Linux Tape Drive Notes

TAPEDRIVE NOTES (LINUX 2.4)
-Rich (01/08/2004)
Rewind tape drive:

# mt -f /dev/st0 rewind

Backup directory /www and /home with tar command (z – compressed):

# tar -czf /dev/st0 /www /home

Find out what block you are at with mt command:

# mt -f /dev/st0 tell

Display list of files on tape drive:

# tar -tzf /dev/st0

Restore /www directory:

# cd /
# mt -f /dev/st0 rewind
# tar -xzf /dev/st0 www

Unload the tape:

# mt -f /dev/st0 offline

Display status information about the tape unit:

# mt -f /dev/st0 status

Erase the tape:

# mt -f /dev/st0 erase

You can go BACKWARD or FORWARD on tape with mt command itself:
(a) Go to end of data:

# mt -f /dev/nst0 eod

(b) Goto previous record:

# mt -f /dev/nst0 bsfm 1

(c) Forward record:

# mt -f /dev/nst0 fsf 1 

Replace /dev/st0 with your actual tape drive name.

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Rich

Just another IT guy.

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