Dynamically changing a buffer flush threshold of a tape drive based on historical transaction size

A method for dynamically changing a buffer threshold in a tape drive, the method comprising:

• monitoring a history of sizes of data transactions between sync commands, the data transactions being from a host to a tape drive;
• determining that a next sync command is expected to be received relatively sooner or relatively later based on the history of data size transactions;
• writing buffered data to a magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively sooner;
• and
• increasing a buffer threshold for delaying writing to the magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively later.

A computer program product for dynamically changing a buffer threshold in a tape drive, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a processor to:

• monitor, by the processor, a history of sizes of data transactions between sync commands, the data transactions being from a host to a tape drive;
• determine, by the processor, that a next sync command is expected to be received relatively sooner or relatively later based on the history of data size transactions;
• write, by the processor, buffered data to a magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively sooner;
• and
• increase, by the processor, a buffer threshold for delaying writing to the magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively later.