How do I verify a "defined tape device"?

by Ken Burt » Fri, 27 Aug 1993 11:11:44

I'm in the process of performing a system backup of our RS/6000 at
work for the first time. I want to create a bootable tape for test
purposes. I am following the step from the manual. However, when
it begins to perform the backup it says '/dev/rmt0' is not defined or
not ready. We have I believe a 1/2inch 3480 type cartridge attached
to the unit and SMIT says it is defined. What is my problem???
I'm a rookie at this so keep it simple....
Thanks, Ken...

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1. Need help making tape drive "Available" after "Defining"

I'm looking for some help with our RS-6000 and its accompanying
IBM 7207-001 SCSI 1/4" tape drive (not model 011).

I am able to use SMIT or mkdev (by hand) to define the 150mb drive
but I am never able to "configure" it to the Available state so that
I can install (via SMIT -> root# smit iou) other software from
various vendors.

This is the error (from smit and command line):

# mkdev -l rmt0
Method error (/etc/methods/cfgsctape):
0514-047 Cannot access a device.

I have tried the following techniques along with IBM tech support,
but with no luck:

0) power-cycled the tape drive/stuck in a tape
1) checking all the cables/terminators
2) verify scsi board, visually. probably ok since the 400mb
SCSI disk is operating properly.
3) verify scsi address (was 3, we tried 4 just for kicks - same result)
4) completely removing the device via s/w and tried mkdev again.

Step 4 was repeated many times.
The device address is 00-01-00-40 or something similar.

The "Defining" command is right from the man page and seems to work:

# mkdev -d -c tape -t 150mb -s scsi -p scsi0 -w 40

There is the distinct possibility that the drive is faulty, but a few weeks ago
(when it was last used) it successfully booted from tape so that I could install
AIX windows from one of the 4 AIX3.2 tape volumes. No problems there.

I appreciate any insight to the problem or helpful hints. Thanks in advance..

Mike
(415)-322-6390 x185

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