aicxxx a nd tape drive

[Todd Denniston]

Tinni wrote:
> 
> Hi
>        Our servers are Redhat 9.0 with kernel version
> Linux kedar.ghen.net 2.4.20-8smp #1 SMP Thu Mar 13 17:45:54 EST 2003 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
> We have recently bought the PowerValult 112 tape drives from Dell. We have to
> install it for the tape backup..
> In the server already 'aic7xxx' module is installed.. So i need to know how i will
> configure the tape drive..
> Here is the 'lsmod' report ::
> _____________________________________________________________
> Module                  Size  Used by    Not tainted
> st                     31920   0  (unused)
<SNIP>
> megaraid               30796   7
> aic7xxx               142548   0
> sd_mod                 13452  14
> scsi_mod              110488   4  [st megaraid aic7xxx sd_mod]
> __________________________________________________________________
> Should i need to mount the drive and reboot the server? Also i need to know
> how i will add the tape drive with  the server boot list..
<SNIP>
I think you may have some fundamental things to learn about tape drives,
assuming that you meant mount(8) as in a file system, instead of mount as in
physically hook the drive to the bus.
If you have not connected the Drive to the system, I normally don't do that
while the system is powered, so yes if you are mounting (physically
connecting) the drive it would require a reboot. Although I think I have heard
that SCSI can be hot connected, I just don't feel comfortable doing it.

It does look as though your linux box has the st driver (and loaded it) so you
are half way there, granted I am assuming the PowerVault 112 drive is
controllable with normal scsi tape commands and drivers, and is on the scsi
bus, I have not got mine yet so I can not confirm.

try `cat /proc/scsi/scsi` and see if your tape drive is listed.

May I suggest you start here:
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/SCSI-2.4-HOWTO/st.html

Although the following is for the Ftape drives it may help you in general, be
aware that you will want to access /dev/nst? or /dev/st? (see [1]) instead of
/dev/ftape.  read the man pages for tar, mt, and possibly cpio, or if you are
using a different tape backup software read its documentation.
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Ftape-HOWTO-7.html

And the following may also be of use to you.
http://www.linuxtapecert.org/
http://www.linuxtapecert.org/links.html
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/SCSI-2.4-HOWTO/index.html

[1] http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/SCSI-2.4-HOWTO/dnames.html
-- 
Todd Denniston
Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane) 
Harnessing the Power of Technology for the Warfighter