Configuring HP-UX For Peripherals

190 Chapter7
Configuring Tape Drives
Creating Customized Device Special Files for Tape Devices
Creating Customized Device Special Files for
Tape Devices
The default device special files created by insf handle most routine
tape-drive requirements. For special circumstances, however, you can
use SAM or the tape driver options of the mksf command to create device
special files. For complete syntax information, consult the SAM online
help or mksf (1M) manpage in the HP-UX Reference.
Examples
In each example, the tape device is at card instance 1 for the ext_bus
class of interface card to which the tape device is attached, as shown by
/usr/sbin/ioscan -fn output.
Reading a Tape on a Different Format Device
Typically, a tape written on a Wangtek QIC 1000 device cannot be read
on a Wangtek QIC 525 device. This is because the default device special
file /dev/rmt/c#t#d#BEST will write in QIC 1000 format.
To create the device file needed for writing QIC 525 format, use the
following command. Also shown are the resulting device special files.
/usr/sbin/mksf -C tape -I 1 -b QIC_525
/dev/rmt/c#t#d#QIC525
on a system allowing long file names, or
/dev/rmt/c#t#d#f5 on a system requiring short file names
NOTE In short file name notation, f# (or i#, shown in next example) denotes
device-dependent values. See mt (7) in the HP-UX Reference for
explanation.
Allowing for Trial and Error
If you are attempting to use a new tape device with the stape driver and
you do not know exactly how to configure it, you can use the -e option to
create a device file that will let the driver try several configurations to
find one that will work.