System, method and computer program product for optimization of tape performance using distributed file copies

A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by an interface device to perform:

• determining physical locations of multiple copies of a file stored on multiple tapes in a tape library communicatively connected to the interface device;
• selecting, from the multiple tapes, a tape having a copy of the file stored at a physical location that is closest to a loading point of the tape;
• and
• loading the tape into a tape drive.

A interface device, comprising:

• ports for connecting to one or more networks and a tape library;
• a memory;
• a processor;
• and
• a tape performance optimization module embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and configured to perform:
• determining physical locations of multiple copies of a file stored on multiple tapes in the tape library;
• and
• selecting, from the multiple tapes, a tape having a copy of the file stored at a physical location that is closest to a loading point of the tape.