Selective index writing prior to unthreading a magnetic recording tape

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a controller to cause the controller to:

• determine, by the controller, that unthreading of a tape is to be performed;
• in response to the determination that the unthreading of the tape is to be performed, determining, by the controller, whether to write an index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape, wherein determining whether to write the index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape includes determining whether to write the index in a partition of the tape, the partition being selected from a group consisting of an index partition and a data partition of the tape;
• instruct, by the controller, writing of the index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape;
• and
• instruct, by the controller, a threading mechanism to unthread the tape.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a controller;
• and
• logic integrated with the controller, executable by the controller, or integrated with and executable by the controller, the logic being configured to:
• determine, by the controller, that unthreading of a tape is to be performed;
• in response to determining that the unthreading of the tape is to be performed, determine, by the controller, whether to write an index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape;
• in response to a determination to write the index on the tape, write, by the controller, the index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape;
• determine, by the controller, whether to write the index in a partition of the tape, the partition being selected from a group consisting of an index partition and a data partition of the tape;
• and
• instruct, by the controller, a threading mechanism to unthread the tape.