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Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 15:11:34 -0800
From: Julian Elischer <julian@whistle.com>
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To: Jonny Pearson <jpearson@rex.lib.uci.edu>
CC: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: mt command
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Jonny Pearson wrote:
> 
> Hey everyone!  I'm trying to figure out how to use my tape drive and I
> can't get this command to work.  In order to rewind my tape, I enter:
> 
>    mt -f /dev/nrst0.2 rewind
> 
> and it gives me an error:
> 
>    st0: Cannot set selected mode
> 
> What does this mean?  Anyone familiar with these commands?  Anyone have an
> idea what my problem is?  Help is appreciated.
> 
> --Jonny

so what does 
mt -f /dev/rnst0 status
say?

the .2 device refers to the 3rd set of parameters
(0, 1, 2)

have you set up a set of para,eters to USE in the 3rd mode?
can your hardware DO those settings?

man 4 scsi
man 4 st