dean, thanks for pointing out the -f . i'm still not through with the problems:
mortirolo:/# mt -f /dev/ht0 status mt: /dev/ht0: No such file or directory mortirolo:/# mt -f /dev/hdd rewind mt: /dev/hdd is not a character special file /dev/hdd appears to be the tape drive but the device file is wrong: mortirolo:/# file /dev/hdd /dev/hdd: block special (22/64) can somebody suggest how to make the correct device file? btw, there's some info in dmesg: ftape-2.08 960314 (c) 1993-1995 Bas Laarhoven ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) (c) 1995-1996 Kai Harrekilde-Petersen ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) (c) 1996-1997 Claus Heine ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) QIC-117 driver for QIC-40/80/3010/3020 tape drives Compiled for kernel version 2.0.36 with versioned symbols [000] fdc-io.c (fdc_config) - Using the standard fdc controller. [001] fdc-io.c (fdc_probe) - Type 82077AA FDC found. [002] ftape-ctl.c (ftape_activate_drive) - no tape drive found !. [003] fdc-io.c (fdc_result) - fdc not ready. [004] fdc-isr.c (fdc_isr) - probably fatal error during FDC Result Phase. [005] fdc-isr.c (fdc_isr) - drive may hang until (power) reset :-(. [006] kernel-interface.c (ftape_open) - _ftape_open failed. [007] ftape-ctl.c (ftape_activate_drive) - no tape drive found !. [008] fdc-io.c (fdc_result) - fdc not ready. [009] fdc-isr.c (fdc_isr) - probably fatal error during FDC Result Phase. [010] fdc-isr.c (fdc_isr) - drive may hang until (power) reset :-(. [011] kernel-interface.c (ftape_open) - _ftape_open failed. Dean Allen Provins wrote: > Aaron: > > Your command line should be something like: > > >mt -f /dev/ht0 status > > to get the drive status (assuming 'ht0' is the device, and a tape is > loaded). If you set environment variable TAPE to /dev/ht0 (as per > > >export TAPE=/dev/ht0 > > then the following will work: > > >mt status > > as will all other commands listed in the 'mt' man page. > > Regards, > > Dean > ------------------------------------ > > greetings, > > > > before upgrading the kernel i went for the first time to use my tape > > drive to back up my box. the dmesg output contained these lines: > > > > > > hdd: Seagate STT8000A, ATAPI TAPE drive > > ... > > ide-tape: hdd <-> ht0, 600KBps, 14*26kB buffer, 2600kB > > pipeline, 190ms tDSC > > > > but neither dump nor mt recognise it: > > > > mortirolo:/# mt /dev/ht0 > > mt: invalid tape operation `/dev/ht0' > > mortirolo:/# mt /dev/hdd > > mt: invalid tape operation `/dev/hdd' > > mortirolo:/# > > > > can somebody lend a helping hand explaining what is wrong and how to fix > > it? > > > > for some reason i was convinced that i had a scsi tape drive, so i > > loaded the st module but got similar response: > > > > mortirolo:/# mt /dev/st0 > > mt: invalid tape operation `/dev/st0' > > > > i also noticed the following line in demesg's output: > > > > Failed initialization of WD-7000 SCSI card! > > > > does it have something to do with my tape troubles? tia, > > > > -a > > > > > > -- > > Aaron Stromas | "Tick-tick-tick!!!... ja, Pantani is weg..." > > Oracle Corp | BRTN commentator > > +1 703.708.68.21 | L'Alpe d'Huez > > 1995 Tour de France > > > > -- Aaron Stromas | "Tick-tick-tick!!!... ja, Pantani is weg..." Oracle Corp | BRTN commentator +1 703.708.68.21 | L'Alpe d'Huez 1995 Tour de France