tar cannot open /dev/rmt/0m

[Simon Qu]

We use tar to back up data, the OS is hp-ux 11i. To fix a mechanical problem, We unplugged the device, fixed the mechanical problem and put it back. Then it has tar error: cannot open /dev/rmt/0m.

/ ioscan -fnC tape
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
=====================================================================
tape 0 0/0/1/0.0.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE QUANTUM DLT7000
/dev/rmt/0m /dev/rmt/0mn /dev/rmt/c0t0d0BEST /dev/rmt/c0t0d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/0mb /dev/rmt/0mnb /dev/rmt/c0t0d0BESTb /dev/rmt/c0t0d0BESTnb

[Laurent Menase]

Hi
Are you sure the scsi address of the tape device had not changed? it shoud be 0.

you could also look at errors in 'dmesg' output. - and in the syslog.log-

[Simon Qu]

Problem fixed by doing:
1. to remove special file for the tape:
rmsf -H 0/0/1/0.0.0
2. to recreate special file:
insf â

[Devender Khatana]

Hi,

Just see the new device file and hardware path. It was surely connected to different path ID. Just check and see the hardware path now should not be 0/0/1/0.0.0. Possibally SCSI ID has changed.

Share with us for our knowledge and close the thread having asign points as your problem is allready resolved.

With Regards,
Devender

[Simon Qu]

Yesterday, I tested to tar one file, it worked. But it failed when tarring more files. It said "Can't open /dev/tty to prompt for more media.".
After ioscan, the h/w pathe is still 0/0/1/0.0.0. There are still probelms.

[Devender Khatana]

Hi,

This means it is a capacity issue. Your media is not supporting the expected storing capacity. What did your backup up files sized in total ? What is the total size of the files now you are backing up ?

This error means you are backing up data that require capacity of more than one media.

Check for capacity / Compression settings. Some DIP switch might have go have changed during mechanical problem rectification.

Just a thought.

HTH,
Devender

[Peter Godron]

Simon,
how are you running your backup?
Interactively or batch?

Problem could be that the terminal connected to the job was no longer available (logged off).
Regards

[Simon Qu]

We use tar in batch mode.
How to check the terminal ?

[Patrick Wallek]

If you are using tar via a cron job or at job, then you will not have a terminal available for tar to prompt for more tapes.

You will need to run the job interactively so that you can respond to the additional tape prompts, or figure out why your job now needs more tapes.

[Peter Godron]

Simon,
was just an idea! If you kick of your tar froma terminal and then log off, where is the job going to write its question regrading the second tape?

May be worthwhile running via cron and capturing both output streams.

Devender's idea is more likely.

Regards