Data writing method and program for tape drive

Abstract

One embodiment includes a method. The method includes sending data from a buffer to a tape drive, and allocating buffer space when a wrap turn is anticipated. The write data is accumulated in the buffer space during the wrap turn. The buffer space is released after the write data accumulated in the buffer space has been transferred to the tape drive.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 sending data from a buffer to a tape drive;   allocating buffer space when a wrap turn is anticipated;   accumulating write data in the buffer space during the wrap turn; and   releasing the buffer space after the write data accumulated in he buffer space has been transferred to the tape drive.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wrap turn is anticipated when the amount of free space in a wrap falls below a predetermined percentage. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the allocated buffer space is a portion of the buffer. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in claim , wherein the allocated buffer space is at least a portion of another buffer. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the amount of data to be accumulated in the buffer is obtained as the product (A·T) of the transfer rate (A) of the write data to the buffer and the time (T) of the wrap turn. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the buffer is of a linear tape file system. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the buffer space is allocated based on a transfer rate of write data to the buffer. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a storage capacity of the buffer space exceeds an amount of data expected to be buffered during the wrap turn. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the buffer space is dedicated for buffering data accumulated during the wrap turn. 
     
     
         10 . A computer program product fir writing data to a tape in a tape drive while data successively accumulated in a buffer of a file system is transferred to the tape drive, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a device to cause the device to perform a method comprising:
 allocating, by the device, buffer space when a wrap turn is detected during writing of data to a tape, the buffer space being dedicated for buffering data accumulated during the wrap turn;   accumulating, by the device, write data in the buffer space during the wrap turn; and   releasing, by the device, the buffer space after the write data accumulated in the buffer space has been transferred to the tape drive.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the wrap turn is anticipated the amount of free space in a wrap falls below a predetermined percentage. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the allocated buffer space is a portion of the buffer, another buffer, or a portion of another buffer. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the amount of data to be accumulated in the buffer is obtained as the product (A·T) of the transfer rate (A) of the write data to the buffer and the time (T) of the wrap turn. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the buffer is of a linear tape file system. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to:   send data from a buffer to a tape drive;   allocate buffer space when a wrap turn is anticipated;   accumulate write data in the buffer space during the wrap turn; and   release the buffer space after the write data accumulated in the buffer space has been transferred to the tape drive.   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the wrap turn is anticipated when the amount of free space in a wrap falls below a predetermined percentage. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the allocated buffer space is a portion of the buffer, another buffer, or a portion of another buffer. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the amount of data to be accumulated in the buffer is obtained as the product (A·T) of the transfer rate (A) of the write data to the buffer and the time (T) of the wrap turn. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the buffer is of a linear tape file system. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the buffer space is dedicated for buffering data accumulated during the wrap turn.