Accurate skew determination for magnetic tapes experiencing the effects of tape dimensional instability

A computer program product for determining skew of a magnetic tape in a tape dimensional stability (TDS) environment, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

• receive, by the processor, a first timestamp t1B in response to a first servo reader detecting a stripe of a first servo burst on the magnetic tape;
• receive, by the processor, a second timestamp t2B in response to a second servo reader detecting a stripe of a second servo burst on the magnetic tape;
• receive, by the processor, a third timestamp OA in response to the first servo reader detecting a stripe of a third servo burst on the magnetic tape;
• receive, by the processor, a fourth timestamp t2A in response to the second servo reader detecting a stripe of a fourth servo burst on the magnetic tape;
• and
• use, by the processor, the first, second, third, and fourth timestamps to determine the skew of the magnetic tape,
• wherein the first and third servo bursts are in a same first servo sub-frame,
• wherein the second and fourth servo bursts are in a same second servo sub-frame.

A system, comprising:

• a tape drive having at least two servo readers;
• a processor;
• and
• logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor, the logic being configured to:
• receive, by the processor, a first timestamp t1B in response to a first of the servo readers detecting a stripe of a first servo burst on a magnetic tape;
• receive, by the processor, a second timestamp t2B in response to a second of the servo readers detecting a stripe of a second servo burst on the magnetic tape;
• receive, by the processor, a third timestamp OA in response to the first servo reader detecting a stripe of a third servo burst on the magnetic tape;
• receive, by the processor, a fourth timestamp t2A in response to the second servo reader detecting a stripe of a fourth servo burst on the magnetic tape;
• and
• use, by the processor, the first, second, third, and fourth timestamps to determine the skew of the magnetic tape,
• wherein the first and third servo bursts are in a same first servo sub-frame,
• wherein the second and fourth servo bursts are in a same second servo sub-frame.