Linux Section

Tape Autoloader on 2.4 Linux

Rob Fantini explains how he got an autoloader tape unit working on RedHat Linux

This info may not be clearly written, but shows what I did to get autoloaders working on 2.4 linux.

Part 1: Kernel must support luns

• use or make a kernel with CONFIG_SCSI_MULTI_LUN=y kernel must probe for scsi luns on boot.
• install rpm mtx - software to manipulate autoloaders..
• figure out the device names for /dev/st? and /dev/sg? see part 2.
• use a script like the one in part 3.

Part 2: notes on device names

• st0 = 1-st tape drive
• st1 = 2-nd tape drive etc..

• sg0 = 1-st generic scsi device
• sg1 ...
• sg2 = 3-rd etc...

Attached devices:
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 03 Lun: 00
  Vendor: SEAGATE  Model: DAT    06240-XXX Rev: 8160
  Type:   Sequential-Access                ANSI SCSI revision: 03
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 09 Lun: 00
  Vendor: SEAGATE  Model: DAT    06241-XXX Rev: 8110
  Type:   Sequential-Access                ANSI SCSI revision: 03
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 09 Lun: 01
  Vendor: SEAGATE  Model: DAT    06241-XXX Rev: 8110
  Type:   Medium Changer                   ANSI SCSI revision: 03
Host: scsi1 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00
  Vendor: TDK      Model: CDRW4800B        Rev: S7D5
  Type:   CD-ROM                           ANSI SCSI revision: 02
 

so

• st0 = Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 03 Lun: 00
• st1 = Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 09 Lun: 00

• sg0 = Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 03 Lun: 00
• sg1 = Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 09 Lun: 00
• sg2 = Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 09 Lun: 01

Thus the changer on the autoloader = sg2 .

That scsi assignment changes depending on add/rmv devices, or i think changing the ide cdrom from hdd to hdb

Part 3: script to do backups

# /u4/fbc/adm/Tape/mtx-tar   

# TAR: note  need  '.'  before path to eliminate  'tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors'


# 07-2002: use  mtx to manipulate  dds4 autoloader, #  then backup system.

DAY=`date +%A`
echo $DAY

set -x
/u4/fbc3/adm/TapeRpt  # clear report file

mtx -f /dev/sg2 unload  ## no harm if already unloaded.
                        ## in any case load does not auto unload.

case $DAY in
        Monday)         mtx -f /dev/sg2 load 1;; 

        Tuesday)        mtx -f /dev/sg2 load 2;;

        Wednesday)      mtx -f /dev/sg2 load 3;;

        Thursday)       mtx -f /dev/sg2 load 4;;

        Friday)         mtx -f /dev/sg2 load 5;;

        Sunday|Saturday) mtx -f /dev/sg2 load 6; # cleaning cartridge, unloads auto aft cleaning
                        mtx -f /dev/sg2 load 1;;

#       Sunday)         mtx -f /dev/sg2 load 1;;
esac


###  uncomment for debugging:
#mtx -f /dev/sg2 status >> /u4/fbc3/adm/TapeRpt ## cron err our also to this

##  09-04-2002, added next line, incase called from cmd line
cd /

tar -cv --exclude-from /u4/fbc/adm/Tape/exclude_files.lst -f  /dev/st1  ./

cat /u4/fbc3/adm/TapeRpt  |   mail -s "MasterBkup report" rob

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