Reducing total seek time for determining an access sequence of data stored on a tape medium

A system for reducing total seek time for determining an access sequence of a plurality of data groups stored on a tape medium, the system comprising:

• a processor device, controlling the tape medium and the plurality of data groups, wherein the processor device:
• selects a first data group in the access sequence wherein:
• a distance from a current position of the tape medium is set to be a logical distance value, determined by a calculation function, that is substituted for an actual physical distance value for specified regions different from alternative specified regions;
• selects a second data group in the access sequence;
• and
• multiplies, for determining the logical distance value, a coefficient based on a physical positioning of each of the plurality of data groups in the tape medium and a percentage of those of the plurality of data groups that have already been selected as the first data group and the second data group.

A computer program product for reducing total seek time for determining an access sequence of a plurality of data groups stored on a tape medium in a computing environment by a processor device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

• a first executable portion that selects a first data group in the access sequence wherein:
• a distance from a current position of the tape medium is set to be a logical distance value, determined by a calculation function, that is substituted for an actual physical distance value for specified regions different from alternative specified regions;
• a second executable portion that selects a second data group in the access;
• and
• a third executable portion that multiplies, for determining the logical distance value, a coefficient based on a physical positioning of each of the plurality of data groups in the tape medium and a percentage of those of the plurality of data groups that have already been selected as the first data group and the second data group.