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CUE Magnetic Tape Drives

There are currently two possible places for CUE users to directly access magnetic tape drives:

1. TAPE1, an HP715 system running HP_UX 10.2, is located in the terminal area in the second floor atrium at the rear entrance to the Computer Center.
2. TAPE2 an HP C160 system running HP_UX 10.2, located in the Counting House upstairs racks.

If you have a CUE account, you will be able to use either of these machines to read and write magnetic tapes in a Unix environment.

Using the TAPE1 Magnetic Tape Drives

There are currently three tape drives connected to TAPE1:

The device filenames, which represent different modes to access the tape drives, are labelled on each drive. "Berkeley style" means that the tape is not repositioned following a read. With the reverse (AT&T style), the tape is positioned after the EOF following the data just read.

NOTE: Exabyte (order Exabyte tapes; holds roughly 5GB in 8500 mode; 2GB in 8200 mode) and DAT (order 60m or 90m DDS; holds roughly 1 GB) tape are available from the JLAB stockroom. The DDS DAT will be upgraded to a DDS-2 drive (holds roughly 5G) in the near future. DLT 4000 tapes (20GB uncompressed ) should be available from the stockroom.

Transferring files to/from tape:

1. Select the tape device and load your tape.
2. Log onto TAPE1 with your CUE account. You will need to select the correct device file. If you are choosing 4mm tape with no rewind feature, you should use /dev/rmt/0mn. For 4mm with rewind, it is /dev/rmt/0m. For 8mm tape with norewind, choose /dev/rmt/2mn, and for 8mm tape rewind, it is /dev/rmt/2m.
3. Then copy the files:

cd <the-file-directory>

tar cvf <devfile> <file> or <dir> (to tar the file from disk to tape)

tar tvf <devfile> (to list the fileset in the tape)

tar xvf <devfile> (to tar the file from tape to disk)

Hints:

1. To append files to a tape with existing filesets, you need to forward the tape to the end of the filesets first:

mt -t <devfile> fsf <n>

(Make sure <devfile> is the non-rewind device file, and n is the number of the filesets which are on the tape).

2. Then copy your files to tape:

tar cvf <devfile> <filename>

NOTE: To rewind your tape to the beginning, use:

mt -t <devfile> rew

(<devfile> should be rewind device file)

Examples:

1. To copy the files in /home/yourname/test directory to a 4mm tape:

cd /home/yourname/test

tar cvf /dev/rmt/0mn * (tar all the files to tape)

mt -t /dev/rmt/0m rew (rewind the tape to the beginning)

tar tvf /dev/rmt/omn (list the fileset of tape, to make sure everything is there.)

2. To copy from an 8mm tape to your home directory:

cd

tar xvf /dev/rmt/2m

Using the TAPE2 Magnetic Tape Drives

INTRODUCTION

Three data stackers are available on TAPE2 for you to store your experimental results to tape - one that writes Exabyte tapes (8mm), a second that writes 4 mm DAT (HP format) tapes, and a third that writes DLT tapes.

There are currently two methods you can use to read and write tapes. A software product called DTools (from Dallastone, Inc.) provides a graphical interface that allows you to select files and write them to tape. In this mode, the files are written in a proprietary format that actually allows large files to span tapes. The vendor provides at no cost a utility you can take to extract your files at your home institution. Many users prefer to store their files in standard tar format. A locally developed script will allow you to reference the DTools software to manipulate the tape autoloader (i.e. to select what tape slot (s) you will use) and the read/write files in tar format.

