Importance

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Abstract

For each of a plurality of media that are to be simultaneously subjected to a data striping process, a management region is provided where data can be saved separately from an existing substitute sector. When some defect or trouble is found in any one of the media and there is no available substitute sector in that trouble-plagued medium, the data striping process can be carried on, without suspension, by using the management region for data writing purposes. Such arrangements can supplement the capacity of data areas of the substitute sector, which thus allows the data striping process to be appropriately carried on even when the capacity of the substitute sector has been used up. Further, by setting the management region for each of media within a same volume and storing common management information redundantly in the individual management regions, it is possible to avoid unstableness of the media management that would be encountered due to use of non-fixed, transportable media. Further, because the capacity of the management regions can be set as desired by a user, the user can readily know the thus-set capacity whenever necessary, and thus it is possible for the user to ascertain presence of any necessary empty area prior to the data write processing.

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First Claim