Storing write environment conditions

A tape drive comprising:

• a head having a plurality of read and write elements for reading data from a tape of a tape cartridge mounted in the tape drive and writing data to the tape;
• and
• a drive control system for moving the tape across the head;
• wherein the tape drive is operative to:
• receive a write command to write data to a portion of the tape;
• measure a write temperature and a write relative humidity of the tape drive upon receipt of the write command;
• measure a write temperature and a write relative humidity of the tape drive at predetermined intervals during the time the tape cartridge is mounted in the tape drive;
• write the data to the portion of the tape;
• store the following to the tape cartridge as write environment conditions for the portion of the tape:
• the write temperature and the write relative humidity measured upon receipt of the write command,
• a maximum and a minimum write temperature measured during the time the tape is mounted,
• a maximum and a minimum write relative humidity measured during the time the tape is mounted, and
• an average write temperature and an average write relative humidity calculated over the time the tape is mounted;
• and
• unmount the tape cartridge in response to determining at least one of the write temperature and the write relative humidity are outside an operable temperature range and an operable relative humidity range, respectively.

A computer program product for storing write environment conditions of a tape cartridge mounted in a tape drive, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by a processor to:

• receive a write command to write data to a portion of a tape of the tape cartridge;
• measure a write temperature and a write relative humidity of the tape drive as a result of receiving the write command;
• write the data to the portion of the tape in a shingled format;
• store the write temperature and the write relative humidity to the tape cartridge as write environment conditions for the portion of the tape;
• and
• unmount the tape cartridge in response to determining at least one of the write temperature and the write relative humidity are outside an operable temperature range and an operable relative humidity range, respectively.