A tape storage emulator has a disk storage, a tape storage, a server interface, a data path control, a virtual tape management and a personality logic. The server interface is in communications with a server so as to receive and transmit tape storage commands and tape formatted data compatible with the tape storage. The data path control is in communications with the server interface and the disk storage so as to transfer the tape formatted data between the disk storage and the server interface. The virtual tape management is in communication with the disk storage so as to store the tape formatted data on the disk storage. The personality logic is at least temporarily in communications with the tape storage so as to capture and store tape storage responses. The stored tape storage responses allow the virtual tape management to emulate the tape storage to the server using the disk storage.