On Mon, Aug 21, 2006 at 01:58:16PM -0500, Nick Jones wrote:
> [root@alienraid sbin]#./amtapetype -f /dev/nst0 -e 400g
> amtapetype: could not open /dev/nst0: Input/output error
> [root@alienraid sbin]#mtx -f /dev/nst0 inquiry
> cannot open SCSI device '/dev/nst0' - Input/output error
> 
> I don't have mt.  I figured mtx is a suitable replacement.

You figured wrong.

mtx works on the robotic changer mechanism,
st0 is a tape drive inside your changer.

mt is for manipulating tape drives.

I have two tape drives, and standalone Ultrium and a DDS 3 changer.
mtx -f /dev/st<whatever> does nothing useful on my system.
Doesn't give an error, just hangs.

> Not sure if it is going to work under Yellow Dog Linux 4.1.  Any other 
> ideas?

Does anything do anything with your tapedrive?
Can you tar to it?  tar from it?  dd to or from it? cat to or from it?

> 
> Next I will try Backula I think.
> 

bacula may be a fine product.
But unless you can access your tapedrive with some basic commands
no backup product is going to do diddly.

-- 
Jon H. LaBadie                  jon AT jgcomp DOT com
 JG Computing
 4455 Province Line Road        (609) 252-0159
 Princeton, NJ  08540-4322      (609) 683-7220 (fax)