High performance cartridge format

A magnetic tape-based data storage system, comprising:

• a magnetic head;
• a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head;
• and
• a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head,
• wherein the system is configured to use at least two different track width formats,
• wherein which of the at least two different track width formats used by the system during reading and/or linear writing of data is selectable,
• wherein the system is configured to simultaneously write a plurality of data tracks in only one of the track width formats at a same time such that each of the data tracks written at the same time has a track width that is substantially the same,
• wherein the system is configured to output an alert when a track width format is selected that is contrary to at least one detected environmental condition, the environmental condition including at least one of a vibrational factor and a tape dimensional stability factor, the environmental condition being detected by at least one sensor operatively coupled to the system.

A method of writing data to a magnetic recording tape, comprising:

• receiving a selection of which of at least two track width formats to use during linear writing of data on the magnetic recording tape, wherein the track width format is selected based on at least one of a vibrational factor and a tape dimensional stability factor;
• and
• simultaneously writing a plurality data tracks to the magnetic recording tape using only one of the selected track width formats at a same time such that each of the data tracks written at the same time has a track width that is substantially the same;
• and
• wherein a system writing the data is configured to use at least two different track width formats.

A method of reading data from a magnetic recording tape, comprising:

• determining which of at least two track width formats was used during linear writing of data on a magnetic medium recording tape based on information obtained from at least one of a cartridge memory, a header of the magnetic recording tape, and a bar code;
• and
• reading the data from the magnetic recording tape using the determined track width format,
• wherein which of the at least two different track width formats used during linear writing of the data on the magnetic recording tape is selectable based on at least one detected environmental condition, the environmental condition including at least one of a vibrational factor and a tape dimensional stability factor,
• wherein all tracks on the magnetic recording tape having the determined track width format have about a same track width.