topic Re: rewind/test tape device in Operating System - HP-UX

rewind/test tape device

Ravinder Singh Gill — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 07:21:40 GMT

our backup failed last night. the logs said there was a problem with the tape device. i want to test the tape device and have had a tape loaded into it. how can i test the tape device or rewing the tape to make sure it is okay?

Re: rewind/test tape device

Pete Randall — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 07:24:47 GMT

You can run the diagnostic program cstm against it. You can write a tar file to it. You can rewind it with the mt command: "mt -t /dev/rmt/Xmn rew" or "mt -t /dev/rmt/Xmn offl"

Pete

Re: rewind/test tape device

Ravinder Singh Gill — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 07:34:24 GMT

in /dev/rmt if i do ls, the only Xnm I can see is 0mn. However when i do "mt -t /dev/rmt/0mn rew" it says no such device or address. Can anyone advise?

Re: rewind/test tape device

Mahesh Kumar Malik — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 07:44:53 GMT

Hi Rawinder

There is possibility of hardware failure. However check in ioscan for availibility of drive. Else use Offline Diagnostic Environment (ODE)for HW testing of drive.

Regards
Mahesh

Re: rewind/test tape device

Ravinder Singh Gill — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 08:06:08 GMT

thanks guys i think i know what the problem was.

Re: rewind/test tape device

Ravinder Singh Gill — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:18:21 GMT

how do i check if there is a tape in the drive?

Re: rewind/test tape device

Pete Randall — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:20:20 GMT

mt (-t /dev/rmt/_m) status

Pete

Re: rewind/test tape device

Jeff Schussele — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:20:50 GMT

mt status

If it reports a tape type - it's in

HTH,
Jeff

Re: rewind/test tape device

Ravinder Singh Gill — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:24:23 GMT

Drive: Quantum DLT4000
Format: DLT 85937 bpi 52 quad-tracks compressed (70 GB)
Status: [41118585] BOT online compression immediate-report-mode
File: -1
Block: -1

is it the format which is specifying there is a tape?

Re: rewind/test tape device

Patrick Wallek — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:30:58 GMT

The format and status indicate a tape is in the drive. The "BOT" means it is at the "Beginning of Tape" mark on the tape.

Re: rewind/test tape device

Pete Randall — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:32:39 GMT

If it was empty, it would look like this:

mt -t /dev/rmt/6m status
Drive: QUANTUM DLT8000
Format:
Status: [0]
File: 0
Block: 0

Pete

Re: rewind/test tape device

A. Clay Stephenson — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:32:41 GMT

Do an "mt -f /dev/rmt/Xmnb status" and examine the Status line. If no tape is is the drive you will see something like:
Status [0]
If a tape is inserted you will see something like:
Status [nnnnnnnn] BOT Desc more description

Re: rewind/test tape device

Ravinder Singh Gill — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:36:40 GMT

how do i make sure i am checking the DLT drive and not the DAT drive?

Re: rewind/test tape device

Pete Randall — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:39:42 GMT

Check ioscan to make sure you've got the right device file. A DAT drive would look something like this:

tape 6 0/0/8/0/0/1/0.0.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C1537A

While a DLT would say QUANTUM DLT8000 or something similar in place of C1537A.

Pete

Re: rewind/test tape device

Patrick Wallek — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:52:09 GMT

Well, in the status output from the MT command you will see DLT or DDS in the "Drive" portion.

If it says DLT, you are looking at the DLT drive.

Re: rewind/test tape device

Ravinder Singh Gill — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 02:57:26 GMT

thanx guys