Lockable air gap deep cells in a tape library

An apparatus for providing data storage protection, the apparatus comprising:

• a data storage library including a deep slot cell configured to house a plurality of tape cartridges, wherein the deep slot cell comprises:
• a front side of the deep slot cell configured to allow insertion and removal of a plurality of tape cartridges by a robotic mechanism;
• the front side of the deep slot cell configured to allow insertion and removal of a locking tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges by the robotic mechanism, wherein the locking tape cartridge being inserted by the robotic mechanism into the front side of the deep slot cell pushes each of the plurality of tape cartridges rearward of the locking tape cartridge toward a depth side of the deep slot cell;
• the depth side of the deep slot cell configured with an opening to engage a locking mechanism, wherein the engaged locking mechanism renders a biasing spring mechanism of the deep slot cell inoperable;
• a front air gap at the front side of the deep slot cell that prevents the robotic mechanism from reaching a front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges after the robotic assembly removes the locking tape cartridge from the deep slot cell;
• and
• the locking mechanism configured to be disengaged from a housing of the deep slot cell at the depth side of the deep slot cell manually via user interaction.

An apparatus for providing data storage protection, the apparatus comprising:

• a data storage library including a deep slot cell configured to house a plurality of tape cartridges, wherein the deep slot cell comprises:
• a front side of the deep slot cell configured to allow insertion and removal of a plurality of tape cartridges by a robotic mechanism, wherein the robotic mechanism is a gripper assembly integrated within the data storage library;
• the front side of the deep slot cell configured to allow insertion and removal of a locking tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges by the robotic mechanism, wherein the locking tape cartridge being inserted by the gripper assembly into the front side of the deep slot cell pushes each of the plurality of tape cartridges rearward of the locking tape cartridge toward a depth side of the deep slot cell far enough to engage a locking mechanism with a portion of a housing of the deep slot cell after passing through an opening configured with the depth side of the deep slot cell;
• the depth side of the deep slot cell configured with the opening to engage the locking mechanism, wherein the engaged locking mechanism prevents a biasing spring mechanism of the deep slot cell from automatically advancing a rear-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges forward toward the front side of the deep slot cell;
• a front air gap at the front side of the deep slot cell that prevents the robotic mechanism from reaching a front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges after the gripper assembly removes the locking tape cartridge from the deep slot cell;
• and
• the locking mechanism configured to be disengaged from the housing of the deep slot cell at the depth side of the deep slot cell manually via user interaction, wherein the locking mechanism is a depressible locking mechanism.

A method for providing data storage protection, the method comprising:

• modifying a deep slot cell configured to house a plurality of tape cartridges, wherein modifying the deep slot cell comprises:
• integrating a locking mechanism with a biasing spring mechanism of the deep slot cell;
• creating an opening at a depth side of the deep slot cell to engage the locking mechanism;
• and
• creating a front air gap at a front side of the deep slot cell that prevents a robotic mechanism from reaching a front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges by loading and removing a locking tape cartridge.

A computer system for tape library data protection, the computer system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• one or more computer readable storage media;
• and
• program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the stored program instructions comprising:
• program instructions to modify a deep slot cell configured to house a plurality of tape cartridges, wherein the program instructions to modify the deep slot cell further comprise:
• program instructions to integrate a locking mechanism with a biasing spring mechanism of the deep slot cell;
• program instructions to create an opening at a depth side of the deep slot cell to engage the locking mechanism;
• and
• program instructions to create a front air gap at a front side of the deep slot cell that prevents a robotic mechanism from reaching a front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges by loading and removing a locking tape cartridge.