Tape header protection scheme for use in a tape storage subsystem

A method for integrating data and header protection, the method comprising:

• receiving a data array organized in rows and columns, each row of the data array comprising two or more interleaved C1 codewords (CWI);
• and
• modifying one or more rows of the data array to include a header and error correction code (ECC) parity to form one or more modified rows,
• wherein each modified row includes two or more interleaved codewords, at least one codeword being a C1′ codeword which includes ECC parity,
• wherein each header comprises a CWI Designation (CWID) which indicates a location of the CWI within the data array, and
• wherein multiple copies of the CWID for each header are stored in a corresponding number of C1′ codewords such that two or more C1′ codewords comprise the CWID in a single modified row.

A computer program product for integrating data and header protection, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a storage device to:

• receive a data array organized in rows and columns, each row of the data array comprising two or more interleaved C1 codewords (CWI);
• and
• modify one or more rows of the data array to include a header and error correction code (ECC) parity to form one or more modified rows,
• wherein each modified row includes two or more interleaved codewords, at least one codeword being a C1′ codeword which includes ECC parity,
• wherein each header comprises a CWI Designation (CWID) which indicates a location of the CWI within the data array, and
• wherein none of the CWIDs are split across multiple C1′ codewords in a single modified row.