how to know tape device is working ? 1

[Guest_imported]

I have external tape device installed on solaris and how to test it if it is working? Thanks!

 

[timjarland]

Can you see the tape drive in your OS? Try any of the mt commands like mt -t /dev/rmt0 rew or even try to tar something to the tape drive.

 

[arvind75]

First of all see whether u can see the tape device files in /dev/rmt directory, like 0,0c,0cbn,0n.....etc, if u can see this that means the tape drive is being detucted .

Now you can use mt command to determine the status of the tape drive like

#mt -f /dev/rmt/0 status

Then u can use the tape drive for backing up data.

 

[dbbyleo]

I having the same question as the originator of this thread. In my system, I have nothing in the /dev/rmt directory. What does this mean and I can I resolve this.

 

[OctaneChris]

I'm sure you both have tried this already, but make sure the tape device is powered on before starting your system.

My SGI autodetects / mounts the tape once inserted, but it does not detect it if the drive is powered off on startup. I've also had luck with inserting a known good tape in the drive before powering up...

Good luck!
:

 

[dbbyleo]

Got it. I needed to have the terminator on the device. I hit "stop-a" at boot up and issued "reboot -r" at th ok prompt. Now it works. Thanks.