Tape Library Installation on Linux

This procedure explains how to install a tape library for a Linux controller node. You need to have Linux release 2.2.14 or later. The procedure below is for Linux on Intel-compatible architectures.

For Linux, device files of the media changers are generated by the operating system and are located in /dev/sgX, where X is a non-negative integer starting with 0. Device files of the tape drives are located in /dev/stX or /dev/nstX where X is a non-negative integer starting with 0. The tape drives must be set to no rewind and variable block size, which are commonly not the default. For more information, see the man pages for “st” and “stinit” in addition to consulting the drive manufacturer.

The following is the procedure for tape library installation on Linux:

  1. On your controller node, run detect -q at the command prompt. detect -q displays the file names and other information about all SCSI devices accessible by the node on which you are running detect. If everything was connected properly, you will see a media changer device that represents your tape library. Sample output follows:

SCSI Devices found:

-------------------

Device       Adapter     Target            Device

ID           ID      BUS ID     LUN STATUS Type                     String

------------ ------- --- ------ --- ------ ------------------------ -------------

/dev/nst0    2       0   0      2   0      Sequential Access Device SONY    SDX-500C

/dev/nst1    2       0   0      5   0      Sequential Access Device HP      Ultrium 1

/dev/sg1     2       0   1      3   0      Media Changer Device    BHTi    216

/dev/nst2    2       0   1      1   0      Sequential Access Device QUANTUM DLT8000

Device                    Serial / Unique                                    

ID                        Number / Id              World Wide Name           Auto

------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- ----

/dev/nst0                 0000902585               20 0 0 50 13 b0 78 94     Yes

/dev/nst1                 0000911832               20 0 0 50 13 b0 78 94     Yes

/dev/sg1                  216B10                                             Yes

/dev/nst2                 PXB34P3669               20 0 0 50 13 b0 78 94     Yes

  1. If you do not see any devices, ensure that the kernel has generic SCSI support and tape drive support installed. For more information, see the man pages for “sgen” and “mtx.”

  2. If necessary, run detect -i from the bin/JB subdirectory to create any additional device mappings.

This concludes the installation of the tape library media changer device file under Linux. To test the installation, proceed to Chapter 36: Tape Library Verification. Use the media changer device file name (for example, /dev/sg1) as the argument for the tape library interface test program (JItest).

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