topic Re: DLT drives in Operating System - HP-UX

DLT drives

u856100 — Mon, 28 Jan 2002 09:10:41 GMT

Gents/Ladies,

Is there someway to check the density write setting when creating a DLT tape.

I am using an old and new DLT drive (4000 and 8000), and want to make sure the correct density is being used when the tape writes on the HP drive. Despite the density led on the dives facia indicating the density setting, sometimes the density writes at max density (40) when I am trying to get 20.

(I am using the default /dev/rmt/0m driver)

cheers

John

Re: DLT drives

Stefan Farrelly — Mon, 28 Jan 2002 09:40:25 GMT

Yes, there is. You need to create a special device file using;

mksf -H -b /dev/rmt/

See man on mksf and go the section on the stape driver to see all the density options. There are quite a few for DLT drives. Try different ones until you get the desired effect.

Re: DLT drives

u856100 — Mon, 28 Jan 2002 10:16:26 GMT

Superb,

thanks very much for your help Stefan

John

Re: DLT drives

Bill Hassell — Mon, 28 Jan 2002 12:29:28 GMT

To expand on Stefan's answer, density is controlled by bits in the minor number and different device files have different options. After using mksf to create uncompressed device files, use the lssf command to verify the settings as in:

lssf /dev/rmt/*

The term "best density" indicates that compression is turned on when using this device file.