TAPE DRIVES

Three different tape media are available on TAPE2:

1. 4mm DAT: (Stacker 1 in the DTools software) The ADIC 1200D autoloader has one HP DDS-2 drive (8GB unformatted) and can hold up to 12 tapes.
2. Exabyte 8mm: (Stacker 2 in the DTools software) The ADIC VLS 8mm autoloader has two Exabyte 8505/XL tape drives. These drives can write tapes in Exabyte 8200 (2GB), 8500 (5GB), and 8500XL (7GB) mode. This autoloader can hold up to 11 tapes.
3. DLT 4000: (Stacker 3 in the DTools Software) The VLS DLT autoloader has one DLT 4000 tape drive. This drive can write tapes in DLT 2000 (10GB) or DLT 4000 (20GB) mode. This autoloader holds 7 tapes.

LOADING THE TAPE STACKERS

DAT stacker (UNIX device name: /dev/scsi/5):

1. Open the Stacker 1 autochanger by pulling down the front cover. Snap the magazine cover into place and pull up firmly to remove the magazine from the stacker.
2. Load the tape magazine with tapes making sure that the write-protected tab is visible and toward the top (see picture on side of tape magazine or DAT Autochanger Magazine Illustration). Place the clear cover over the magazine.
3. Load the magazine into the stacker by holding the magazine by the cover and placing it on the carriage platform (see diagram inside stacker). Press down gently while rocking the magazine from side-to-side until it snaps into place.
4. Remove the cover from the magazine by pressing the sides (where labeled PUSH) and pull up firmly.
5. Close the stacker door then press the LOAD button on the front panel. Stacker 1 will cycle through to count the number of tapes.

8mm Exabyte (UNIX device names: /dev/scsi/1 and /dev/scsi/2):

1. To open the Stacker 2 autochanger, press the ALT button, press the UNLOAD button and then open the door by pulling down at the top. Free the tape magazine by pushing down on the silver tab under the #8 label.
2. Load the tape magazine with tapes making sure that the write-protect tab is not visible (i.e. faces the bottom).
3. Load the magazine into the stacker by holding the magazine by the thumbhole handle. Slip the magazine's left side on first, rotate the right side toward the stacker until the tab clicks into place.
4. Close the door, press ALT and then LOAD on the front panel.

DLT Stacker (UNIX device names: /dev/scsi/6):

1. To open the DLT autoloader (Stacker 3), first make sure that there is no cartridge in the drive. (If there is a tape loaded, open the VLS door, press the UNLOAD button on the drive front panel, and close the door.) Now press ALT and then UNLOAD. Press the Magazine Release on the cartridge. Grab the thumb handle on the magazine and pull the right side of the magazine toward you (the magazine will come out at a 30° - 40° angle).
2. Insert each cartridge into a slot of the magazine making sure that the write-protect switch is toward the top, facing the closed side of the magazine.
3. To reinsert the magazine (make sure that the cover is on), open the VLS door, hold the magazine by the handle, and at a 45° angle, slip the magazine into the left side of the carriage, over the left magazine position pin. Push the right side of the magazine over the right magazine position pin until you hear a click.
4. Close the door, press ALT and then LOAD.

Running the Dtools Software on TAPE2

You must be logged into IFARMH4 in order to access the DTools software and tape stackers. You must be on an X-Windows device in order to use the DTools software.

Your X-display should be set correctly; but, if you experience problems, you can set it correctly with the command:

Ifarmh4> setenv DISPLAY xterminal:0

1. Type the following to access the DTools software:

   tape2> setup dtool

   tape2> dattoolM

2. The dattoolM window should appear on your screen.
3. Select the STACKER option on the dattoolM window.
4. This will generate the stacker details window.
5. Set the STACKER field to 1 (DAT), 2 (Exabyte), or 3 (DLT) by pressing on the arrow.
6. Select the MAP VOLUMES button.
7. In the stacker map window, click on the SCAN button (lower left side). This will take awhile. Each tape is loaded and checked for a volume name.
8. Any tape that does not have a volume name must be labeled before use. See next section for instructions.

