Efficient data recovery for tape storage system

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
• form a matrix of data sets that comprise data sets in a plurality of tape storage media, wherein a row of the matrix corresponds to a horizontal error correction data set group, and the row comprises data sets that span across the plurality of tape storage media, and wherein a column of the matrix corresponds to a vertical error correction data set group, and the column comprises data sets that span across a single tape storage media;
• receive one or more indications, wherein an indication indicates that an indicated data set stored on an indicated tape storage media is associated with a failure;
• identify horizontal error correction data set groups for the indicated data sets;
• selectively obtain data sets corresponding to the identified horizontal error correction data set groups, wherein selectively obtain the data sets corresponding to an identified horizontal error correction data set group comprises selectively obtain one or more data sets other than the indicated data set that are included in the identified horizontal error correction data set group from one or more corresponding tape storage media other than the tap storage media storing the indicated data set without reading entire contents of the one or more corresponding tape storage media;
• and
• correcting errors using the identified horizontal error correction data set groups and their corresponding rows of the matrix before correcting errors using vertical error correction data set groups and their corresponding columns of the matrix.

A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

• forming a matrix of data sets that comprise data sets in a plurality of tape storage media, wherein a row of the matrix corresponds to a horizontal error correction data set group, and the row comprises data sets that span across the plurality of tape storage media, and wherein a column of the matrix corresponds to a vertical error correction data set group, and the column comprises data sets that span across a single tape storage media;
• receiving one or more indications, wherein an indication indicates that an indicated data set stored on an indicated tape storage media is associated with a failure;
• identifying horizontal error correction data set groups for the indicated data sets;
• selectively obtaining data sets corresponding to the identified horizontal error correction data set groups, wherein selectively obtaining the data sets corresponding to an identified horizontal error correction data set group comprises selectively obtaining one or more data sets other than the indicated data set that are included in the identified horizontal error correction data set group from one or more corresponding tape storage media other than the tap storage media storing the indicated data set without reading entire contents of the one or more corresponding tape storage media;
• and
• correcting errors using the identified horizontal error correction data set groups and their corresponding rows of the matrix before correcting errors using vertical error correction data set groups and their corresponding columns of the matrix.