A data storage system is provided with a storage domain having an active zone subportion of storage space, and a command queue controller configured for short-stroking an actuator directed to the active zone. A method is provided for virtualizing a storage space to store user data in a first domain and redundant data in a second domain, partitioning each of the domains into active and inactive subportion storage zones, and executing a retrieve access command from one of the first and second domains depending on which domain's active zone contains an LBA associated with the retrieve access command.