IBM TS2340 User Guide - Page 412

Tape Drive Service Aids, Create Special Files

Page 412 highlights

Linux - Tape Utility Program (IBMtapeutil) maintained after the close call. For example, some backup programs (such as tar) can open and close the device multiple times, or a device may be shared by multiple initiators or hosts. In these cases, the reservation must be retained between the close call and the next open call. This is done by explicitly reserving the device. After all work is completed on the device, the user explicitly releases the device. A device can be reserved and released explicitly using either the interactive mode of the tape utility program and selecting reserve or release under General Commands, or by issuing reserve and release commands when in command-line mode. For example: # Reserve device, run tar, and then release device IBMtapeutil - f /dev/IBMtape0 reserve tar ... /dev/IBMtape0 ... IBMtapeutil -f /dev/IBMtape0 release After the reserve command is used, the device driver retains the reservation until a release command is issued. Tape Drive Service Aids The service aids described here are accessible through both the interactive and command-line mode of the IBMtapeutil command, for more information refer to "Service Aid Subcommands" on page 392. For information on using tape drive service aids with the IBM Virtualization Engine TS7510, please refer to the IBM System Storage Virtualization Engine TS7510 Installation and Planning Guide at: http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/storage/index/tape.html. Create Special Files The interactive mode of the tape utility program provides a selection to create special files based on attached devices. It invokes a command, lin_tapeconfig, to remove current /dev/IBMTape and /dev/IBMchanger files and generate new ones. The command lin_tapeconfig can also be used directly from the Linux command line, assuming this utility program has been installed. Note: Running lin_tapeconfig requires root authority. Querying Primary and Alternate Path Configuration (Control Path Failover) IBMtapeutil -f /dev/IBMchangerx path (Where: IBMchangerx is the logical name of any device). This command shows specific information for the primary path and all alternate paths, such as the logical name of the device, the attached host bus adapter, the channel id, the target id, the logical unit number under the target, the current enabled status, and how many paths are configured for the device. You can display the primary and alternate path configuration for all devices by reading the /proc/scsi/IBMchanger file.You can also display the primary and alternate path configuration for any device by running the following command: IBMtapeutil -f /dev/IBMchangerx path (IBMchangerx is the logical name of any device) 394 IBM Tape Device Drivers Installation and User's Guide

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maintained after the
close
call. For example, some backup programs (such as
tar
)
can open and close the device multiple times, or a device may be shared by
multiple initiators or hosts. In these cases, the reservation must be retained
between the
close
call and the next
open
call. This is done by explicitly reserving the
device. After all work is completed on the device, the user explicitly releases the
device.
A device can be reserved and released explicitly using either the interactive mode
of the tape utility program and selecting
reserve
or
release
under General
Commands, or by issuing
reserve
and
release
commands when in command-line
mode. For example:
# Reserve device, run tar, and then release device
IBMtapeutil
- f /dev/IBMtape0 reserve
tar
... /dev/IBMtape0 ...
IBMtapeutil
-f /dev/IBMtape0 release
After the
reserve
command is used, the device driver retains the reservation until a
release
command is issued.
Tape Drive Service Aids
The service aids described here are accessible through both the interactive and
command-line mode of the
IBMtapeutil
command, for more information refer to
“Service Aid Subcommands” on page 392. For information on using tape drive
service aids with the IBM Virtualization Engine TS7510, please refer to the
IBM
System Storage Virtualization Engine TS7510 Installation and Planning Guide
at:
http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/storage/index/tape.html.
Create Special Files
The interactive mode of the tape utility program provides a selection to create
special files based on attached devices. It invokes a command,
lin_tapeconfig
, to
remove current
/dev/IBMTape
and
/dev/IBMchanger
files and generate new ones. The
command
lin_tapeconfig
can also be used directly from the Linux command line,
assuming this utility program has been installed.
Note:
Running
lin_tapeconfig
requires
root
authority.
Querying Primary and Alternate Path Configuration (Control
Path Failover)
IBMtapeutil -f /dev/
IBMchangerx path (Where: IBMchangerx is the logical name of
any device).
This command shows specific information for the primary path and all alternate
paths, such as the logical name of the device, the attached host bus adapter, the
channel id, the target id, the logical unit number under the target, the current
enabled status, and how many paths are configured for the device.
You can display the primary and alternate path configuration for all devices by
reading the
/proc/scsi/
IBMchanger file.You can also display the primary and
alternate path configuration for any device by running the following command:
IBMtapeutil -f /dev/
IBMchangerx path (IBMchangerx is the logical name of any
device)
Linux - Tape Utility Program (IBMtapeutil)
394
IBM Tape Device Drivers Installation and User’s Guide