Tape drive system with tape surface inspection unit

A method for ensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspection when using a tape drive system being configured for reading and writing data from or to a magnetic tape, the method comprising:

• providing a laser light source configured for sending out light pulses towards a magnetic tape when the tape drive system is in operation;
• recognizing, by the laser inspection unit, a tape defect as a function of the light pulses sent towards the magnetic tape when the tape drive system is in operation, wherein a read/write head acts together with the laser light source as sensors for providing a sensor data during a read/write operation of the tape drive system;
• evaluating, by the controller, the sensor data;
• and
• triggering, based on the evaluating, predefined actions based on the evaluating.

A method for operating a tape library system, the tape library system comprising a plurality of tape drives and at least one tape drive system for ensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspection, the tape drive system being configured for reading and writing data from or to a magnetic tape, the tape drive system comprising:

• a laser light source configured for recognizing a tape defect by sending out light pulses towards a magnetic tape when the tape drive system is in operation;
• a read/write head configured for acting together with the laser light source as sensors for providing sensor data during a read/write operation of the tape drive system;
• and
• a controller configured for evaluating the sensor data and for triggering predefined actions based on evaluation results.