Intializing a DLT tape in TRU64

[Ramesh.K.R.]

Hi,

What is the command to initialize a tape in tru64 ??
We have "mediainit" in HPUX.

Thanks & Regards,
Ramesh.K.R.

[Ivan Ferreira]

There is no need to "initialize" the tape before usint it with tru64.

Directly use the backup command (tar, vdump, etc)

[Ramesh.K.R.]

Is it ?? Thanks for the info.
But, as i am having i/o problem on the tape, i just wanted to "format / initialize" it once. Can you pl let me know the command & syntax.

Regards,
Ramesh.K.R.

[Ivan Ferreira]

The command for a backup?

1- run hwmgr to find out the tape device

hwmgr v d

You should see a /dev/tape/tapeX device

2- Do the backup

tar cvf /dev/tape/tapeXc /usr
vdump -0uf /dev/tape/tapeXc /usr

3- List the backup

tar tvf /dev/tape/tapeXc /usr
vrestore -tf /dev/tape/tapeXc

4- Restore to test (Be carefull and do not overwrite any file)

tar xvf /dev/tape/tapeXc
vrestore -xf /dev/tape/tapeXc


You can use the tapex command to excercise the tape. See man tapex.

What is the problem that you are having?

[Mark Poeschl_2]

As Ivan points out there isn't any 'format' or 'initialize' command in Tru64. You may want to try writing a new end-of-tape marker onto the media though. This can be accomplished by doing:

# mt -f /dev/ntape/ weof 2

after the cartridge has been inserted and the drive goes to the 'online' state. If that works, and your media isn't bad, any of the backup or restore commands mentioned by Ivan should work.