A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to initialize a storage device, the request including a volume serial number associated with the storage device, identifying a size of the storage device, where the size is indicated within the request, determining a size of a table of contents and a location for the table of contents within the storage device, based on the identified size of the storage device, selecting a type of the table of contents from a plurality of different types, based on the identified size of the storage device, and automatically initializing the storage device, including creating the table of contents, reserving a physical area of the storage device for the table of contents using a physical extent, and inserting the table of contents into the storage device, where the table of contents has the determined size of the table of contents, the determined location for the table of contents, and the selected type of the table of contents.