System and method for handling temporary errors on a redundant array of independent tapes (RAIT)

A data storage system comprising:

• N storage elements arranged in parallel for concurrent access, wherein N is an integer greater than three, wherein N−2 of the N storage elements are designated as data storage elements for each row of data and the remaining two of the N storage elements are designated as first and second redundant information storage elements for each row of data;
• and
• a controller connected to each of the N storage elements, the controller operable for determining first redundancy information based on a first row of data to be striped across the N−2 storage elements, determining first additional redundancy information based on the determined first redundancy information and the first row of data to be striped across the N−2 storage elements, determining which of the N−2 storage elements are responsive for receiving data, striping the first row of data across the responsive storage elements of the N−2 storage elements if at least N−3 of the N−2 storage elements are responsive for receiving data, writing the first redundancy information to the first redundant information storage element, writing the first additional redundancy information to the second redundant information storage element if all of the N−2 storage elements are responsive for receiving data, and writing the data to be received by one of the N−2 storage elements to the second redundant information storage element if the one of the N−2 storage elements is unresponsive for receiving data.