User Guide

Ampex 1308911-02 6-13
DD-2 Utilities Manual Pages dd2_format_tape
spacing The number of physical blocks between system zones. If zero or null,
dd2_format_tape uses a default system zone spacing based on the tape
size. If not zero or null, the minimum value is 235.
If the layout element is Alternate or NoZones, spacing must be zero (or
left empty, which defaults to zero).
ENVIRONMENT
$TAPE
Specifies the device special file to use when you omit the -f <device_special_file> option.
EXIT STATUS
The dd2 utilities use the following exit status codes, and may also produce output to -stdout
on success:
0 Operation succeeded.
nonzero Operation failed.
A nonzero return value describes the error encountered error during processing (see “Exit
Status” on page 6-5).
EXAMPLES
1. Format a tape using Full formatting, a volume ID of tape1, a pattern of one A partition
(size 5000 physical blocks) with no B partitions, Pack system zone layout, and default
spacing:
dd2_format_tape -format :Full:tape1:5000:1:0:0:Pack::
2. Format a tape using Initialize formatting, a volume ID of 0x1234567890ab, and
default system zone layout and spacing:
dd2_format_tape -format :Initialize:0x1234567890ab:0:1:0:0:::
SEE ALSO
“DD-2 Utilities Overview” on page 6-1, dd2_getparam_drive, dd2_query_tape,
dst_format(),
DST SCSI Tape Drive DD-2 Tape Format Guide