Thanks to all who responded.

  I knew I didn't have to eject the tape in order to label it, but I wanted to
check just one of 200 tapes that had already been entered - just to be sure it
was going to work before doing all tapes.  Since they were inside, I needed to
use the 'search' parameter for the label libv command, which does not permit use
of a single volser.  This is why I was going to eject one tape, then perform a
label libv with checkin.  But - after thinking about it, I decided to leave the
tape inside and perform the label libv with a volrange of 2 volumes.  This
worked just fine.  I performed the label libv against all 200 volumes, then
performed a checkin libv against them.  The entire process worked fine.

 We always order our tapes pre-barcoded and pre-initialized, but looks like
these were never initialized.  Thanks for all the valuable help with the mtlib
commands - I'm sure it will come in handy!

                         Ginny

---------------------- Forwarded by Virginia L Hysock/GIS/CSC on 04/07/2000
09:52 AM ---------------------------
09:52 AM ---------------------------


Tim.Williams AT fritolay DOT com on 04/06/2000 08:26:02 AM

To:   ADSM-L AT vm.marist DOT edu
cc:   Virginia L Hysock/GIS/CSC@CSC
Subject:  Re: Ejecting a Tape from 3494



Hi. You should be able to keep the tapes in and do a label libv with an
overwrite=yes.
If you want to check a status of a tape:
mtlib -l/dev/lmcp0 -qV -V tapenumber    (where the /dev/lmcp0 MAY be the device
name of your 3494 on your AIX system..??).
If the tape is in ff00 category...you shouldn't have to do an eject, just to put
it back..ff00=insert
Anyway, to eject a tape:
mtlib -l/dev/lmcp0 -C -V tapenumber -s ff00 -t ff10
ff10 is eject (tape will then be ejected)
-s parm is the 'source' or the category the tape is currently in...
FYI Thanks Tim
FYI Thanks Tim
you may also wish to try mtlib -l/dev/lmcp0 -?  (if you haven't done so
already).
FYI Thanks Tim





Virginia Hysock <vhysock AT CSC DOT COM>
04/06/2000 06:51 AM

To:   ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU@SMTP@Exchange
cc:
Subject:  Ejecting a Tape from 3494

Server:  AIX 3.1.2.50
  ATL:  IBM 3494 w/3590-B Drives

     Help!  I know there's a way to do this, but darn if I can remember it.  I
entered 200 new tape cartridges into my 3494 ATL, expecting to perform a
'checkin libv' with the 'search' parameter later.  Every volume issued a
labelcheck error on mounting to the drive.  (They were ordered labelled and
initialized.)  Now, I'm trying to get just one of the volumes out of the library
so that I can try to label it with 'overwrite' on checkin.  The library knows of
the volume, but not ADSM.  How can I get this tape out??  (Is it an mtlib
command?  I'm shakey on my UNIX, so please be specific!)

                         Thanks,

                         Ginny