Test systems for media drives of data storage systems

A method of operating a test system for testing a media drive for a data storage system, the media drive comprises a first interface and a second interface, the method comprising:

• generating an instruction in a control system;
• transmitting a test message from one of a host emulator to the first interface of the media drive or a storage library emulator to the second interface of the media drive, responsive to receiving the instruction from the control system;
• receiving a test response from the second interface of the media drive in the storage library emulator;
• transmitting the test response from the storage library emulator to the control system;
• and
• processing the test message and the test response in the control system to evaluate the performance of the media drive.

A test system for testing a tape drive, the test system comprising:

• a control system adapted to generate a first instruction;
• a host emulator adapted to transmit a first test message in a first protocol to a host/drive interface (HDI) of the tape drive responsive to receiving the first instruction from the control system;
• and
• a tape library emulator adapted to receive a first test response in a second protocol from an automation/drive interface (ADI) of the tape drive, and to transmit the first test response to the control system;
• the control system further adapted to process the first test message and the first test response to evaluate the performance of the tape drive.