GIVING TAPES A VOLUME NAME

1. From the stacker map window, highlight the slot number of the tape you wish to label by clicking on it.
2. Click in the NEW ENTRY: field and type in the desired name of this volume followed by a return. The return is important.
3. Click on the label button at the bottom and select manual. This step causes DTools to write the volume name on the tape. If you select auto, that tape and all the tapes after it will be labeled sequentially starting from the starting/selected slot (example: Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3….Volume 12).

ARCHIVING YOUR FILES

1. Highlight the tape slot/volume name you want to load into the tape drive and click on the load volume button.
2. In the dattoolM window, type the names of the files and directories to archive in the File To Write: field. When you have completed your entry, press the return button.
3. Select the Write option.
4. Select the Append option to append to the tape. Select the Overwrite option to overwrite what was previously archived.
5. A properties window will display, showing the status of the archive in process.
6. Repeat the five stages above for other files/directories you wish to archive.
7. Go to the stacker details window and click on the DRIVE button to eject the tape and return it to its slot in the stacker.

CAUTIONS

• You should NEVER select or click on the TYPE or APPLY CHANGES buttons in the stacker details window. The TYPE button defines the type of stacker being used and the APPLY CHANGES button saves any changes made to the definition. This will cause both of you and other users immediate problems in using these drives.
• You should NEVER select or click on the archive button in the properties window. This button tells the software to remove the files/directories from the system after they are archived to tape.

HOW TO READ "DTOOL" TAPES AT JEFFERSON LAB

From the dattoolM window:

1. Highlight the tape slot/volume name you want to load into the tape drive and click on the load volume button.
2. In the dattoolM window, select the List field from the dattoolM window. Then select the All Archives option. This will load the labels from the loaded tape into memory. These labels can then be viewed by incrementing up and down on the Current: field from the props window. Stop the label for the archive you wish to restore.
3. To view the files within the selected archive, select the List option from the dattoolM window. Then select the Files option. All the files in the selected archive will be displayed in the read/list frame window.
4. If you wish to restore to a different location, you must type in the complete path name of the directory you wish to restore to in the Map to: field of the properties window.
5. To restore some of the files and directories from the archive, highlight the files or directories that you wish to have restored. Select the Read option from the dattoolM window. Then select the Selected option.
6. To restore the entire archive, select the Read option from the dattoolM window. Then select the Entire Archive option.

READING YOUR FILES AT YOUR HOME INSTITUTION

A copy of the dtool program is available from the Computer Center or via anonymous ftp and is licensed to be used to read the archive at your home institution. The ftp host is ftp.cebaf.gov. The anonymous ftp directory is /pub/dtool. Supported platforms include AIX, SunOS, Solaris, NCR/ATT Sys5R4, Irix, HP-UX, SCO Unix, and Netware.

Due to permission settings of the archives, the dtool program should be executed by the Unix user root or made suid to root. You can make the dtool program suid to root by having root execute the Unix chmod command on dtool.

chmod 4755 dtool

Your site's System Administrator should be able to help you do this.

Put the tape into the tape drive and issue the following command:

dtool -vLf /dev/[tape_drive] -F"labels.out"

A complete list of labels will be displayed on the screen, and a file with label images (labels.out) will be created.

Determine which labels [n] you want to extract. A listing can be created by issuing the following command:

dtool -tvA /dev/[tape_drive] -F"labels.out

Once the desired label [n] is found, the extract can be executed by issuing the following command:

dtool -xvA[n] files/directories Mdestination_directory

An example for restoring /usr/work/yourdata from label 3 to the /tmp directory:

dtool -xvA3 /usr/work/yourdata -M/tmp

USING THE tape_bkup ROUTINE TO WRITE "TAR" TAPES

Collaborators in Hall C have written a local utility (available in /site/bin/tape_bkup) that allows them to select a group of files, manipulate an autoloader to load a specific tape in the tape magazine, and write (or read) the tape in tar format. The Computer Center is currently writing a more generic utility not specifically customized to the Hall C environment and hopes to provide this utility in the near future. In the meantime, users are welcome to copy the tape_bkup procedure and customize to their use.