BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Provided are a storage cartridge, system, and method for a blocking mechanism for a storage cartridge to prevent insertion into a storage drive.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a tape storage system, such as the Linear Tape Open (LTO) magnetic storage systems, data is read from and written onto magnetic recording media within an LTO tape cartridge when inserted into a tape drive. The tape drive may be part of a tape library.

LTO tape cartridges include a mechanical write-protect switch that when moved to the write protect position will prevent the data in the tape cartridge from being overwritten to preserve the data in the tape cartridge and avoid the situation where someone inadvertently re-inserts the tape cartridge in the tape drive and overwrites data that was intended to be maintained in the tape cartridge.

There is a need in the art for improved techniques for protecting data in a storage cartridge, such as a tape cartridge.

SUMMARY

Provided are a storage cartridge, system, and method for a blocking mechanism for a storage cartridge to prevent insertion into a storage drive. The storage cartridge includes an outer surface having an opening, a blocking mechanism disposed within the storage cartridge, wherein in an unreleased state an end of the blocking mechanism is positioned at the opening in the outer surface, and a releasing mechanism coupled to the blocking mechanism in the unreleased state and to engage the blocking mechanism to urge the blocking mechanism to extend through the opening past the outer surface in a released state in a manner that prevents the storage cartridge from being inserted into the storage drive.

