lsscsi lists all SCSI devices

/dev/st[0-9]

/dev/nst[0-9] usefull for writing multiple files to tape one by one

• /dev/st0 accessing the first tape device with auto-rewind
• /dev/nst1 accessing the second tape device without auto-rewind

tar -cvf <tape device name> <path to the data to be written>

• -c, --create

  • Create a new archive.

• -v, --verbose

  • Verbosely list files processed.

• -f, --file=ARCHIVE

  • Use archive file or device ARCHIVE.

tar -tvf <tape device name>

• -t, --list

  • List the contents of an archive.

• -v, --verbose

  • Verbosely list files processed.

• -f, --file=ARCHIVE

  • Use archive file or device ARCHIVE.

tar -xvf <tape device name> -C <path to the data destination>

• -x, --extract, --get

  • Extract files from an archive.

• -v, --verbose

  • Verbosely list files processed.

• -f, --file=ARCHIVE

  • Use archive file or device ARCHIVE.

• -C, --directory=DIR

  • Change to DIR before performing any operations.

• tar -cvf /dev/nst0 /tmp This command writes all data of the /tmp directory to tape device number 1 without auto-rewinding the tape first
• tar -tvf /dev/st1 This commond lists the contents of tape device number 2 after auto-rewinding the tape
• tar -xvf /dev/st0 -C /tmp This command extracts the contents of tape device number 1 to the /tmp directory after auto-rewinding the tape

mtx -f /dev/sch[0-9] invetory

• -f Device
  • Use device Device.

mtx -f /dev/sch[0-9] status

mtx -f /dev/sch[0-9] load <slotnum> <drivenum>

mtx -f /dev/sch[0-9] unload <slotnum> <drivenum>

• mtx -f /dev/sch0 load 4 0 uses media changer number 1 to load the tape from slot number 4 into drive number 1
• mtx -f /dev/sch2 unload 2 3 uses media changer number 3 to unload the tape from drive number 4 into slot number 2