Magnetic tape apparatus and magnetic tape accessing method

A magnetic tape apparatus for accessing a magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising:

• means for assigning a logical beginning of tape position on the magnetic tape and updating the logical beginning of tape position, said logical beginning of tape position being different from a physical beginning of tape position of the magnetic tape;
• and
• means for recording system information to the logical beginning of tape position,
• wherein an updated logical beginning of tape position is apart from the last logical beginning of tape in a predetermined direction by a predetermined distance.

A method for accessing a magnetic tape, the method comprising the steps of:

• assigning a logical beginning of tape position on the magnetic tape and updating the logical beginning of tape position, said logical beginning of tape position being different from a physical beginning of tape position of the magnetic tape;
• recording system information to the logical beginning of tape position;
• and
• assigning a logical end of the tape position on the magnetic tape and updating the logical end of tape position,
• wherein the logical end of tape position is adjacent to the logical beginning of the tape position.

A method for accessing a magnetic tape, the method comprising the steps of:

• assigning a logical beginning of tape position on the magnetic tape and updating the logical beginning of tape position, said logical beginning of tape position being different from a physical beginning of tape position of the magnetic tape;
• and
• recording system information to the logical beginning of tape position,
• wherein an updated logical beginning of tape position is apart from the last logical beginning of tape in a predetermined direction by a predetermined distance.

A computer program product for causing a computer to execute a method for accessing a magnetic tape, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• assigning a logical beginning of tape position on the magnetic tape and updating the logical beginning of tape position, said logical beginning of tape position being different from a physical beginning of tape position of the magnetic tape;
• recording system information to the logical beginning of tape position;
• and
• assigning a logical end of tape position on the magnetic tape and updating the logical end of tape position,
• wherein the logical end of tape position is adjacent to the logical beginning of tape position.

A computer program product for causing a computer to execute a method for accessing a magnetic tape, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• assigning a logical beginning of tape position on the magnetic tape and updating the logical beginning of tape position, said logical beginning of tape position being different from a physical beginning of tape position of the magnetic tape;
• and
• recording system information to the logical beginning of tape position,
• wherein an updated logical beginning of tape position is apart from the last logical beginning of tape in a predetermined direction by a predetermined distance.