Ok, here is what I have tried finally.  Trying to get amtapetype to work.

[root@localhost ~]# mt -f /dev/nst0 status
SCSI 2 tape drive:
File number=-1, block number=-1, partition=0.
Tape block size 0 bytes. Density code 0x0 (default).
Soft error count since last status=0
General status bits on (50000):
DR_OPEN IM_REP_EN

[root@localhost ~]# mt -f /dev/nst0 offline
/dev/nst0: Input/output error

[root@localhost ~]# mt -f /dev/nst0 load
/dev/nst0: Input/output error

[root@localhost ~]# mt -f /dev/st0 status
SCSI 2 tape drive:
File number=-1, block number=-1, partition=0.
Tape block size 0 bytes. Density code 0x0 (default).
Soft error count since last status=0
General status bits on (50000):
DR_OPEN IM_REP_EN

[root@localhost ~]# mt -f /dev/st0 load
/dev/st0: Input/output error

Here's what the log says

Sep  8 13:30:50 localhost kernel: st0: Error with sense data: <6>st0:
Current: sense key: Not Ready
Sep  8 13:30:50 localhost kernel:     Additional sense: Medium not present

Any ideas?

Thanks alot

Nick


On 8/21/06, Jon LaBadie <jon AT jgcomp DOT com> wrote:

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)

--
Nick Jones
University of Iowa
Dept of Neurology
Systems Analyst
319-356-0451