Reading sequentially stored files based on read ahead groups

A tape library system capable of reading a plurality of files stored on a magnetic tape having at least one wrap for storing one or more data sets, each data set including one or more records, the tape library system comprising:

• a tape drive;
• a buffer memory associated with the tape drive;
• and
• a processing device for executing program instructions stored in memory, wherein the processing device performs operations to perform a method comp S determining a number of data sets that will remain in a buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation;
• determining a number of records that are likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation;
• for each record likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation, determining positions of the records on the magnetic tape;
• and
• classifying each file of the plurality of files into one group of a plurality of groups based on a position of a record corresponding with each respective file and the number of records that are likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation.

A computer program product for reading a plurality of files stored on a magnetic tape having at least one wrap for storing one or more data sets, each data set including one or more records, the computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, the program instructions executable by processing logic in a tape library to cause a processor to perform a method, comprising:

• determining a number of data sets that will remain in a buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation;
• determining a number of records that are likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation;
• for each record likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation,
• determining positions of the records on the magnetic tape;
• and
• classifying each file of the plurality of files into one group of a plurality of groups based on a position of a record corresponding with each respective file and the number of records that are likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation.