The best way with the 3494/3590 is:

        use the mtlib command to mount tape in the drive that you want to
overwrite
        use the batch facility of tapeutil to open, erase, unload, the tape
        use the mtlib command to dismount the tape

The nice part about this is it eats no system or channel resources.  It uses
the drive's internal erase function.  Note that this is not a DoD approved
erasure.  It just makes reading the tape with normal OS features and the
drive impossible.

The mtlib command to mount a tape:

        mtlib -l (library) -f /dev/rmtxx -m -V (volume)

The tapeutil command (I think):

        tapeutil -f /dev/rmtxx erase unload

The mtlib command to dismount an unloaded tape:

        mtlib -l (library) -f /dev/rmtxx -d

Hope this helps.

You still need to take the drive offline to TSM using the update drive
command, but you do not have to delete its definition.


Paul D. Seay, Jr.
Technical Specialist
Naptheon Inc.
757-688-8180


-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Paschal [mailto:AlexPaschal AT FREIGHTLINER DOT COM]
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2002 1:41 PM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: Overwriting Tapes outside of TSM


Geoff,

What you will need to do is offline a 3590 in TSM so it'll be available from
the OS.  It's been a while, so I don't recall if you will also have to
delete it or not.  Talk to your 3494 library manager to mount the tape in
the available drive.  (When I last used one the library manager was OS2, and
we couldn't remote control it.  I would have had to walk over there.  I
don't know how that works nowadays, though.)  Use the /usr/bin/dd command to
write over the tape.

With my STK 9310 silo, it'd be about the same except I don't have to
delete/offline the drive in TSM because there are no defined devices in TSM.
I'd have ACSLS mount the tape in a drive, then pipe a bunch of 1's, 0's, or
a random mix of 1's and 0's into dd.

Alex Paschal
Storage Administrator
Freightliner, LLC
(503) 745-6850 phone/vmail

-----Original Message-----
From: Gill, Geoffrey L. [mailto:GEOFFREY.L.GILL AT SAIC DOT COM]
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2002 9:35 AM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: Overwriting Tapes outside of TSM


I'm just looking for a way to satisfy someone if the requirement is put upon
me. If it can't be done the tapes will have to be replaced. Just trying to
save a lot of money if possible.

Geoff Gill
TSM Administrator
NT Systems Support Engineer
SAIC
E-Mail:   gillg AT saic DOT com
Phone:  (858) 826-4062
Pager:   (877) 905-7154


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kauffman, Tom [mailto:KauffmanT AT NIBCO DOT COM]
> Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2002 8:35 AM
> To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> Subject: Re: Overwriting Tapes outside of TSM
>
> Geoffrey, I'd have to question the reason behind the requirement.
>
> If this is to be done to a tape (or set of tapes) prior to relabeling
> and using them as scratch in the same library then I'd question why
> they were
in
> the library in the first place.
>
> If this is to be done prior to removing and disposing of the tapes,
> then much time, effort, and wear on machines can be saved by applying
> a 5-pound sledge-hammer to the tape, followed with a hot wire or hot
> knife to the
tape
> afterward. The resale value of used 3590E tape is not high enough to
> make secure erasure worth while.