Tape Drives

4

Backing up data is perhaps a system administrator's most important responsibility. This chapter does not discuss backups (see File System Administration), but it does explain how to set up and maintain the tape devices often used to backup data.

*How to Add a SCSI Tape Drive*	*page 66*
*Reference Material for Tape Drives*	*page 67*

Instructions for Adding a Tape Drive

This section includes step-by-step instructions for adding a tape drive.

Note - You must be superuser to perform the following procedure.

· How to Add a SCSI Tape Drive

Create a file called /reconfigure that will be read when the system is booting.


  # touch /reconfigure

The /reconfigure file will cause the SunOS software to check for the presence of any newly installed peripheral devices when you power on or boot your system later.

Shut down the system.


  # /usr/sbin/shutdown -y -g30 -i0  
  .  
  .  
  .  
  .  
  ok

Note - The 0 in i0 is a zero.

In the example above, the command sends a message to all users who are logged in stating they have 30 seconds (-g30) before the system begins to shut down. The ok or > prompt is displayed once the operating environment is shut down.

Turn off power to the system after the ok or > prompt is displayed. Refer to the hardware installation guide that accompanies your system for the location of the power switch.

Turn off power to all external peripheral devices.
For location of power switches on any peripheral devices, refer to the hardware installation guides that accompany your peripheral devices.
Install the peripheral device.
Refer to the hardware installation guides that accompany the peripheral devices for information on how to install and connect those devices.
Set the SCSI unit number as specified in the manufacturer's documentation. You will often find a small switch located at the back of the device for this purpose. Check the documentation accompanying the tape drive for more information.
Turn on the power to all external peripherals.
Turn on the power to the system.
The system will boot and you will be shown the login prompt.

Reference Material for Tape Drives

The following tape drives, which are available from Sun Microsystems, Inc., are supported by Solaris 2.x.

Table 4-1

Tape Format	Model
1/4"	Archive Viper^(TM) QIC-150 streaming tape drive ^(R) Emulex MT-02 tape controller
1/2"	^(R) HP -88780 tape drive
4mm	Archive Python DAT tape subsystem
8mm	^(R) Exabyte ESB-8200/8500 cartridge tape

Drives not purchased from Sun Microsystems, Inc. are not guaranteed to work unmodified with Solaris 2.x.

If you have a tape drive that is not listed above or has not been purchased from Sun Microsystems, Inc., see the st(7) man page for more information on how to add a third-party tape drive.