Autoloader on AIX 5.2 2

[costiles]

I have the following hardware installed:
rmt0 Available 06-08-00-5,0 IBM 3580 Ultrium Tape Drive
smc0 Available 06-08-00-5,1 IBM 3581 Tape Medium Changer

I want to use backup to backup files to a different tape each night. Will this automatically happen - (I know that is a terrible supposition) - or do I have to give this device commands to move it to the next day's tape? If so - what are the commands?

 

[alexhu]

Depends on how much data you are using

Generally tape libraries will have 2 modes

1. If the tape fills with data it will go to the next and so on

2. load a specific tape and use that only

checkout here for a description of your drive and how it works

http://publib-b.boulder.ibm.com/abstracts/sg245946.html?Open

I think you have to register for the site, but its free.

Alex

 

[p5wizard]

I should think that the tapeutil command can manually mount a specific tape on an autoloading IBM tape drive.

A while back I have experimented a bit with that command on an old IBM3590 tapedrive with a 10-slot autoloader. That type of tapedrive needed to be in RANDOM mode for tapeutil to work.

Needs some scripting then to choose a tape based on slot number for a specific day of the week. You might even put in a cleaning cartridge at slot 10 and do a weekly cleaning?




HTH,

p5wizard

 

[alexhu]

p5wizard

yes, thats what I use on an 'old IBM3590'

Alex

 

[costiles]

p5wizard,
I would be interested to see your script - if you don't mind. I am totally unfamiliar with the autoloader and have been called on to support one in the manner described in the initial description of the problem.

 

[p5wizard]

alexhu, care to share?

I just experimented a bit with that old 3590, but never got around to putting stuff in a script.

but see if

tapeutil -f /dev/rmt0 elementinfo

or

tapeutil -f /dev/smc0 elementinfo

gives you any idea

on a 3590 minirobot, the command

tapeutil -f /dev/rmtX move 32 16

would move the first cartridge from the magazine on drive rmtX to the drive itself (which would then automount it)

and

tapeutil -f /dev/rmtX unmount 32

would unload the cartridge in the drive and put it (back) to the first slot of thje magazine.




HTH,

p5wizard

 

[alexhu]

export oracle & other variables
.
export TODAY=`date +%a`
export TAPE=50

tapeutil -f/dev/rmt0 unmount

case $TODAY in
Mon) TAPE=32
;;
Tue) TAPE=33
;;
Wed) TAPE=34
;;
Thu) TAPE=35
;;
Fri) TAPE=36
;;
Sat) TAPE=37
;;
Sun) TAPE=38
;;
*)
;;
esac

#
[ -f $LOG_DIR/hot_backup_log.$TODAY ] && rm $LOG_DIR/hot_backup_log.$TODAY
date >> $LOG_DIR/hot_backup_log.$TODAY
echo "Today's tape is $TAPE" >> $LOG_DIR/hot_backup_log.$TODAY
#

tapeutil -f /dev/rmt0 mount $TAPE

lots of oracle related backup stuff....then

rewind tape & verify writes....

tapeutil -f/dev/rmt0.1 unmount $TAPE

Alex

 

[costiles]

Thank you so much, Alex. That is "cutting to the chase"! p5wizard was also extremely helpful. Reading redbooks is so verbose - I was halfway through the section on the autoloader when Alex posted.

 

[p5wizard]

alas, no star on me...

HTH,

p5wizard

 

[costiles]

p5wizard - - ok, ok - you deserve one, too! How thoughtless of me!!