comprising:

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, said wrap control system, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

operates said wrap control system and said at least one read/write head to access at least one work copy wrap of said magnetic tape and to write each said detected synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said at least one work copy wrap of said magnetic tape;

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulates said synchronized transaction in said at least one buffer; and

subsequently operates said wrap control system and said at least one read/write head to access at least one normal wrap separate from said at least one work copy wrap, and to recursively write said accumulated transaction from said at least one buffer to said at least one normal wrap of said magnetic tape in a sequence.

53. The recording system of claim 52, wherein said controller additionally, upon detecting said pattern of synchronizing events, determines the writable space of said at least one working copy wrap in each longitudinal direction from the longitudinal position of said at least one read/write head, and operates said at least one motor, said wrap control and said at least one read/write head to begin writing each said detected synchronized transaction in a longitudinal direction of said at least one work copy wrap having the greatest writable space.

54. The recording system of claim 52, wherein said controller additionally designates a plurality of said wraps of said magnetic tape as work copy wraps, and, upon detecting said pattern of synchronizing events, determines whether said access to at least one work copy wrap requires a seek of said at least one read/write head, and, if so, selects a work copy wrap having the quickest seek.

55. A magnetic tape drive, comprising:

at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally, said magnetic tape comprising a plurality of wraps;

at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor;

a wrap control system for accessing said wraps of said magnetic tape with said at least one read/write head;

an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape;

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, said wrap control system, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

operates said wrap control system and said at least one read/write head to access at least one work copy wrap of said magnetic tape and to write each said detected synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said at least one work copy wrap of said magnetic tape;

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulates said synchronized transaction in said at least one buffer; and

subsequently operates said wrap control system and said at least one read/write head to access at least one normal wrap separate from said at least one work copy wrap, and to recursively write said accumulated transactions from said at least one buffer to said at least one normal wrap of said magnetic tape in a sequence.

56. The magnetic tape drive of claim 55, wherein said controller additionally, upon detecting said pattern of synchronizing events, determines the writable space of said at least one work copy wrap in each longitudinal direction from the longitudinal position of said at least one read/write head, and operates said at least one motor, said wrap control and said at least one read/write head to begin writing each said detected synchronized transaction in a longitudinal direction of said at least one work copy wrap having the greatest writable space.

57. The magnetic tape drive of claim 55, wherein said controller additionally designates a plurality of said wraps of said magnetic tape as work copy wraps, and, upon detecting said pattern of synchronizing events, determines whether said access to at least one work copy wrap requires a seek of said at least one read/write head, and, if so, selects a work copy wrap having the quickest seek.

58. A method for writing received synchronized data to magnetic tape, said magnetic tape comprising a plurality of wraps, in a magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving said magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, having a wrap control system for accessing said wraps of said magnetic tape with said at least one read/write head, and having a buffer for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape by said at least one read/write head, said data in the form of transactions, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape;

accessing at least one work copy wrap of said magnetic tape with said at least one read/write head;

writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said buffer to said at least one work copy wrap of said magnetic tape;

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulating said synchronized transaction in said buffer; and

subsequently accessing at least one normal wrap of said magnetic tape separate from said at least one work copy wrap, and

recursively writing said accumulated transactions from said buffer to said magnetic tape in a sequence.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said step of accessing said at least one work copy wrap additionally comprises the steps of determining the writable space of said at least one work copy wrap in each longitudinal direction from the longitudinal position of said at least one read/write head, and operates said at least one motor to begin said writing step in a longitudinal direction of said at least one work copy wrap having the greatest writable space.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein said step of accessing said at least one work copy wrap additionally comprises the steps of determining whether said access to at least one work copy wrap requires a seek of said at least one read/write head, and, if so, selects at least one work copy wrap having the quickest seek.

61. A recording system for a magnetic tape drive, said magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape, said recording system comprising:

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a synchronizing event for a received transaction stored in said at least one buffer, comprising a synchronized transaction;

writes said detected synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape;

continues to move said magnetic tape longitudinally without stopping, leaving a gap;

writes a subsequently received transaction to said magnetic tape following said gap; and

repeats said detection of a synchronized received transaction, and writing said detected synchronized transaction, for each succeeding said detected synchronized received transaction, while operating said at least one motor to continue to move said tape longitudinally without stopping.

62. A magnetic tape drive, comprising:

at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally;

at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor;

an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape;

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a synchronizing event for a received transaction stored in said at least one buffer, comprising a synchronized transaction;

writes said detected synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape;

continues to move said magnetic tape longitudinally without stopping, leaving a gap;

writes a subsequently received transaction to said magnetic tape following said gap; and

repeats said detection of a synchronized received transaction, and writing said detected synchronized transaction, for each succeeding said detected synchronized received transaction, while operating said at least one motor to continue to move said tape longitudinally without stopping.

63. A method for writing received synchronized data to magnetic tape, in a magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving said magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having a buffer for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape by said at least one read/write head, said data in the form of transactions, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a synchronizing event for a received transaction stored in said buffer, comprising a synchronized transaction;

writing said detected synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape;

continuing to move said magnetic tape longitudinally without stopping, leaving a gap;

writing a subsequently received transaction to said magnetic tape following said gap; and

repeating said steps of detecting a synchronized received transaction, and writing said detected synchronized transaction, for each succeeding said detected synchronized received transaction, such that said at least one motor continues to move said tape longitudinally without stopping.

64. A recording system for a magnetic tape drive, said magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape, said recording system comprising:

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

writes each said detected synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulates said synchronized transaction in said at least one buffer.

65. A magnetic tape drive, comprising:

at least one motor for moving a magnetic tape longitudinally;

at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor;

an interface for receiving data to be written to said magnetic tape;

at least one buffer coupled to said interface for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape, said data in the form of transactions;

at least one recording channel coupled to said at least one buffer and coupled to said at least one read/write head for operating said at least one read/write head for writing transactions from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

a controller coupled to and operating said at least one buffer, said at least one motor, and said at least one recording channel, said controller;

detects a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions, said synchronized transactions stored in said at least one buffer;

writes each said detected synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape; and

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said at least one buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulates said synchronized transaction in said at least one buffer.

66. A method for writing received synchronized data to magnetic tape, in a magnetic tape drive having at least one motor for moving said magnetic tape longitudinally, having at least one read/write head for reading from and for writing to said magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally by said at least one motor, and having a buffer for storing data to be written to said magnetic tape by said at least one read/write head, said data in the form of transactions, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a pattern of synchronizing events for writing said transactions to said magnetic tape as synchronized transactions;

writing each said stored synchronized transaction of said detected pattern from said buffer to said magnetic tape; and

upon writing each said synchronized transaction from said buffer to said magnetic tape, accumulating said synchronized transaction in said buffer.