Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Tue, 29 Sep 1998 15:54:56 -0500 (CDT)
From:      mikebo@tellabs.com
To:        karl@Denninger.Net (Karl Denninger)
Cc:        mikebo (Mike Borowiec), hackers@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Exabyte 8500 in low density (2GB) mode... How?
Message-ID:  <9809292054.AA25720@tellabc.tellabs.com>
In-Reply-To: <19980929142441.A1359@Denninger.Net> from "Karl Denninger" at Sep 29, 98 02:24:41 pm

next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
Karl -
Yes, the 8500 can write in 8200 format - I do it all the time on Suns.
I just don't know how to do it on FreeBSD, or if it is even possible.

The Solaris mechanism to select density is to write to the correct
device. For example, given the following BSD compatibility devices:

> ls -l /dev/rst*
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root            7 Jan 12  1998 /dev/rst11 -> rmt/0lb
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root            7 Jan 12  1998 /dev/rst19 -> rmt/0mb
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root            7 Jan 12  1998 /dev/rst27 -> rmt/0hb
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root            7 Jan 12  1998 /dev/rst35 -> rmt/0cb

If I write to /dev/rst11 (aka. /dev/rmt/0lb) it writes to the Exabyte
8500 known as /dev/rmt/0 in (l)ow density (8200 format), using the
(b)erkeley style tapemarks.

Regards,
- Mike

> 
> I don't believe an 8500 CAN write 8200 format.
> 
> It can READ 8200 format, but not write it.  There are differences in track
> density and head gap size, and as such I don't believe this is even
> physically possible.
> 
> -- 
> -- 
> Karl Denninger (karl@denninger.net) http://www.mcs.net/~karl
> I ain't even *authorized* to speak for anyone other than myself, so give
> up now on trying to associate my words with any particular organization.
> 
> "Yes, the president should resign. He has lied to the American people,
> time and time again, and betrayed their trust.  Since he has
> admitted guilt, there is no reason to put the American people through
> an impeachment.  He will serve absolutely no purpose in finishing out
> his term, the only possible solution is for the president to save 
> some dignity and resign."
> ________________________________________________________________________
> 
> 12th Congressional District Hopeful William Jefferson Clinton,
> during the Nixon investigations
> 
> 
> On Tue, Sep 29, 1998 at 01:14:06PM -0500, mikebo@tellabs.com wrote:
> > Greetings -
> > Does anyone know how to write to an Exabyte 8500 in low density mode
> > (2GB format)? The Exabyte 8500 tape drive default is 5GB format, which
> > cannot be read by the old Exabyte 8200 2GB drive.
> > 
> > In Solaris there is a seperate device node for each density (lo, med, hi).
> > However, in FreeBSD, I believe one has to send an IOCTL to the driver via
> > an external command - but what is it?
> > 
> > I've tried reading the st() and mt() man pages, and posting to the
> > "questions" list, but I can't find any "how to" information on this.
> > Any help would be appreciated.
> > Regards,
> > - Mike
> > -- 
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Michael Borowiec   --   mikebo@tellabs.com   --   Tellabs Operations, Inc.
> > Systems Analyst, Corporate Software Tools         4951 Indiana Ave., MS 63
> > 630-512-8019  FAX: 630-512-7099                   Lisle, IL  60532  USA
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org
> > with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message
> 


-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Borowiec   --   mikebo@tellabs.com   --   Tellabs Operations, Inc.
Systems Analyst, Corporate Software Tools         4951 Indiana Ave., MS 63
630-512-8019  FAX: 630-512-7099                   Lisle, IL  60532  USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org
with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message



Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?9809292054.AA25720>