Here's my output

#mt -f /dev/nst0 status
drive type = Generic SCSI-2 tape
drive status = 637534208
sense key error = 0
residue count = 0
file number = 0
block number = 1
Tape block size 0 bytes. Density code 0x26 (unknown).
Soft error count since last status=0
General status bits on (1010000):

The last but on line BOT ONLINE IM_REP_EN - tape drive is online and
ready.

I am afraid I don't know the message - Can't write mode page.

All the best





On Fri, 2005-09-30 at 14:31 +0200, uwe.kaufmann AT infoconsult DOT nu wrote:
> Hi Chuck,
> 
> You are right but unfortunately my Tandberg SLR fails on that operation. It
> worked well with all my HP drives.
> 
> Have a look:
> 
> minerva:~ # mt -f /dev/nst0 status
> drive type = Generic SCSI-2 tape
> drive status = 838861312
> sense key error = 0
> residue count = 0
> file number = 0
> block number = 0
> Tape block size 512 bytes. Density code 0x32 (unknown).
> Soft error count since last status=0
> General status bits on (41010000):
>  BOT ONLINE IM_REP_EN
> minerva:~ # mt -f /dev/nst0 datcompression 0
> Can't write mode page.
> mt: /dev/nst0
> 
> 
> Thanks
> Uwe
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Chuck Amadi Systems Administrator [mailto:chuck AT smtl.co DOT uk]
> > Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 2:25 PM
> > To: uwe.kaufmann AT infoconsult DOT nu
> > Cc: Amanda List
> > Subject: RE: Disable Tape Compression
> > 
> > 
> > Hi 
> > 
> > My org uses SuSE 9 SLES servers and I used the following commands.
> > 
> > Turn off datacompression as Root run mt command that controls magnetic
> > tape
> > drive operation.
> > 
> > # Check datacompression status
> > myserver:~ # mt -f /dev/nst0 status
> > 
> > # Turns datacompression off 
> > myserver:~ # mt -f /dev/nst0 datcompression 0
> > Compression off.
> > 
> > I hope this helps if not someone on the list will guide you as I have
> > made a lot of progress thru this mailinf list.
> > 
> > Cheers
> > 
> > 
> > On Fri, 2005-09-30 at 14:10 +0200, uwe.kaufmann AT infoconsult DOT nu wrote:
> > > Hi Listers,
> > > 
> > > Just to give my 0.02EUR
> > > 
> > > > > mt -f /dev/nst0 defcompression off (or 0 depending on your mt)
> > > > > mt -f /dev/nst0 compression off (or 0 depending on your mt)
> > > 
> > > I am running SuSE 9.3 and the only available mt operation is
> > > "datcompression"
> > > 
> > > See:
> > > athene:~ # mt --version
> > > GNU mt version 2.5
> > > athene:~ # man mt
> > > [...]
> > >  datcompression
> > >               (some  SCSI-2  DAT  tapes) Inquire or set the 
> > compression
> > > status
> > >               (on/off). If the count is one the compression 
> > status is
> > > printed.
> > >               If  the  count is zero, compression is 
> > disabled. Otherwise,
> > > com-
> > >               pression is enabled. The command uses the 
> > SCSI ioctl to read
> > > and
> > >               write  the Data Compression Characteristics 
> > mode page (15).
> > > ONLY
> > >               ROOT CAN USE THIS COMMAND.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > And in fact I do have the problem that I use at one site 
> > the Tandberg SLR7
> > > without knowing how to switch off hw-compression. The mt 
> > datcompression
> > > {off|0} operation fails. That leads to my amanda.conf:
> > > 
> > > define tapetype SLR7 {
> > >     comment "just produced by tapetype prog (hardware 
> > compression on)"
> > >     length 16500 mbytes   # Manually decreased again
> > >     filemark 186 kbytes
> > >     speed 1300 kps
> > > }
> > > 
> > > athene:~ # dmesg | grep SLR
> > >   Vendor: TANDBERG  Model: SLR7              Rev: 0483
> > >   Type:   Sequential-Access                  ANSI SCSI revision: 02
> > > Attached scsi tape st0 at scsi0, channel 0, id 3, lun 0
> > > st0: try direct i/o: yes (alignment 512 B), max page 
> > reachable by HBA
> > > 1048575
> > > 
> > > 
> > > BTW: Is it true that a tape formerly written with 
> > hw-compression will
> > > "override" the 'drive compression off setting' because the 
> > compression
> > > on/off status has been written on the header of the tape? 
> > If yes, I should
> > > "reformat" a lot of tapes as described by Gene :-/
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Best regards
> > > Uwe
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ____________
> > > Virus checked by G DATA AntiVirusKit
> > > Version: AVK 16.727 from 30.09.2005
> > > 
> > -- 
> > Unix/ Linux Systems Administrator
> > Chuck Amadi
> > The Surgical Material Testing Laboratory (SMTL), 
> > Princess of Wales Hospital 
> > Coity Road 
> > Bridgend, 
> > United Kingdom, CF31 1RQ.
> > Email chuck.smtl.co.uk
> > Tel: +44 1656 752820 
> > Fax: +44 1656 752830
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> ____________
> Virus checked by G DATA AntiVirusKit
> Version: AVK 16.727 from 30.09.2005
> 
-- 
Unix/ Linux Systems Administrator
Chuck Amadi
The Surgical Material Testing Laboratory (SMTL), 
Princess of Wales Hospital 
Coity Road 
Bridgend, 
United Kingdom, CF31 1RQ.
Email chuck.smtl.co.uk
Tel: +44 1656 752820 
Fax: +44 1656 752830